Looking for a fun way to teach kids about saving money and get crafty at the same time? This adorable DIY piggy bank made from a recycled water bottle is the perfect project! With just a few simple materials (like patterned scrapbook paper, craft foam, and a curly pipe cleaner tail) you can turn an ordinary bottle into the cutest little pig around.
Not only is this piggy bank craft a great way to reuse plastic bottles, it’s also super easy to customize. Choose your favourite paper patterns and colours, then let your creativity run wild! Whether you’re making it with your kids, for a classroom project, or just for some weekend fun, this sweet little pig is sure to bring smiles—and maybe even encourage a little saving too!
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DIY Piggy Bank
Materials:
- Free Printable Piggy Bank Ears Template
- Water bottle (washed and dry)
- Craft foam sheets (pink)
- Glitter craft foam (pink)
- Black marker
- Pipe cleaner (pink)
- Pink scrapbook paper
- Googly eyes (1cm)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make the ears, nose, tail, and legs
- Print our free piggy bank ears template and cut out the pieces.Find the link in the materials list above and choose from pointed ears or rounded ears.
- Trace the template pieces onto craft foam and cut out 2 of each. We used regular foam for the ears and self-adhesive glitter foam for the inner ears.
- Attach the inner ears onto the ears, lining up the bottoms.
- This piggy bank is made from a 500 ml water bottle. Trace the cap onto craft foam for the nose.(Note: We traced the bottom of the cap here, but you should actually trace the top of the cap for a better fit!)
- Cut out the circle and use black permanent marker to add 2 nostril lines.
- For the tail, cut a 12 inch pipe cleaner in half.
- Wrap the pipe cleaner half around a pencil to create a tight spiral tail.
- For the pig’s legs, cut 4 strips of craft foam. These strips are 3/4 inch wide and 3-1/2 inches long, but you can play around with different sizes.The width of the strip is how tall the legs will be, while the length affects the width of the legs.
- Roll up one of the strips tightly and add hot glue to keep the spiral in place.
- Repeat to create the rest of the legs.
Step 3: Cover the piggy bank body
- Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit around your bottle. This piece is 8-3/4 inches long and 4-1/2 inches across, but the exact size you need will depend on your specific bottle.
- Find the center of the paper and draw a “cross” shape.Make it 1/4 inch long along the length of the paper with a 1 inch line perpendicular to this.
- Then use a craft knife to make slices in the paper along these lines. This will help you create the opening of the piggy bank.
- Wrap the scrapbook paper around the bottle and attach it with hot glue. Hold until the paper sticks well by itself.
- Push the craft knife down through the openings in the paper until you pierce the plastic bottle. Then use detail scissors to cut the coin slot for the piggy bank.
Step 4: Attach the piggy bank parts
- Use hot glue to attach the legs to the bottom of the bank.
- Add a very thin line of hot glue to the bottom of the ears.
- Attach them at the front of the bank (the side with the bottle cap) just at the edge of the paper.
- Glue the pipe cleaner tail to the back of the bank (the bottom of the bottle).
- Then glue the nose to the front of the bank, on the top of the cap.
- Finally, attach 2 googly eyes to the bottle between the ears and the nose.
- Your DIY piggy bank is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Use detail scissors for the coin slot: Smaller scissors make it much easier to cut clean, precise lines. Regular scissors work too, but they can be a bit clunky for tight spaces.
- Swap scrapbook paper for craft foam: Want a use fewer materials? You can cover the entire piggy bank with craft foam instead of scrapbook paper for a fun, textured look.
- Unscrew the cap for easy access: Remove smaller coins from the piggy bank by opening the bottle cap and tipping the money out.
Get our free printable DIY piggy bank ears template:
The link below will take you to our free, printable piggy bank ears template! The PDF file will open in a new window. Then simply print the template on 8.5 x 11 (letter size) printer paper or cardstock.
>>> DIY Piggy Bank Template <<<
What type of bottle works best to make a DIY piggy bank?
Standard 500 mL (16.9 oz) water bottles are a great size for making a bottle piggy bank. Try looking for ones that are bit more rounded and pig-like!
You can also use larger Coke bottles to hold more savings, or even make a mini piggy with a smaller bottle. Simply adjust the paper and foam sizes to match.
What glue works best for making a bottle piggy bank?
Hot glue gives the strongest hold, especially on plastic. A low temperature glue gun is a fairly safe option, even for younger kids.
However, tacky glue is another good alternative. You’ll have to hold the ears and tail in place until they’re secure, though, and place a rubber band around the scrapbook paper while it dries.
Can I make this piggy bank if I don’t have scrapbook paper?
Yes, you can definitely make your own piggy bank if you don’t have scrapbook paper. There are so many other cute ways to personalize your piggy! Try one or more of these fun ideas:
- Add stickers or gems: Leave the bottle plain and decorate with washi tape, rhinestones, foam stickers, or glitter glue.
- Paint the bottle: Use acrylic paint or spray paint to give your piggy a bold, solid colour before adding other details.
- Let kids draw on it: Cover the bottle with regular cardstock or printer paper and then use permanent markers or paint pens to add doodles, names, or designs.
- Accessorize it: Add a mini bow tie, hair bow, flower accessory, or felt scarf for a dressed-up piggy.
How can I get quarters out of my DIY piggy bank once it’s full?
Since quarters are often too big to fit through the bottle’s mouth, here are a few clever ways to retrieve your savings:
- Nudge them back out through the coin slot: Unscrew the cap and use a pencil to gently push coins back through the slot.
- Create a hidden retrieval flap: Cut a small door in the side or bottom of the bottle. Tape it shut when not in use.
- Add a removable plug or lid: Cut a hole in the bottom just big enough for a cork or rubber sink stopper. You can even glue a flip-top spice lid in place.
This DIY piggy bank is such a fun way to turn an everyday item into something both creative and useful. Whether you’re making it with kids to teach about saving money or just looking for a cute upcycling project, this little piggy is sure to bring big smiles.
And don’t be afraid to get creative with your design—every piggy bank can have its own personality! And once it’s full, you’ll not only have some extra coins saved up, but a handmade craft to be proud of. Happy crafting and happy saving!
Here’s even more upcycled craft ideas:
Plastic Bottle Butterfly Craft
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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