How to Make a Piggy Bank Out of Clay

Piggy banks are a popular way for people, especially children, to save their loose change. Despite the name "piggy bank," however, not all coin banks are shaped like pigs. They can be shaped similar to any animal or object, as long as the inside is hollow and there are places to insert and retrieve coins. Piggy banks can be custom-made using clay, which can be a fun project that can also double as a lesson in saving money for children.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oven-bake clay
• Cork
• Plastic knife
• Balloon

Making Your Piggy Bank

1. Cover your work area with newspaper or paper towels to avoid getting clay on your work surface. Preheat the oven to the temperature designated by your clay's instructions.

2. Knead the clay until it is soft enough to work with. Some clays come already soft and may require little or no kneading.

3. Blow up the balloon to the general size you would like your bank to be. Begin applying a thin clay layer to the balloon. Apply a full layer evenly around the balloon; repeat until the clay is about a quarter to 1/2 inch thick.

4. Cut a coin slot in the top of the bank and a round hole slightly smaller than the big end of your cork in the bottom.

5. Mold the pig's feet, tail, ears and nose out of the clay. Decide where on the balloon each piece will go. Score these and the pieces by running the knife lightly over them to make a cross-hatch-type design. Wet the scored areas with your fingertip and press each piece on its respective area. Scoring and wetting the piece and the area it will go on helps bond the two pieces together.

6. Pop the balloon by piercing it with a pin or scissors. Remove any pieces you can without affecting the shape of the bank. Bake the bank for the amount of time specified in the clay's instructions.

7. Once the clay is dry and cooled, decorate the pig with paints, glitter or other decorating supplies and begin saving coins. Any leftover balloon pieces should be easily removed after baking.

References

• Plus Clay---Air Drying Clay
• Sculpey 101