How to Make Piggy Banks

Kids of all ages love piggy banks, and they love making crafts. Here's a fun project for making a piggy bank that you can occupy your kids with for several rainy days. It will take a few days to complete this papier mache craft.
Although messy, this project is inexpensive--you probably already have most of the materials around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Balloon
• Egg carton
• Pipe cleaner
• 3 cups water
• 2 cups flour
• Old newspapers
• Old magazines or gift wrap
• White scrap paper
• Scissors
• Craft or utility knife
• Tape
• Glue
• Colored construction paper
• Markers, paints, crayons, glitter, decorating materials
• Mod Podge

Instructions

1. Spread out several layers of old newspapers to protect a flat working surface. Put some old clothes on and have the kids do the same. Blow up the balloon and tie it. Cut five individual cups from an egg carton. Tape one of them over the tied end of the balloon to become the pig's snout. Wrap a pipe cleaner around a pencil, and tape the curly tail to the other end of the pig.
   Tape the remaining four egg carton cups to the underside of the balloon to become legs.

2. Pour 3 cups of very hot water into a heavy saucepan. Whisk in 2 cups of flour to form a paste. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from the heat when the paste begins to thicken. Pour it into a large heat-proof bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. You can begin using it as soon as it cools enough for you and the kids to handle with your fingers.

3. Tear strips from old newspapers while your paste is cooling. They should be about an inch wide and 10-12 inches long. Do the same with some colorful old magazines or gift wrap. Then make some from scraps of plain white paper.

4. Dip a strip of the newspaper into the paste. Remove the excess by pulling the strip between your fingers. Stick the papier mache strip anywhere on the pig, and smooth it gently with your fingers to remove bubbles and wrinkles. Continue pasting newspaper strips to the pig until its entire surface is covered, leaving only the curly tail exposed. Set the papier mache pig where it will dry undisturbed overnight.

5. Repeat step 4, but this time use the colorful magazine strips. Although you could just apply a second layer of newspapers, using a different paper type like magazine strips will allow you to see if you missed any spots with the second layer. Dry the pig overnight.

6. Repeat Step 5 using plain white paper scraps. The white paper will provide a more suitable surface for the kids to use for decorating. Dry the pig overnight.

7. Cut two triangles from colored construction paper and tape them to the pig's head for ears. Have the kids decorate their pig with markers, paints, crayons, glitter, and any other decorating materials that they might enjoy using. Cut a coin slot in the top of the piggy bank with a craft or utility knife (this will pop the balloon), and coat the bank with a layer of Mod Podge to seal and preserve this masterpiece.

8. Allow the Mod Podge sealant to dry thoroughly according to packaging instructions, and begin filling the piggy bank with loose change.