script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"> google.com, pub-0949974396517105, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

How to DIY a Perfect Piggy Bank Handmade Gift

I love gifts that are personalized. Something that’s totally one-of-a-kind, shows that some thought was put into it, that I can see is made with lots of love. So as a crafty momma, I love to give those kinds of gifts too. Not only do I save money versus buying a boring gift from a big box store, but I can be sure it’s something they’ll love – that they definitely don’t already have! And a perfect gift idea that I’m really into lately is creating your own DIY Ceramic Piggy Bank.

How to DIY a perfect piggy bankWhen you think of these fun ceramic piggy banks, you probably think of a baby gift, right? Or even a bank for an older kid – but still, it seems like something geared more towards little ones. And – it does make an absolutely perfect pick for a kids gift. We had one at Abby’s baby shower, for people to leave notes in, with advice for me as a new mom. We used it again at her first birthday, for those guests who wanted to leave her a little birthday spending money – and it was a big hit! These are adorable when personalized with baby’s birth date and name, or with fun designs for a bigger birthday boy or girl. But – there are SO many other fun ways to personalize these with some simple steps!

How to decorate a ceramic piggy bank - chalkboard paintI am totally going to be doing one of these for the holidays! How fun is this? It’s a ceramic piggy bank covered in chalkboard paint! Include a piece of chalk to delight kids who can doodle over and over – or send it as a fun & totally unique accent piece for the home that any adult is going to love too. I got this idea from a UK site, blackboard piggy money box, but it would be so easy to recreate using a seriously great, {and amazingly high quality!} piggy bank from A Child to Cherish. Like I said, I’ve had some experience purchasing this type of bank, and I can tell you – this is the best you’ll find. Triple glazed, bigger than most that you’ll find, and incredibly sturdy. If you’re going to spend the time to create something amazing, you want to use a bank that’s built to last.

Rhinestone blinged out ceramic piggy bankNow, if you’ve ever read my About Me page, you know that I LOVE anything sparkly. So when I saw this uh-MAY-zing rhinestone covered piggy bank, I was totally excited. This one is from Barneys, and retails for $126 bucks, which is crazy-expensive for a piggy bank, even when it is as fabulous as this one. Instead, why not stock up on some metallic spray paint, small rhinestones from the craft store, and a spray sealer to finish it off? Yes, it’d be a little bit time-consuming, but the money saved and the end result will be oh-so-worth-it! These would make such fun gifts for my girlfriends this Christmas!

Ceramic Piggy Bank decoration ideasMore inspiration – What about making a “Girls Night Out” piggy bank for yourself, to save up funds for some good times? This one is available for sale somewhere else – but why not just buy the fab one from Child to Cherish, and do the decorating yourself, at HALF the price?? Or make this super cute Honeymoon Fund piggy bank as an engagement gift – or to decorate the gift table at a wedding? All you need is a paint pen, someone with nice handwriting, and a little rhinestone to decorate the rings. Easy peasy! Or make a fun ballerina piggy bank that’s sure to please any girly-girl in your life – young, or old. A quick little homemade tutu, a glued on tiara, and a little bit of pink paint schmeared on to make rosy cheeks – and voila! You’ve got an awesome handmade gift. Love it, right?

Buy the best ceramic piggy bankAs you can see – these are a lot bigger and bolder than the smaller size piggy banks that you traditionally find. That makes them more unique, more fun, and a lot easier to work with too. If you want to get started creating your own DIY Piggy Banks too, here are a few tips:

  • If you’ll be painting the entire bank, start by using a fine grit sandpaper to rough it up just a tad, then wipe all of the dust away cleanly. This gives the paint a better surface to adhere to. The Child to Cherish Big Ear Piggy Bank comes in classic white, pink, or blue – giving you a lot of ready-made options to work with. But if you have a creative idea in mind that calls for another color, this step will make your acrylic paint cover and hold much better.
  • When you’re ready to paint a name or design, lightly pencil it on first. That way you can ensure that you have the space needed, and will minimize mistakes. Once you’re happy with the placement, you can go over it lightly with a paintbrush, or paint pen.
  • Use an adhesive like Gorilla Glue if you want to add extra accessories like rhinestones, sequins, or fabric. You could use a spray adhesive to add a dusting of glitter too.
  • Once you’ve completed your work of art – be sure to let it dry fully, then spray with a coat of acrylic sealant spray, to make it all more durable. Once that layer is fully dry – it’s ready for gifting!

If you want some fun DIY packaging ideas for your gift, visit my Homemade Gifts Rock board on Pinterest for inspiration. And if you’ve created your own decorated Piggy Bank like this too, please come on over to my Facebook page and share a pic or a link! I love to see the amazing stuff you ladies put together.

Child to Cherish Unique Children's Keepsake GiftsYou can see get one of these great Ceramic Piggy Banks to personalize by ordering at Amazon.com – Child to Cherish Big Ear Piggy Bank, or shop for them on Child to Cherish online. You’ll also find some amazing pre-decorated personalized piggy banks, if you’re not the crafty type. {Although I definitely suggest giving it a try – it’s so simple to get really great results.} Whil there, check out the other amazing gifts available on their site too. Or – for more fun project and product inspiration, visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and even Instagram

{Disclosure: “This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own.}

signature

How to Make a Brownie in a Mug: Simple Tutorial Recipe

How to make a brownie in a mug… How fun is this? And what a great way to get the kids involved in the kitchen, helping to make their own quick brownies, with very little mess, and minimal clean up. Love this! I’m all about “Smart Solutions for Busy Moms” – and this is a perfect fit for my cooking style. Be sure to check out the other simple recipes at the bottom too! [Read more…]

signature

Blogger Opp: Join the $100 Holiday Spending Cash Giveaway Free Event!

I’m joining together with some great bloggy buddies to offer all of our awesomesauce readers some free holiday shopping cash. Why? Because our readers rock, right? I’d love to have you join the fun – Learn more, and get the sign up link at the bottom!
[Read more…]

signature

What is Your Happy Haven?

As most of you know, when I found out that I was going to be a mom, I started moving towards a cleaner, greener, lifestyle… I didn’t do this to be trendy. I didn’t do it to be cool. I did it, behind the scenes, imperfectly, to try and learn how to make changes that would keep us safer and healthier, without causing me to make totally drastic lifestyle changes. We’re still far from perfect, but I feel like we’ve moved miles away from the way we used to live! So, to help me along my way, I’m also always on the lookout for cool tools and resources that can help me make changes, without being extreme. A recent favorite of mine is HappyHavens.com. Learn why…

Happy Havens covers a wide array of topics from DIY and wellness to tips for saving money and going green. [Read more…]

signature

Do You Know the True Cost of Trick or Treating?

The true cost of trick or treating…. Let’s break it down: Approximately 38 million trick-or-treaters will roam America’s neighborhoods this year, collecting candy from nearly 59 million households. That means for every one trick-or-treater, there will be about 1.5 homes distributing treats. Sounds like good odds, right? Now, the average adult spends $21.05 on Halloween candy. So, if all the purchased candy were distributed equally among all trick-or-treaters (which it actually isn’t, since 41 percent of adults eat candy from their own bowls), every child would come home with a bag of candy worth $31.58. That’s a $10.53 profit for every trick-or-treater! So, if your household is sending out at least one trick-or-treater, by the end of the night you may have earned back your initial candy investment and then some. But wait, there’s more to consider… [Read more…]

signature

How to Create Photo Books to Market Your Blog or Business

Check out this “hauntingly” good Halloween deal from Blurb!… Save 20% off any book you create through 10/31 with special code SPOOKYSALE!  Have a Blurb book that you have been working on? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to create a book with all the pictures you have stored on your camera, on Facebook or on Instagram? Well NOW is the time to order a book from Blurb during this huge sale. Keep reading to get some super creative ideas on how you can use Blurb photo books for more than just personal use – you can make them work for your business or blog too.

Using photo books for business and blogging [Read more…]

signature

Who Wants a $100 Shopping Spree at 88hours.com??

Like it, Share it, Buy it, Love it!… So, what’s the first thing you do when you find a totally sweet deal online? You share it with your friends, right? And you hope that they’ll return the favor when they find awesome stuff on the web too. Paying it forward and all that. So – I think you’re gonna love this new site that I found, that is totally build around the idea of sharing cool finds with your friends. It’s called 88hours.com – and I think you’re definitely going to “Like” it.

88hours.com - shopping is better when you share with friends [Read more…]

signature