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Home » Recycled

Cute DIY Piggy Bank from a Recycled Bottle

Published: Feb 23, 2025 by Shelly · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Kids can make their own Cute DIY Piggy Bank from a recycled bottle with this simple craft tutorial. These piggy bank ideas are fun, adaptable and help them WANT to save money!

Three DIY piggy banks made from recycled bottles in colors of green, blue and pink sit in front of a yellow backdrop.
Jump to:
  • Cute Craft Alert: A Real DIY Piggy Bank
  • Craft Supplies
  • Steps to Make Your Own Piggy Banks
  • Decorate, face & tail of piggy
  • Craft Tips
  • Craft Variations
  • FAQ
  • More DIY 3D Crafts for Kids
  • Come Join the Fun!
  • More Crafts!
  • Cute DIY Piggy Bank from a Recycled Bottle

Cute Craft Alert: A Real DIY Piggy Bank

This DIY Piggy Bank is a real piggy! I got a chuckle when the ears, eyes, nose, and curly tail made it look like a funky, cute pig to hold my coins. 

Pull a recycled bottle and a few lids from the recycling bin and help the kids make their own piggy bank. Don't you like using a recycled bottle to make something fun and useful?

Supplies needed to make piggy banks from recycled bottles. Empty medicine bottles, toilet paper rolls, scissors, craft paper, googley eyes, spray paint, hot glue gun.

Craft Supplies

Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to make DIY Piggy Banks!

  • Bottle- A recycled bottle like a vitamin bottle or half gallon vinegar bottle. Laying on its' side the bottle should have a pig shape. Remove the label. I keep extra recycled bottles around for crafts like this one, this Plastic Bottle Airplane, or this Plastic Bottle Fish!
  • Lids or TP rolls- For legs use 4 bottle lids or 2 toilet paper roll tubes.
  • Spray paint- Spray paint (for use on plastic) to paint the bottle- optional. The spray paint can be any color.
  • Paper- Pink scrapbook paper for ears and nose of the piggy bank (or pink copy paper).
  • Googly eyes- The pig eyes are made with googly eyes.
  • Pipe cleaner- A pink or white pipe cleaner for a tail
  • Glue- Tacky glue, hot glue, or E6000 glue.
  • Craft knife- An craft knife to cut the bottle.
Person using razor blade to cut a hole on the side of a recycled bottle to make piggy bank.
Person holding a rolled up piece of toilet paper roll ready to be glued.

Steps to Make Your Own Piggy Banks

Cut a coin slot

Draw a rectangle shape lengthwise on the bottle- about ¼ inch wide and 1 ½ inch long. Cut a coin slot in the top of the bottle with an craft knife.  Use an up and down movement with the knife to prevent slicing the bank.

Spray painting the bottle (optional step)

If you want the legs of the pig the same paint color add them to the pig now.

Glue 4 bottle caps under the bottle (with the coin slot up).

OR Cut the two TP rolls in half. Slit them and hot glue them so they are smaller in diameter. Push down the edge of one end and use this edge to hot glue the 4 TP tubes under the bottle for 4 legs. Keep the coin slot side of the bottle up.

Take the bottle outside, lay down paper, and spray paint it the color of your choice. 

Person wrapping a clear recycled bottle with striped craft paper and gluing it into place.
Person holding a pink circle of craft paper that will be used as the pig face for the piggy bank.

Decorate, face & tail of piggy

Use your scrapbook papers to decorate the pig. You can cut a paper strip to cover the body and glue it around the bottle. Add other decorations to the bank (optional).

Glue the four bottle lids to the bottom of the pig as four legs now if not done earlier when spray painting.

Trace around the lid of the bottle on the pink scrapbook paper. Cut it out and glue it onto the lid as the pig's nose. Draw two black dots on the nose for nostrils.

Make ears for your pig by drawing a 2 ½ inch teardrop shape on the pink paper. Then draw a line to make the rounded end of the teardrop shape flat. Add a ½-inch tab on the flat edge of the line you just drew. Fold the paper so that when you cut it out you will cut two ears at one time. 

Person gluing a circle of pink paper on the cap of a recycled bottle for the pig face.
Person holding a pink ear cut out of craft paper with other supplies near by.

Cut out the ears around the outside line. Fold over the half inch tabs on the bottom of the ear papers and use the tab to glue them to the bottle. Glue them behind the bottle opening/lid, which will be the nose.

Glue googly eyes between the nose and the ears you just mounted on the piggy bank.

Form the pipe cleaner into a twirl by twisting it around your finger. Make one end into a flat circle for gluing onto the bottle.

Glue the pipe cleaner onto what was the bottom of the bottle. This makes the twirly tail.

You can watch the full length tutorial video on YouTube: DIY Piggy Bank from a Recycled Bottle Tutorial.

Person holding a completed piggy bank made from recycled bottle with other piggy banks and supplies near by.

Craft Tips

Try these quick tips and tricks for your DIY Coin Bank:

  • Label removal- Remove the label with a product such as Goof Off.
  • Cutting the slot- Young children will need help cutting the slot in the top of the piggy bank. 
  • Cover work surface- Cover work surface with paper or an old plastic tablecloth. 
  • Outdoor temperature- If spray painting, follow the instructions on the can for weather conditions (temperature, wind).
Person twisting a piece of pipe cleaner around their finger to make a tail for the piggy bank.
Person gluing a curly q piece of pipe cleaner on the back of a piggy bank as a tail.

Craft Variations

Want to switch things up? Here are a few DIY piggy bank ideas you can use to customize and play with this craft.

  • Change the color- You can spray paint your bank the color of your choice (pink, blue, green, or purple)!
  • Make other animals- This bank can be made into other animals. Use your creativity and other found materials to adapt the instructions a bit. Make the bank into a cat, dog, or other animal by making the legs longer or adding a neck and head! 
  • More bottle ideas- Got more leftover bottles? Make them into plastic bottle bird feeders, or use the plastic to make upcycled bookmarks and other crafts!
A top down view of three completed piggy banks made from recycled bottles, craft paper and other art supplies.

FAQ

How do you make a simple piggy bank?

Use a recycled bottle for the bank. Cut a ¼ inch by 2 inch slit in the side of the bottle. Wrap the center of the bottle with a strip of scrapbook paper. Cut two ears and a nose (the size of the lid) and glue onto the bottle. Glue on googly eyes and then glue on four bottle caps for feet. A twisted pipe cleaner becomes the tail The post has more specific directions and a video!

How to make piggy banks with plastic bottles?

Choose a recycled bottle that has a lid large enough to get money out. Cut a ¼ inch by 2 inch slit into the bottle. Set the bottle on its side and glue on four bottle lids for legs (with the coin slot on top). Add two ears and a nose (on the lid), googly eyes, and a twisted pipe cleaner tail. Decorate as desired. The post has directions and a video.

Three DIY piggy banks made from recycled bottles in colors of green, blue and pink sit in front of a yellow backdrop.

More DIY 3D Crafts for Kids

Looking for more great DIY crafts for kids? Here are a few favorites for you to try:

  • Close up view of the flower circle with wooden beads in the center of each flower, resting in the holes.
    Fun DIY Balance Ball Dexterity Game
  • Recycled plastic bottle bird feeder filled with bird seed hanging from branches, and a red bird.
    Make a Recycled Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder
  • Overhead view of fully painted and completed airplane bottle craft against a blue backdrop.
    Upcycled Plastic Bottle Airplane Craft
  • Cushion made from reusable shopping bag with scenes of London on it sitting on a bench.
    DIY Sit-Upon Cushion from a Reusable Shopping Bag

Come Join the Fun!

Try this craft, leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

More Crafts!

Get a free artsy craft and a weekly email with the newest crafts from Welcome To Nana's for signing up!

An image of a person holding a completed piggy bank made from clear recycled bottle and an image of three DIY piggy banks made from recycled bottles in colors of green, blue and pink sit in front of a yellow backdrop.
Three DIY piggy banks made from recycled bottles in colors of green, blue and pink sit in front of a yellow backdrop.

Cute DIY Piggy Bank from a Recycled Bottle

Shelly
Kids can make their own Cute DIY Piggy Bank from a recycled bottle with this simple craft tutorial. These piggy bank ideas are fun, adaptable and help them WANT to save money!
Print Pin
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Type Craft, Recycled Craft
Cuisine Craft
Yield 1 Piggy Bank

Equipment

  • none needed

Items Required
  

  • 1 Recycled Bottle- A recycled bottle like a vitamin bottle or half gallon vinegar bottle. Laying on its' side the bottle should have a pig shape. Remove the label.
  • Bottle Lids or TP rolls For legs use 4 bottle lids or 2 toilet paper roll tubes.
  • Spray paint Spray paint (for use on plastic) to paint the bottle- optional. The spray paint can be any color.
  • Paper Pink scrapbook paper for ears and nose of the piggy bank (or pink copy paper).
  • Googly eyes The pig eyes are made with googly eyes.
  • Pipe cleaner A pink or white pipe cleaner for a tail
  • Glue Tacky glue, hot glue, or E6000 glue.
  • Craft knife A craft knife to cut the bottle.

Instructions
 

Cut a coin slot

  • Draw a rectangle shape lengthwise on the bottle- about ¼ inch wide and 1 ½ inch long.
    Cut a coin slot in the top of the bottle with an craft knife.  Use an up and down movement with the knife to prevent slicing the bank.

Spray painting the bottle (optional step)

  • If you want the legs of the pig the same paint color add them to the pig now.
    Glue 4 bottle caps under the bottle (with the coin slot up).
    OR Cut the two TP rolls in half. Slit them and hot glue them so they are smaller in diameter. Push down the edge of one end and use this edge to hot glue the 4 TP tubes under the bottle for 4 legs. Keep the coin slot side of the bottle up.
    Take the bottle outside, lay down paper, and spray paint it the color of your choice. 

Decorate, face & tail of piggy

  • Use your scrapbook papers to decorate the pig. You can cut a paper strip to cover the body and glue it around the bottle. Add other decorations to the bank (optional).
    Glue the four bottle lids to the bottom of the pig as four legs now if not done earlier when spray painting.
    Trace around the lid of the bottle on the pink scrapbook paper. Cut it out and glue it onto the lid as the pig's nose. Draw two black dots on the nose for nostrils.
    Make ears for your pig by drawing a 2 ½ inch teardrop shape on the pink paper. Then draw a line to make the rounded end of the teardrop shape flat. Add a ½-inch tab on the flat edge of the line you just drew. Fold the paper so that when you cut it out you will cut two ears at one time. 
    Cut out the ears around the outside line. Fold over the half inch tabs on the bottom of the ear papers and use the tab to glue them to the bottle. Glue them behind the bottle opening/lid, which will be the nose.
    Glue googly eyes between the nose and the ears you just mounted on the piggy bank.
    Form the pipe cleaner into a twirl by twisting it around your finger. Make one end into a flat circle for gluing onto the bottle.
    Glue the pipe cleaner onto what was the bottom of the bottle. This makes the twirly tail.

Video

Notes

This craft will take longer if you spray paint the bottle and let it dry.
Craft tips and variations are found on the post instructions.
Keyword DIY coin bank, DIY coin bank ideas, DIY it yourself piggy bank, DIY piggy bank, DIY piggy bank ideas, make your own piggy bank, piggy bank, piggy bank DIY, piggy bank from recycled bottle, piggy bank ideas

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Hello there! I'm Shelly (Nana), an artist, previously homeschooling mother of 3, and now proud grandma (Nana) of 6. I love sharing artistically inspiring, hands-on crafts for kids of all ages. Let's go have some fun!

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An image of a person holding a completed piggy bank made from clear recycled bottle and an image of three DIY piggy banks made from recycled bottles in colors of green, blue and pink sit in front of a yellow backdrop.