Do you remember those paint-your-own-ceramics studios? They were a middle school favorite of mine, and I’d still go in a heartbeat. We found a lunchbox-style piggy bank and decided it deserved a bright pink makeover. To keep any would-be thieves away, we added the word “Broke.” Ready to make one?
DIY Lunchbox Piggy Bank
Total Time: About 1 hour
Supplies
Lunchbox bank
Light pink paint and hot pink paint
Small paint brush
Printable “Broke” phrase (print on computer paper)
Pencil
Directions
1. Paint the body of the lunchbox light pink and allow it to dry completely. Paint the handle and latch in hot pink for contrast and let them dry.
2. Print the “Broke” phrase on a sheet of computer paper and cut a rectangle around it. On the back of the cutout, shade the area behind the letters with a pencil to create a transfer layer.
3. Position the printed phrase where you want it on the lunchbox. With the printed side up, press and trace the letter outlines firmly; the pencil shading on the back will transfer a guideline onto the lunchbox.
4. Using a fine brush and hot pink paint, fill in the transferred letters. Allow the paint to dry completely before handling.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Craft production and styling by Annie Steward | Creative direction by Kelly Mindell
I’m a bit obsessed with saving loose change and using it to buy something fun. Counting coins and rolling them up feels oddly satisfying—guilty pleasure inherited from my dad, who once paid for much of his camera gear with spare change.
p.s. A fun related project is a hairspray piñata.