Chalkboard Piggy Bank Craft

From Sherri Osborn, former About.com Guide

Discover how easy it is to give an old piggy bank a facelift. If you don't have an old piggy bank, go searching for one at thrift stores or garage sales. You can also look at a craft store. I bought the cute little pig I used at a craft store for $2.00. Of course, your bank does not have to be shaped like a pig; you can use any shape you like. Once painted, you can write your name on the bank or write what you are saving for.

• Age Guideline: 8 Years and Up
• Time Required: 60 minutes (Does not include drying time)

The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances.

Materials Needed:

• Old Bank
• Spray Paint Primer (compare prices)
• Chalkboard Spray Paint (compare prices)
• Small Piece of Felt (to use as an eraser)
• Chalk (compare prices)
• Newspaper (Use to cover your work surface)

Instructions to Make a Chalkboard Bank:

Lay down some newspaper and then set your bank on top of it. Make sure you work in a well ventilated area. Paint the bank using several thin coats of primer. Make sure you let each coat dry before you add the next. Don't forget to paint the underside of the bank. Make sure the primer is dry before you move on to the next step.

Once the primer is dry, you can paint the bank using the chalkboard paint. Once again, use several thin coats so the paint does not run and bubble. Wait until one layer is dry to the touch before adding another.

Read the label on the chalkboard paint to see how long you should let the paint sit before you use chalk on it. Also make sure you condition the chalkboard paint by rubbing the side of the chalk on it. Now your bank is now ready to use or to give as a gift.