Lovely handmade crafts

Handmade piggy banks with fun mechanisms! A collection of summer vacation craft ideas that will amaze even adults

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

“Summer vacation is just around the corner, but I still haven’t decided on a craft project…” Many kids may be feeling this way.That’s why we recommend the classic craft: a handmade piggy bank!But a plain box shape is boring.If you make a piggy bank with a fun mechanism—like coins that spin, or one that walks or wobbles with movements that seem like magic—you’ll enjoy both the building process and managing your money every day after it’s done.In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of amazing piggy bank craft ideas you can make with simple materials.

Handmade Piggy Banks with Fun Mechanisms! A Collection of Summer Vacation Craft Ideas That Will Amaze Even Adults (31–40)

Sumikko Gurashi piggy bank

[Perfect for a Summer Vacation Project!] How to Make a Piggy Bank (Sumikko Gurashi)

Sumikko Gurashi piggy bank

I’ll introduce how to make a Sumikko Gurashi piggy bank out of origami.

Prepare two sheets of origami paper and one small sheet, then let’s get started.

Use the small origami paper to make the 5-yen coin part.

Fold the corners toward the center, then fold the surrounding corners as well.

It will form the shape of a 5-yen coin, so draw the details with a felt-tip pen.

For the base piggy bank, fold the origami toward the center to create creases.

Following the creases, tuck the paper inward to form a square box.

Make two identical boxes; on one of them, attach the 5-yen coin and draw the face.

The key point is to change the color of the origami depending on the character.

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In conclusion

Piggy bank crafts you can make with simple materials are perfect for summer vacation projects. There’s a wide range—from sophisticated designs with clever mechanisms that even adults will love, to easy versions that kids can make themselves. With a favorite piggy bank, you get the joy of making, the fun of using, and the satisfaction of watching your money grow. Your one-of-a-kind piggy bank will add a spark of excitement to everyday life.