From Thrift Store Find to Princess Piggy Bank
A DIY That’ll Steal Your Heart
Have you ever walked past something in a thrift store and thought, “Okay… you’re coming home with me, but I have no idea what I’m going to do with you yet”? That was me with this plain, glossy white piggy bank. She was cute enough, but she was also begging for a makeover. A tutu, a crown, some rhinestones—basically, the full diva treatment. And let me tell you, by the time we were done, she wasn’t just a piggy bank. She was The Pig.
This little DIY reminded me why I love handmade gifts so much. They’re not just budget-friendly (hello, thrift store finds!), they’re also deeply personal and so much fun to make. Plus, you get to tell everyone, “Yes, I made that,” and bask in their impressed gasps.
Why Handmade Matters (and Why Pigs Make Great Projects)
There’s something magical about slowing down and painting checks on a curvy little pig. It’s almost meditative—until your hand slips, you have to erase half a check, and you mutter under your breath. But even then, it’s therapeutic. Handmade projects give us:
Stress relief: Painting checks feels like therapy you don’t have to explain to your insurance company.
Budget wins: Thrift store pig = $5. Transformation = priceless.
Meaningful gifts: One of our sisters won this pig at our live auction, and she’s giving it to her soon-to-arrive niece. How sweet is that? Handmade carries heart.
Honestly, if I can do it, you can too. Because—as I said in the live—Billy, don’t be a hero. Just do it a little at a time.
Project Spotlight: Meet the Princess Pig
When I found her, this pig was glossy white and very… blank. Cute crown, tutu, yes—but she needed personality. A little sass. A little sparkle.
Here’s what I used:
Bonding Boss Clear Primer (Amazon link: here) — because glossy ceramic won’t hold paint without it. (Affiliate note: yes, these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a tiny commission if you shop through them—at no extra cost to you!)
Paint Colors:
DecoArt Cactus Flower
FolkArt Hot Pink Rose
Plus any white paint you’ve got on hand.
Bling Trim:
Crown, tutu, and a thrift store piggy bank.
Optional extra sparkle: fabric from Ming Fabric Store (discount code SISTERHOOD).
Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the Sisterhood and helping keep the crafting magic alive!
Then we primed, penciled in checks with a watercolor pencil (pink, naturally), and started the slow but satisfying process of filling them in. If you watched the live, you saw me measure, erase, fudge, and finally land on a pattern that looked like it was always meant to be there.
She ended up with eyelashes, polka dots on her ears, rhinestones hugging her tutu, and just enough shimmer to look like she belongs in the window of a designer boutique.
The Fun (and Fails) Along the Way
One of my favorite parts of this project was the community chatter during the live. Comments were flying in:
“Her butt checks don’t match her face checks!” (We fixed it—miracle of miracles, it all came together in the end.)
“Give her polka dots on the snout!” (Done. And they’re darling.)
“Eyelashes, please!” (She got lashes and suddenly looked like she was ready for Broadway.)
And in true Studio MD AZ fashion, we wandered off into side stories—like me confessing my online slot machine detour the day before. (Don’t judge. Sometimes you just need the ding-ding-ding noises in your life.)
Extra Inspiration: What Else Could You Upcycle?
Once you start seeing potential in these thrift finds, you can’t stop. A few ideas:
Deer figurines for Christmas, painted in blue-and-white “royal check.”
Boring vases turned into statement pieces with designer fabric trim.
Old trays given new life with pink checks and bling trim.
Honestly, if it’ll sit still long enough, you can paint checks on it.
The Takeaway: Handmade Is Heartmade
This little pig isn’t just a bank—it’s a reminder that creativity transforms the ordinary. With a little bonding primer, some cheerful pink paint, and a sprinkle of rhinestones, you can take a plain $5 thrift find and make it worthy of center stage.
And the best part? Every brushstroke carries a story. In this case, the story of a Sisterhood auction, a soon-to-arrive niece, and a community of crafty friends cheering each other on.
Watch, Learn, & Join the Fun
🎥 Want to see this project in action? Watch the full video tutorial here!
💖 Want more crafty magic? Join the Sisterhood membership for just $25/month. You’ll unlock this tutorial and our full library of past replays, plus weekly Check Savvy Live fun. Join here.
Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the Sisterhood and helping keep the crafting magic alive!
