May 23 marks Lucky Penny Day, so scoop up any copper coins you spot — heads (Abe) up, naturally!
They’re only worth one cent apiece, but if you think collecting pennies is pointless, think again. Sure, it may seem like it will take ages to see a dent in a savings account, but I’ve embraced the idea that every tiny contribution counts.
As Kyle Taylor, Savinly’s CEO, puts it, “Mind the pennies, and the dollars will look after themselves.”
Still, pennies have plenty of uses beyond letting their modest value accumulate in your bank. In honor of this quirky holiday, here are some alternate ways to use our little copper friends.
7 Penny Crafts You Can Make With Our Favorite Coin
There are plenty of practical penny tricks.
It’s never too early to introduce kids to money. Teach them counting — and the basics of currency — using pennies.
A penny can stand in for a flathead screwdriver or be used to check your tire tread.
Fun tidbit: line up 16 pennies and you’ve got an improvised 12-inch ruler.
Glue a coin or two to the base of a chair leg and you can steady a wobbly chair.
But those are a bit mundane.
If you want to get creative, think about the many DIY crafts you can craft with pennies — or even 13,000 of them. Buff up your pennies and your crafting chops and try these seven projects.
1. Penny Ring
Start with something easy. Pick your lucky penny (maybe one from your birth year or the coin you tucked into your shoe on your wedding day) and fashion it into a ring.
You’ll need superglue, a short rhinestone trim, some wire, pliers and a round form to wrap the wire around. For step-by-step guidance, see this Trinkets in Bloom tutorial.
2. Penny Bracelet
This jewelry project uses pressed pennies — the kind you grab at theme parks, museums or highway rest areas while traveling. Savinly editor Rain Turner made one and described the process for World of Walt years ago.
Aside from several pressed pennies, gather a hammer, small nail, clamp, cloth, beads, chain, beading wire, jump rings, round-nosed jewelry pliers and a toggle clasp.
Follow these directions to turn tiny keepsakes into a special bracelet.
3. Coin Barrettes
Create an affordable hair clip featuring Mr. Lincoln. Pick your shiniest pennies to give the accessory some sparkle.
All you need are about three pennies, a plain barrette and super glue or contact cement. Check out Auntie Anne’s Crafts for assembly tips.
4. Penny Coasters
Impress visitors at your next gathering with handmade drink coasters. The blog Seriously I’m Thrifty made these with Canadian pennies, but U.S. coins will work well too.
To assemble the coasters you’ll need a disposable cup and spoon, coaster molds, petroleum jelly, resin and a straw or lighter, plus a bunch of pennies. Follow this guide to craft your own.
5. Penny Tiled Mirror
A penny-tiled mirror adds character to your home décor. This craft uses dozens of pennies; the exact number depends on the mirror’s dimensions.
The blog Real Happy Space used a small round mirror, a plywood backing, wood finish and hot glue. You could do the same or frame a rectangular mirror similar to the project on Honey Sweet Home.
6. Penny Table
Savinly’s office features a striking penny table showing Abe’s face.
If you want to build one, see Heart Maine Home’s tutorial. They updated a side table with trim and paint, used super glue and Gorilla Glue to secure pennies, and finished with an epoxy glaze for a smooth top.
Consider doing a countertop too, like the folks at Domestic Imperfection. Their trial-and-error approach includes mistakes you can learn from.
7. Penny Floor
If you’re truly daring, cover an entire floor in pennies.
USA Love List used more than 10,500 pennies — a bit over $100 — to cover a 38-square-foot kitchen floor. Their supplies included a 12”x12” picture frame, contact paper, glue, epoxy and a heat source such as a blowtorch or hair dryer. Read the step-by-step installation here.
If that seems daunting, try covering a shower floor instead. The family at A Building We Shall Go used about 5,382 pennies along with glue, grout and epoxy for their project.
For more crafty inspiration, plus recipes, career tips, personal finance ideas and more, check out Savinly’s Pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/thepennyhoarder/.
Also explore cheap craft supplies and fun projects for little ones like these thanksgiving crafts for kids to stock up on materials and seasonal ideas.
Alex Morgan is a staff writer at Savinly. She bookmarked the penny-floor concept to her personal Pinterest board long before joining Savinly and plans to tackle the project once she owns a home.
