Sometimes, the best way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your kids is surprise them with leprechaun tricks! Craft a leprechaun trap or take the leprechaun's loot with these adorable, easy-to-make crafts. Your kids of any age can join you. It's that easy!
Here, we've got a variety of crafts for all ages. For toddlers and preschoolers, we've got finger painting crafts to decorate rainbows and pots of gold. Even a leprechaun paper plate can be as simple as one-two-three. For older ages, your kids may be interested in beaded shamrocks or paper shamrock decorations.
But for some who want a challenge, we've got tricks and treats fit for a leprechaun to snatch! Parents and kids can have fun building leprechaun traps or stamping bags for Irish loot! Almost always, you'll find a pot of gold (or chocolate coins!) at the end of every rainbow, and to treat your kids, you can make these treats edible with M&M leprechaun hats or rainbow-colored candy gift bags.
No matter what, this St. Patrick's Day can be filed with gifts, treats and crafts galore! Here are the top 10 crafts we've discovered for you.
Photo Courtesy of Tumblr
[new page = Fingerprint rainbow pot of gold]
10. Fingerprint rainbow pot of gold
This is the cutest, easiest craft with do with your toddler or preschooler. Have your kids paint the pot black with the outline you trace. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle gold dust onto the pot.
For the rainbow, let your kids dip their fingers or thumbs in finger paint and press the colors of the rainbow. Do the same for the shamrocks. It's the perfect craft for any age.
image: Pinterest
[new page = Leprechaun paper plate]
9. Leprechaun paper plate
For this adorable project, take a paper plate and place glue on the plate's rim. Spread a sheet of orange tissue paper over the plate, and when the glue has dried, gently rip the paper to expose the plate's center.
For the leprechaun hat, take green construction paper and glue on the top of the plate with the black belt and gold buckle. Add a smiley face in the plate's center. If you like, post a picture of your kid or baby in the plate's center. You'll have the cutest leprechaun face in the house!
image: Pinterest
[new page = Paper rainbow door hanger]
8. Paper rainbow door hanger
Add a bit of shine to your house or classroom. Take one paper plate and cut out the pot and rainbow shapes. Have your kids paint or color their paper plates with markers.
While the paint is still dry, add glitter to the clouds and cut-out shamrock. If you're using markers, have your kids smear stick glue to get the glitter to stay.
image: Pinterest
[new page = Beaded shamrock decoration]
7. Beaded shamrock decoration
Arrange your beads in an assortment of colors. Twist the twine onto the pipe cleaner and shape the twine into shamrock leaves. Hang your decoration, if you choose, with a glittery pipe cleaner.
Perfect for any kid to make or give as a St. Patrick's Day gift!
image: Pinterest
[new page = Shamrock decorations]
6. Shamrock decorations
These decorations can light any room on St. Patrick's Day. Coil different strands of green or white construction paper. Punch holes in one leaf to hang from your ceiling.
These bright green decorations will make you and your kids happy.
image: Pinterest
[new page = M&M leprechaun hat]
5. M&M leprechaun hat
Anytime, this is a cute project to keep. Bake sugar cookies and dye them green. Have your kids stack black and green M&Ms in a plastic cup for the leprechaun hat. Glue the plastic cup to the cookies with frosting. Add a touch of gold with a paper or felt buckle glued with glitter.
Any kid would love to eat this treat or keep it as decoration.
image: Pinterest
[new page = Leprechaun trap]
4. Leprechaun trap
This is the fun project. Your kid gets to catch that wily leprechaun.
For the leprechaun hat, take a paper cup and wrap it in green construction paper. Add cardboard or paper for the rim and glue a paper belt and buckle. Make sure that the hat's top is just paper so that the leprechaun can easily fall into the trap.
Make a sign that says something like, "Here lies a pot of gold." Trick your leprechaun with green sand and gold coins. But beware. If your ladder (be it pretzel or wood) is not firm, your leprechaun may see through your trap and sneak away!
image: Pinterest
[new page = Rainbow gift bag]
3. Rainbow gift bag
There's nothing better than to give a pot of gold to someone you love.
For this St. Patrick's Day gift bag, place gold-wrapped chocolate at the bottom of a plastic gift bag. Add layers of M&Ms or candy. Wrap your bag with a sign that says, "You're my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."
Perfect to give to parents, grandparents or teachers. Especially those with an Irish heritage!
image: Pinterest
[new page = Leprechaun loot bags]
2. Leprechaun loot bags
Even if you can't catch your leprechaun, you can still catch his loot.
Buy small trinket bags from your local craft store. Stamp them with shamrock-shaped stamps dipped in food dye. Experiment with whatever works for you, then fill your bags with chocolate gold coins.
Surprise your kids with these loot bags. Say the leprechauns stole them, and hide them in the living room and make your kids find them!
image: Pinterest
[new page = Leprechaun bowl hats]
1. Leprechaun bowl hats
The ultimate St. Patrick's Day craft lies with stashes of gold in adorable hats.
For this project, we suggest Tupperware bowls with lids. Dab your bowls with acrylic paint and let dry. Wrap your bowls with black construction paper for the belt. Add the gold paper buckle and green shamrock. Put gold coins in the bucket.
When your kids wake up on St. Patrick's Day, surprise them with these gold-filled buckets! They'll be sure to never forget these wonderful, delicious moments.
image: Pinterest
image: Pinterest