Easy Leprechaun Craft and Fun Game
Are you looking for a leprechaun craft? Upcycle a jar into an easy Leprechaun, fill it with goodies, and hide it for kids to find on St. Patrick’s Day! Simple and inexpensive project for craft night, kids, gift ideas, etc.
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Hello there! Are you ready to add a touch of magic and whimsy to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration? Whether you’re a mom looking for fun activities to do with your preschooler at home or a teacher planning engaging crafts for your kindergarten classroom, we’ve got you covered with some adorable leprechaun crafts that are sure to delight!
Easy Leprechaun Craft and Fun Game Materials
- A jar
- 2 google eyes (Dollar Tree)
- Pom pom (Dollar Tree)
- Leprechaun hat (Dollar Tree)
- Black permanent Marker or paint pen
- Orange acrylic paint
- Hot glue gun or regular school glue
- *Optional – filling ideas included below or battery operated tealight
Easy Leprechaun Craft Instructions
First, glue your eyes and pom pom nose on your jar. If using regular school glue, dry times will take longer.
Next glue on your pom pom nose
Using your permanent marker or paint pen, draw on a mouth.
Use acrylic paint to fingerprint on a beard. Let dry completely.
Add the hat and the Leprechaun is done. You could add a hat buckle if you would like.
Filling options for your Leprechaun Craft
Now on to the filling options…and the game option will be at the end.
Add a battery operated tea light and make him a candle.
Fill it with plastic shamrock coins (Dollar Tree) for display or use the coins as a reward system.
Fill it with money.
Fill it with pennies and change.
Fill it with gold wrapped chocolate candy bars or coins.
Fill it with yellow colored candies.
Leprechaun Craft Game Instructions
Now for the game. I made these Leprechauns for my kids ages ago. Every year I fill them with something and hide them in the house. On St. Patrick’s Day, my kids wake up and go look for their Leprechauns. A hide and seek of sorts, and they love it.
If you use the plastic coins, a second game is to toss the coins into the leprechaun and his hat.
Easy Leprechaun Craft and Fun Game Video Tutorial
Watch me make this and several other St. Patrick’s Day DIYS in my video with Hometalk
Leprechaun Craft Q & A
Traditionally in Irish folklore, leprechauns are mischievous creatures known for their elusive nature and their pots of gold hidden at the end of rainbows. However, in modern interpretations, especially around St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns are often depicted as friendly, magical beings who bring luck and joy to children. They might leave behind small gifts, treats, or even play harmless pranks as a way to spread cheer. It’s all part of the playful spirit of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the magic of folklore!
Making it look like a leprechaun visited can be a fun and creative activity, especially for St. Patrick’s Day! Here are some ideas:
Green Footprints: Use green washable paint or green chalk to create footprints leading from the door or window to the area where the leprechaun left a surprise. You can make the footprints with your hand or a stencil to resemble small leprechaun feet.
Glittery Trails: Sprinkle gold or green glitter in a winding trail leading to where the leprechaun left gifts or treats. It adds a magical touch and makes it look like the leprechaun left behind a bit of sparkle as they moved around.
Leprechaun Note: Craft a tiny note written in small handwriting with green or gold ink, thanking the children for their hospitality and leaving a hint about where to find their surprise. You can use fancy paper or create an aged look by crumpling and staining the edges with tea or coffee.
Tipped Over Chairs or Objects: Arrange chairs or small objects in the room slightly askew, as if the leprechaun was searching for something or got into a bit of mischief during their visit.
Hidden Treasures: Leave behind small treats like chocolate gold coins, candies, or small trinkets in unexpected places, such as under pillows, behind curtains, or tucked into shoes.
Door Decorations: Hang tiny green hats or shamrock decorations on the doorknob or near the entrance to signify the leprechaun’s visit.
Remember, the key is to embrace the whimsical and playful nature of the leprechaun legend, so feel free to get creative and have fun with it!
Leprechauns, according to Irish folklore, are mischievous and elusive creatures with a penchant for trickery and a love for gold. Here are some common activities and behaviors associated with leprechauns:
Crafty Tricks: Leprechauns are known for their cleverness and love of playing pranks. They might hide objects, move things around, or create mischief in the home or garden.
Fixing Shoes: In folklore, leprechauns are often depicted as shoemakers. They’re said to spend much of their time crafting and mending shoes, sometimes leaving behind perfectly repaired footwear as a sign of their presence.
Guarding Gold: One of the most famous aspects of leprechaun lore is their supposed possession of pots of gold hidden at the end of rainbows. They are said to be fiercely protective of their treasure and will go to great lengths to keep it safe.
Granting Wishes: Some stories portray leprechauns as granting wishes to those who catch them. However, they’re notorious for being tricky and may twist the wording of wishes to suit their own interests.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day: In modern times, especially around St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns are often depicted as friendly, festive creatures who bring luck and joy. They might leave behind treats or small gifts for children, playfully decorate homes with green and gold, or participate in parades and festivities.
Going Unseen: Leprechauns are elusive beings, and it’s said to be incredibly difficult to catch sight of one. They’re known for their ability to vanish quickly if spotted, leaving behind only a trail of mischief and maybe a pot of gold if you’re lucky!
These are just a few examples of the many tales and traditions surrounding leprechauns. In essence, they’re magical beings whose whimsical antics and love of gold have captured the imagination of people for centuries.
More Leprechaun Crafts
Let’s dive into the world of creativity and celebration with some cute leprechaun crafts perfect for preschoolers and kindergarten kiddos. With simple materials like paper plates, cardstock, and yarn, along with our free leprechaun templates, you can create charming paper leprechauns and handprint crafts that will be the highlight of any St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
For fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination development, try making a handprint leprechaun craft. Simply trace your little one’s handprints onto green paper and add details like a leprechaun’s beard, hat, and gold buckle. It’s a fun activity that doubles as a keepsake!
How do you trap a leprechaun craft?
Creating a leprechaun trap craft can be a fun and creative project! Here’s a simple idea to get you started:
Materials:
- Shoebox or small cardboard box
- Green construction paper or paint
- Gold glitter or gold coins
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers or paint for decorating
- Craft supplies like pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes (optional)
Instructions:
- Take the shoebox or cardboard box and cover it with green construction paper or paint to give it a festive look.
- Decorate the box to make it look like a trap. You can draw or paint shamrocks, rainbows, and other St. Patrick’s Day-themed designs on the box.
- Add some sparkle by sprinkling gold glitter or gluing gold coins onto the box.
- Cut a small hole in the top of the box where the leprechaun will enter.
- Set up your trap by placing the box in a tempting location, perhaps near a pot of gold (or chocolate gold coins!).
- Optional: Use craft supplies like pipe cleaners, pom poms, or googly eyes to create leprechaun decoys to lure the leprechaun into the trap.
Remember, catching a leprechaun is all in good fun, so enjoy the crafting process and let your imagination run wild!
If you’re looking for a classroom project, consider making leprechaun paper bag puppets. With just a few simple materials like paper bags, cardstock, and markers, your students can create their own adorable puppets to act out St. Patrick’s Day stories or songs.
Don’t forget to add some festive flair to your bulletin board with photographs of your students proudly displaying their leprechaun crafts. It’s a great way to showcase their creativity and celebrate the holiday spirit!
Further Reading:
- 9 Fantastic and Easy Dollar Tree St Patrick’s Day Crafts
- A Good Luck Sign for St. Patrick’s Day
- Easy St. Patrick’s Day Glass
- Easy St. Patrick’s Day Suncatcher/Picture
So grab your paper bags, cardstock, and yarn, and let’s get crafting! With these simple and cute leprechaun crafts, you’re sure to have much fun celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with your little ones. And remember, creativity knows no age limit, so whether you’re a preschooler or an old lady, there’s something magical about bringing adorable leprechauns to life with your own hands. Happy crafting and happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Cute project.
Thank you 🙂
This is very cute!
Thank you Donna 🙂
That is adorable and nanas would love to make these! Going to share your link on my Facebook page. I hope you get some traffic from it. Have a great day!
Teresa from NanaHood.com
Oh my gosh Teresa you are so sweet to share on your Facebook page. Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day as well 🙂
What a fun St. Patrick’s day activity tradition. He’s adorable. Thanks for sharing with us at the Virtual Fridge.
Thank you, and I have them all ready for my 13 & 16 year old for this year.
Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Can’t wait to see what you link up next week! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life
Thanks Roseann, and I can’t wait to join again 🙂