I was a preschool teacher when I first heard the excited squeals of children looking under tables and in corners trying to catch a leprechaun after green milk was delivered for breakfast on St. Patrick’s Day. I didn’t know it then, but this fun tradition would eventually make its way into my own family.
A few years later, I took a DNA test and found out that I’m a wee bit Irish. This newly discovered fact piqued my interest to create fun experiences and traditions with my own little family. Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day became one of those traditions, along with catching a leprechaun. The fact that we are all a little sneaky makes leprechaun-catching extra fun.
To make this St. Patrick’s Day a little extra fun, I’ve put together some 10-minute-or-less DIY activities and clever ideas to celebrate. Here is an easy leprechaun trap to make with your kids, plus four mischievously creative crafts for the entire family.
Leprechaun Trap
The fun thing about leprechaun traps is you can make them as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. If you have young kiddos, create the base layer and have them add the rest. As children get a little older, allow them to experiment with making their own tricky trap.
Basic Trap Supplies:
- Something to trap the leprechaun in: a box, bag, or jar
- A trick
- Legos, blocks, or other objects to create stairs or a ladder
- Gold coins and/or shiny objects
- Miscellaneous craft items to decorate your trap
- In this example, a recycled box was used, and a hole was cut on top.
- After wrapping the box in paper, use an X-Acto knife to cut a slit.
- Make a set of stairs or something for the leprechaun to climb.
- Lure the leprechaun by adding shiny objects and signs, leading him right to the trap.
Diorama
Have a few boxes laying around? Put them to good use by creating a lucky scene using various felts, fabrics, and trinkets. These make great gifts and festive decorations.
Supplies:
- Boxes, variety of sizes
- Felt/Fabric
- Scissors
- Hot Glue/Fabric Glue
- Knick-Knacks & Embellishments
- Line the boxes with felt or fabric, securing with glue.
- Using various textures and embellishments, create a whimsical spring scene. Secure in place using glue.
- To make the dioramas extra fun, add additional details like clay figurines, moss, and google eyes.
Lucky Charms
Create a simple leather bracelet using leather trim and lucky charms.
Supplies:
- Leather ribbon
- Charms
- Scissors
- Cut a piece of leather long enough to wrap around your wrist three times.
- Slide charm(s) on cord.
- Tie a sliding knot on either side of the bracelet and trim excess cord.
- Use the sliding knot to adjust bracelet size.
Lucky Stitch
Sometimes it’s in the details. Stitch a clover or horseshoe onto a ribbon, shirt cuff or pair of socks to carry the luck with you all day.
Golden Nuggets
Paint rocks using gold leaf and metallic markers. Use them in your décor, or to help increase your odds of catching a sneaky leprechaun.
Supplies:
- River Rocks
- Metallic paint markers/Paint
- Paint brushes
- Gold Leaf
- Gather a handful of river rocks from outside or purchase from the craft store. If you’re opting for nature rocks, make sure to wipe clean and let dry.
- Use a gold metallic paint to paint the rocks gold. Dry between flipping.
- Apply gold leaf flakes for added texture while paint is still tacky.
- Once dry, rub off extra gold leaf.
- Display in a bed of moss or throughout the house.
Other Tricks and Pranks:
Needing other leprechaun tricks to play on your family? Here are a few more sneaky ideas:
- Turn the milk green by adding a couple drops of green food coloring… better yet, turn the toilet water green! Your kids will roar with laughter. While you’re at it, seal the toilet paper with a St. Patrick’s Day sticker.
- Eat a green meal on St. Patrick’s Day.
- Make some messes! Spill some flour on the countertop and stamp tiny leprechaun footprints.
- Draw tiny footprints in chalk leading up to the door.
- Flip furniture upside down and turn everything inside out.
- Switch out items in the shower – hide the soap in the fridge and display the BBQ sauce in the shampoo caddy.
- Make plants and flowers “bloom” marshmallows.
- Add googly eyes to everything!
- Put a favorite toy (or spare toothbrush) in a Jell-O mold.
- Create a rainbow scavenger hunt.
- Since most leprechauns are shoemakers, they love to have a lot of fun with kicks. You can start by tying shoelaces together or change out the shoelaces with green ones. You can also stuff coins and foil-wrapped candy inside shoes.
- Scribble tiny messages and jokes on paper and hide them throughout the house.
Although sneaky and always after gold, the best leprechauns still manage to leave a wee bit of treasure behind. Happy catching!
