14 Easy St Patricks Day Leprechaun Craft Ideas Kids Love

Leprechauns are the heart of St Patricks Day celebrations for kids. With their bright green hats, fluffy orange beards, and pots of gold, they spark imagination and creativity instantly.

If you’re searching for the perfect St Patricks day Leprechaun craft, the best options are simple, hands-on, and designed for little learners. Whether you’re planning a themed classroom activity or a festive afternoon at home, leprechaun crafts combine fine motor development with storytelling and playful creativity.

In this guide, you’ll find 14 easy and engaging St Patricks Day Leprechaun Craft Ideas that work beautifully alongside your broader St Patricks Day crafts collection, making it easy to build a complete holiday experience for preschoolers and early elementary kids.

Let’s start with the most effective and age-appropriate options.

What Is the Best St Patricks Day Leprechaun Craft for Kids?

The best st Patricks day leprechaun craft Ideas for kids is one that is simple to assemble, uses basic materials, encourages creativity and boosts Fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, painting, or sensory play.

For preschoolers and young children, the most effective options are:

• Paper Plate Leprechaun Faces: Great for coloring, gluing, and fine motor skills.
• Handprint Leprechaun Beards: Sensory-friendly and perfect as keepsakes.
• Leprechaun Hat Craft Sticks: Structured, sturdy, and classroom-friendly.

These crafts are easy to prepare, adaptable for different ages, and perfect for home or classroom St Patricks Day activities.

Paper & plate St Patricks Day leprechaun craft Ideas

1. Paper Plate Leprechaun Face

A big, friendly leprechaun face made from a paper plate, complete with an orange beard and green hat. It’s bold, silly, and perfect for hanging on walls or doors.

Materials

• Paper plates
• Green, orange, and peach (or light brown) paint or construction paper
• Orange tissue paper or construction‑paper strips (for the beard)
• Green construction paper (for the hat)
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Glue, scissors, markers

Steps

1. Have kids paint the paper plate peach or light brown for the leprechaun’s face; let it dry.
2. Cut a simple hat shape from green construction paper and a small black band plus yellow square for the buckle if desired.
3. Glue the hat to the top of the plate.
4. Tear or cut orange tissue paper or construction paper into strips.
5. Glue the orange strips around the bottom and sides of the plate to make a big beard.
6. Add googly eyes or draw eyes, a nose, and a smile with markers.

Why it’s great: The big surface is easy for little hands to paint and decorate, and kids get a clear sense of character when they add the face and beard.

2. Simple Cut‑and‑Paste Leprechaun (Template Friendly)

A classic “build‑a‑leprechaun” craft where kids assemble pre‑cut pieces into a cute character. It’s ideal for classrooms and quick prep.

Materials

• Printed leprechaun template or simple hand‑drawn shapes
• Green, orange, and skin‑tone paper
• Glue sticks
• Crayons or markers
• Scissors

Steps

1. Print or draw basic leprechaun parts: hat, face, body, arms, legs, beard.
2. Pre‑cut pieces for younger kids, or let older children cut their own.
3. Give each child a set of pieces and a background sheet.
4. Show a sample, then let them glue the body on first, followed by head, hat, beard, and limbs.
5. Add facial features and any extra decorations with crayons or markers.

Why it’s great: This is a structured craft that reinforces sequencing (“body first, then head”) and basic scissor and gluing skills, while still letting kids personalize their leprechaun.

3. Leprechaun Mask

A wearable leprechaun mask made from a paper plate, complete with hat and fluffy beard. Perfect for pretend play and classroom parades.

Materials

• Paper plates
• Green and orange construction paper
• Googly eyes or markers
• Elastic string or ribbon
• Glue, scissors, craft knife (for adult use)

Steps

1. Lightly draw eye positions on the paper plate and have an adult cut out eye holes.
2. Cut a green hat and orange beard shape from construction paper.
3. Glue the hat to the top of the plate and the beard around the bottom.
4. Add eyes (googly or drawn), a nose, and a mouth.
5. Punch a hole on each side of the plate and tie on elastic or ribbon so kids can wear it.

Why it’s great: Kids love turning into the character they just created, and the mask encourages role‑play, storytelling, and dramatic play.

Wearable St Patricks Day leprechaun Craft Ideas

4. Leprechaun Hat Headband

A simple headband with a tall green leprechaun hat, great for parties, classroom celebrations, or St. Patrick’s Day photos.

Materials

• Green construction paper or cardstock
• Black and yellow paper (for band and buckle)
• Stapler or tape
• Glue, scissors

Steps

1. Cut long strips of green paper wide enough to form a headband.
2. Measure around each child’s head and staple or tape the strip into a loop.
3. Cut a simple top‑hat shape from green paper and a black band plus yellow buckle.
4. Glue the band and buckle onto the hat.
5. Attach the hat to the front of the headband.

Why it’s great: Fast to make, low‑mess, and wearable, this craft gives kids an instant “costume” with minimal prep time.

5. Yarn Leprechaun Beard

A goofy, wearable orange beard made from yarn that kids can put on for dress‑up and leprechaun games.

Materials

• Orange yarn
• Cardboard rectangle (for wrapping)
• Elastic string, ribbon, or a strip of cardstock
• Scissors

Steps

1. Wrap orange yarn around a cardboard rectangle many times to create a thick bundle.
2. Carefully slide the yarn off and tie one side securely so it forms a fringe.
3. Trim the loops on the opposite side to make beard “strands.”
4. Attach the tied top of the beard to a strip of cardstock or elastic to go around the child’s head, leaving the beard hanging down.
5. Adjust the length and fit as needed.

Why it’s great: This craft focuses on texture, fine‑motor work (wrapping and cutting), and results in a hilarious, high‑impact costume piece kids will want to wear.

6. Leprechaun Binoculars (Toilet‑Roll Craft)

Two decorated cardboard tubes become magical “leprechaun‑spotting” binoculars, perfect for treasure hunts and outdoor play.

Materials

• Two toilet paper rolls per child
• Green paint or green paper
• Gold stickers or foil (for “gold” accents)
• Tape or glue
• Hole punch
• Yarn or ribbon

Steps

1. Paint the tubes green or wrap them in green paper; let dry.
2. Decorate with gold stickers, foil, or little shamrock cutouts.
3. Tape or glue the two tubes together side‑by‑side.
4. Punch a hole on the outer edge of each tube and tie a length of yarn or ribbon to create a neck strap.
5. Let kids go on a “leprechaun hunt” around the house or classroom.

Why it’s great: It combines recycling with imaginative play, and kids love having a “tool” for their pretend adventures.

Puppet & toy St Patricks Day leprechaun Craft Ideas

7. Paper Bag Leprechaun Puppet

A simple puppet made from a paper lunch bag that kids can use to tell stories, sing songs, or act out St. Patrick’s Day scenes.

Materials

• Paper lunch bags
• Green, orange, and skin‑tone paper
• Markers or crayons
• Glue, scissors
• Googly eyes (optional)

Steps

1. Turn the paper bag upside down so the flap becomes the puppet’s face.
2. Cut a green shirt shape and glue it to the main body of the bag.
3. Cut a face shape and glue it onto the flap, then add an orange beard around it.
4. Make and attach a green hat with a band and buckle.
5. Add eyes, nose, and mouth with markers or googly eyes.

Why it’s great: Puppets naturally invite storytelling and language development, and kids can reuse them long after the craft is done.

8. Wooden Spoon Leprechaun

A wooden spoon transformed into a charming leprechaun, ideal for stick‑puppet shows or as a playful decoration.

Materials

• Wooden spoons
• Green, orange, and skin‑tone paint or markers
• Felt or construction paper for hat and clothes
• Yarn or paper strips for hair and beard
• Glue, scissors

Steps

1. Draw or paint a face on the spoon bowl using skin‑tone paint or markers.
2. Glue on yarn or paper strips around the back and sides for hair and beard.
3. Cut a small hat and clothing pieces from felt or paper and glue them onto the spoon handle.
4. Add details like buttons, a belt, or shamrocks if you’d like.

Why it’s great: It’s a fun way to turn an everyday object into a character, encouraging creativity and open‑ended play.

3D style St Patricks Day leprechaun craft Ideas

9. Toilet‑Paper‑Roll Leprechaun

A standing leprechaun figure made from a cardboard tube, perfect for shelves, windowsills, or little play scenes.

Materials

• Toilet paper rolls
• Green, orange, and skin‑tone paper or paint
• Googly eyes or markers
• Glue, scissors

Steps

1. Wrap the roll in green paper or paint it green for the leprechaun’s suit.
2. Cut a small rectangle of skin‑tone paper for the face and glue it near the top.
3. Add orange strips for a beard below the face.
4. Make and attach a green hat with a band and buckle to the top of the roll.
5. Draw or glue on eyes, nose, and a smile, and add details like buttons or a belt.

Why it’s great: This craft stands up on its own and uses recyclables, making it both eco‑friendly and easy to display.

10. Styrofoam Cup or Paper Cup Leprechaun Hats

Mini leprechaun hats made from upside‑down cups that kids can decorate and use as decorations or tiny “treasure holders.”

Materials

• Styrofoam or paper cups
• Green paint or green paper
• Black and yellow paper (for hat band and buckle)
• Glue, scissors
• Optional: glitter, stickers

Steps

1. Turn each cup upside down.
2. Paint the outside green or wrap with green paper; let dry.
3. Cut a circle of green paper slightly larger than the cup’s mouth to make the brim and glue the cup onto it.
4. Add a black band and yellow buckle around the base of the cup.
5. Decorate with glitter or stickers if desired.

Why it’s great: These hats look impressive but are very simple, and kids can use them in imaginative play or as tiny “pots” for gold coins or treats.

11. Leprechaun Garden or Trap

A mini “leprechaun world” built in a box or tray, often turned into a playful “trap” with ladders, signs, and gold coins.

Materials

• Shoebox lid, shallow box, or tray
• Moss, pebbles, artificial grass, or shredded green paper
• Craft sticks, cardboard, or blocks (for ladders and signs)
• Plastic gold coins, small pots, or tiny boxes
• Glue or tape, markers

Steps

1. Cover the base of the box with moss, pebbles, or shredded green paper.
2. Build a small ladder or bridge from craft sticks or cardboard.
3. Add a small pot or box as the “pot of gold” and fill with coins.
4. Make little signs (“Leprechauns Welcome,” “Free Gold”) and place them around.
5. Optional: Add a small leprechaun figure or one of the other leprechaun crafts you’ve made.

Why it’s great: Kids get to design and build a whole environment, practicing planning, problem‑solving, and storytelling as they imagine how to attract (or trap) a leprechaun.

Quick, low‑prep St Patricks Day leprechaun Craft ideas

12. Handprint or Footprint Leprechaun

A sweet keepsake craft that turns a child’s handprint or footprint into a leprechaun—perfect for memory books or gifts.

Materials

• White cardstock or thick paper
• Washable paint in skin‑tone, green, and orange
• Markers or crayons
• Brushes, paint tray

Steps

1. For a handprint leprechaun, paint the child’s palm and fingers orange and press onto the paper to make the beard and hair.
2. For a footprint version, paint the foot skin‑tone or orange and press onto the paper to form the body or face.
3. Once dry, add a hat, face, and clothes with paint or markers.
4. Write the child’s name and date at the bottom.

Why it’s great: It captures a moment in time (tiny hands or feet!) and gives families a keepsake they’ll want to save.

13. Puffy Paint or Collage Leprechaun

A highly textured leprechaun where the focus is on building up the hat and beard with puffy paint or collage materials.

Materials

• White cardstock or construction paper
• Green and orange puffy paint or thick glue
• Small scraps of paper, tissue, or cotton
• Markers or crayons

Steps

1. Lightly draw a simple leprechaun head and hat outline on the paper.
2. Have kids fill the hat area with green puffy paint or glue and green scraps.
3. Fill the beard area with orange puffy paint or glued‑on orange bits.
4. Once dry, add facial features with markers.

Why it’s great: The raised texture is fun to touch, and kids can focus on squeezing, dabbing, and sticking more than on staying in the lines.

14. Hiding Leprechaun Craft

A playful paper craft where the leprechaun looks like he’s hiding under a hat, behind a pot of gold, or peeking from a flap.

Materials

• Construction paper in green, black, yellow, and skin‑tone
• Glue, scissors
• Markers or crayons

Steps

1. Cut a pot of gold or large hat shape from paper and glue it to a background sheet, leaving the top edge unglued so it forms a flap or pocket.
2. Cut a small leprechaun face and hat or full body shape that will “hide” behind the flap.
3. Glue the leprechaun so that when the flap is lifted, he is revealed.
4. Add details like coins, shamrocks, or a “Do Not Enter” sign.

Why it’s great: The peek‑a‑boo element is irresistible to kids and adds an interactive twist to a simple paper craft.

Tips and Hacks for Parents and Teachers

Tips for Parents

Creating a St Patricks Day Leprechaun Craft at home should feel playful, not stressful. Preschoolers benefit most when the focus stays on creativity and exploration rather than perfection.

• Keep It Simple and Structured: Choose crafts that use basic materials like paper plates, construction paper, paint, and glue. Pre-cut complex shapes such as hats or beard outlines if your child is still developing scissor skills. This keeps frustration low and confidence high.
• Encourage Independence: Instead of correcting placement or colors, let your child make creative decisions. If they want a purple beard or a rainbow hat, that’s part of the learning process. Creative freedom builds self-expression and confidence.
• Connect Crafts to Learning: You can easily reinforce early skills during the activity: Count gold coins, Practice color naming, identify shapes (circles, rectangles, shamrocks), write their name under the finished craft

Simple conversations make leprechaun crafts both fun and educational.

Tips for Teachers

In the classroom, St Patricks Day leprechaun craft activities work best when they are organized, low-prep, and adaptable for different skill levels.

• Prepare Craft Stations: Set up clearly labeled bins for: Paper pieces, glue and scissors, decorative elements like pom-poms or shamrocks. This reduces transitions and keeps the classroom calm and efficient.
• Offer Skill Variations: Some children may be ready to trace and cut their own shapes, while others need pre-cut templates. Providing both options ensures every child can participate successfully.
• Prioritize Fine Motor Development: Select leprechaun crafts that include Tearing paper for beards, dabbing paint, gluing small paper coins, threading large beads (for older preschoolers). These motions strengthen hand muscles needed for writing.
• Plan for Clean-Up Time: Build clean-up into the schedule. Predictable routines help preschoolers transition smoothly and maintain a positive classroom environment.

If you are looking for more St Patricks Day Crafts for Preschoolers, make sure to check our detailed guide about 13 Fun & Easy St Patricks Day Crafts for Preschoolers.

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