How to Make a Leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is a religious and public holiday in Ireland. Leprechauns, small, mischievous Irish sprites, are often associated with this special day. So why not have your grandkids make a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day?
Go further into the lore and fashion a leprechaun trap to capture this mythical creature. Of course, the leprechaun always “escapes,” but leaves gold coins or other small treats behind.
At the end of this post is a list of resources for kids and adults to learn more about St. Patrick’s Day, plus a collection of fun family activities.
How to Make a Leprechaun
The assembly requires a glue gun so younger kids will need adult supervision.
Start St. Patrick’s Day with a breakfast of authentic Irish scones.
Materials Needed for Each Leprechaun
- 1 empty toilet paper roll
- Green tempera or acrylic paint
- Flesh-colored tempera or acrylic paint
- Cardboard, such as the back cover of a spiral-bound steno tablet
- A pair of googly eyes (or draw eyes)
- Black Sharpie or other indelible pen
- Orange construction paper scrap
- Black construction paper scrap
- Yellow construction paper scrap
Make easy Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick’s Day.
Tools Needed
- Pencil
- Sharp scisssors
- Small, sharp scissors
- Paint brushes
- Small, low-temperature glue gun and glue sticks (see note about white school glue option below)
Method
Paint the Body:
Use a pencil to mark the toilet paper roll crosswise into thirds. The easiest way to do this is to cut a sheet of paper to the height of the toilet roll and fold it lengthwise into thirds. Align the folded paper to the bottom of the roll, clip in place with a paper clip, and use a pencil to mark the top of the paper fold. Do the same from the opposite direction.
Now paint the top and bottom thirds of the roll in green; let dry. Then paint the middle section a flesh color. Let dry.
Make the Hat:
Using a jar lid as a guide, trace a circle on cardboard larger than the opening of the toilet roll, about 3/4-inch wider all around. Cut out the circle and paint it green; let dry.
Trace the toilet roll circle onto the cardboard circle, centering the toilet roll on the circle. Using small, sharp scissors, cut the circle from the outside to the middle, then carefully cut out the inner circle. You will need the inner circle for the top of the leprechaun’s hat.
Now, cut a strip of black construction paper for the leprechaun’s hat band. Then cut a rectangle from yellow construction paper taller than the hat band. Make a slit on each side and thread the hat band through it.
Make the Beard and Hair:
Cut a rectangle of orange construction paper for the beard as wide as you want the beard to be. Cut one end in strips. Using a small paint brush handle or chopstick, roll the strips, a few strips at a time. Cut a rectangle of orange construction paper for the hair. Follow the same method to cut and curl. Before assembly, trim the top of the beard into a curve, so it will fit around the face.
Assembly:
Glue the googly eyes to the face of the toilet roll using the glue gun. Alternatively, just draw the eyes with the Sharpie. Draw a smiling mouth. Glue on the beard.
Use the glue gun to glue a line between the leprechaun’s face and hat and working quickly while the glue is still hot, affix the brim of the hat. Slide the buckle on the hat band to the center of the black strip. Glue the hat band in place just above the hat brim.
Finally, run a line of glue from the glue gun along the top of the toilet roll and working quickly, while the glue is still hot, affix the crown to the hat.
Now, using the glue gun, glue the hair in place.
NOTE: It’s possible to use white school glue (like Elmer’s) for some parts of this project, but it will take time for the glue to set and some parts may not adhere easily. You may want to try a combination.
More St. Patrick’s Day Activities and Education
- How to build a leprechaun trap with your kids from Better Homes & Gardens
- Learn more about leprechauns from EBSCO, a research company
- St. Patrick’s Day explained for kids from National Geographic Kids
- The story of St. Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day
- Read books about St. Patrick’s Day legends and leprechauns recommended by Chicago Public Library
- Is St. Patrick’s Day associated with the shamrock or clover? What’s the difference? From Sisters of Mercy
- 29 fun St. Patrick’s Day activities for the whole family from Good Housekeeping
- 30 more St. Patrick’s Day activities from Pioneer Woman
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