St. Patrick's Day is a magical time for creativity and fun. Of course, we love reading St. Patrick’s Day stories, and this art project combines imagination, crafting skills, and a sprinkle of mischief as children try their best to catch a tricky leprechaun. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create a leprechaun trap that’s both simple and magical, but disclaimer: I’m all about the child-led ideas and designs so our final project looks more like the morning after Christmas than it does a Pinterest-ready creation.

Materials Needed

To get started, you’ll need the following craft supplies (feel free to substitute with what you already have at home - we always just pull a bunch of things out of the craft closet):

A cardboard box or shoebox
Construction paper in a variety of colors
Markers, crayons, or paint
Scissors and glue
Pipe cleaners or straws
Popsicle sticks
String or ribbon
Gold coins (chocolate or plastic) or gold-painted pebbles
Cotton balls for clouds
Stickers, glitter, or sequins for decoration

Step 1: Brainstorm a Design

Before starting, sit down with your kids and brainstorm ideas for the trap. Ask them questions like, “What might attract a leprechaun?” Encourage them to think about rainbows, pots of gold, shamrocks, or anything else that feels festive and fun. My kids have been building on their ideas year after year…this year, they are planning to add honey and maple syrup in the night before!

Step 2: Decorate the Box

Begin by decorating the cardboard box. Use colorful construction paper to transform the box into a vibrant base for the trap. Kids can draw or paint rainbows on the sides, glue cotton balls on top for clouds, or sprinkle glitter to make it extra magical. This step is all about letting their imagination shine - I try not to offer my ideas at all.

Step 3: Create a Trap Mechanism

A leprechaun trap should have a clever mechanism for catching the mischievous leprechaun. I love letting my kids figure it all out on their own without any of my guidance, but if you want to give them some hints, one simple method is to prop the lid of the box up with a stick or craft straw that’s attached to a string. When the leprechaun investigates the gold coins inside, you can pull the string to drop the lid and “trap” them! Another option is to cut a small hole in the box and cover it with lightweight paper, creating a “fall through” style trap. My kids came up with popsicle sticks and ribbons they’ll be attracted to and then fall off of, into the box.

Step 4: Lure the Leprechaun

Now it’s time to bait the trap! Use shiny items like gold coins, beads, or even scraps of golden foil to attract the leprechaun’s attention. Place these items inside and around the trap. You can also add handwritten signs like “Free Gold This Way!” or “Rainbow Treasure Ahead” to up the fun factor.

Step 5: Final Touches

Finish the leprechaun trap with extra decorations. Add pipe cleaners shaped into rainbows, shamrock stickers, or sequins to make it look irresistible.

Step 6: Set the Trap and Wait

Finally, place the completed trap in a special spot the night before St. Patrick’s Day. Whether it’s by the windowsill or on the kitchen table, your kids will be excited to see if their creative trap managed to catch a leprechaun. We have a funny little tradition of leaving them outside the front door at night (same with Easter baskets and Santa’s reindeer treats, thanks to a kiddo in our fam who was pretty disturbed by the idea of strangers coming into our house while we’re sleeping, which makes a lot of sense to me.) Even if no leprechaun appears, leaving behind little footprints, glitter, treats, or a playful “note” from the leprechaun will bring smiles.

Why Make a Leprechaun Trap?

Making a leprechaun trap is a whimsical way to engage kids in hands-on learning and creative play. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work together as a family, spark storytelling, and enjoy the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Plus, these traps make for adorable keepsakes or decorations to revisit year after year.

Get crafting and have fun capturing the magic of the holiday with your little ones. Who knows? You just might catch a lucky leprechaun this year!

How to Make a Leprechaun Trap