12 Leprechaun DIY Tricks & Fun Facts About Leprechauns

A leprechaun playing tricks with two men

Are you getting ready for a St. Patrick's Day party this year? If so, we have some leprechaun DIY tricks that are going to make your party out of this world. We will show you how to make everything from leprechaun hats to shamrocks using everyday items. Celebrate in style with these fun ideas for DIY tricks. Plus, we included bonus fun (and shocking) facts about leprechauns. 

1. Leprechaun Trap

Leprechaun Trap

Leprechaun Trap - Image by Crayola

Leprechaun traps are the most popular tricks to make for St. Patrick's Day. Kids are very excited to make this craft because they want to catch a leprechaun. This leprechaun trap is very simple to make. However, if you don't want to make the slime, you can always buy ready-to-use modeling clay to fill the mason jar. 

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Make the trap.
    1. Cut out the side of the cereal box and cover it with construction paper. A large cereal box or shoebox big enough to cover the small mason jar is good enough. 
    2. Cut scallop strips out of green construction paper. Glue them on the cardboard box, overlapping them like fish scales.
    3. Make a rainbow with the colored pens, cut it out, and stick it to the box opposite the scale side.
    4. Decorate the rainbow with tulle ribbon scraps.
  2. Make the slime.
    1. Put 3/4 cup glue and baking soda in a shallow basin to make slime and mix well.
    2. Add lotion to the mixture, then mix until smooth.
    3. Add ½ tsp of contact lens solution into the mixture at a time. Keep mixing, and add more solution until you get slime consistency. Assist the child during this step as contact lens solution may irritate the skin.
    4. Add the Crayola Model Magic and water in a separate bowl to dissolve the model magic. 
    5. Mix the slime and the model magic solution, then put the slime into a mason jar.
  3. Make the decoy gold coins.
    1. Make a 1-inch ball of yellow clay, then flatten it to look like a gold coin. Make a gold swirl on the coin using gold glitter glue. 
  4. Assemble the trap.
    1. Make a small ball of the model magic, then flatten it to make it the base for the dowel to hold up the trap.
    2. Put the mason jar under the box and prop the box up with the dowel stand. 
    3. Scatter the gold coins near the mason jar, leading out of the box.

2. Leprechaun Bridge Trap

Leprechaun Bridge Trap

Leprechaun Bridge Trap - Image by Goldie Blox

This tricky craft is best for older kids because it is advanced in design and details. If you can't find old shoeboxes, you can also make your DIY boxes from cereal boxes. Fill the bucket with magic leprechaun rocks and lucky charms for a fun surprise to share with your kids.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Make the decoy setup.
    1. Decorate one shoebox with green cardstock. Design it by making a rainbow and clouds using popsicle sticks and cotton balls, respectively.
    2. Cut the short side of another shoebox and glue it under the rainbow. Cover the sides with green cardstock and the floor with fake moss.
  2. Assemble the trap. 
    1. Position the skewer across the 2nd shoebox and paint the stick across the skewer. The skewer should support half of the paint stick length. Cut the paint stick and skewer if they are too long.
    2. Glue the binder clip under the paint stick, then cover the opposite side with green cardstock and double-sided adhesive.
    3. Punch a hole with a single-hole puncher on either side of the shoebox, then push the skewer into the holes.
    4. Cover both sides of the paint stick bridge with tissue paper, then add more fake moss.
    5. Make a ladder from rainbow toothpicks and glue it to the top of the box so that the leprechaun can get to the treasures.
  3. Add the lure (gold coins, chocolate rocks, etc.
    1. Punch a hole on the first shoebox, and slide a paper clip and rubber band through the hole. Secure the paper clip with more glue.
    2. Tie the mini bucket to the other end of the rubber band and hang it over the bridge.
  4. Finish the setup with mini-fencing.

3. Green Dried Slime

Green Slime

Green Slime - Image by Izabeloi

Slimes are very versatile, and you can use them for various tricks. You can shape them into balls and wrap them in candy wrappers to trick your friends. Just be sure kids don't get these trick candies to avoid accidents. You may also make icky critters with this green slime to decorate your table. 

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Mix the ingredients in a mixing bowl until the mixture is smooth.
  2. Add the activator and mix again.
  3. When the slime separates from the basin, the slime is ready.

4. Green Toilet Water

Toilet with green water flushing and leprechaun footprint stickers

Trick your kids to believe that a mischievous leprechaun peed in your toilet and didn't flush. Be prepared with their hilarious reaction when they see that the flush water is still green. Stick leprechaun footprints on the toilet seat and the floor for a more authentic leprechaun experience. Complete the toilet experience by leaving some sticker footprints on toilet paper, too.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Add a few drops of green food coloring into the flush tank to make the toilet water green.
  2. You can add leprechaun footprint stickers on the toilet seat, flush tank, and on the floor going to the bathroom.
  3. Fill a mini cauldron with chocolates to make up for the gross water.

5. Quilled Caterpillar

Quilled caterpillar

Quilled caterpillar - Image by Art & Craft Tutorial by Dhanu

Introduce quilling to your kids and let them explore this fun activity to make cards for various occasions. For starters, teach them to make a DIY caterpillar from strips of construction paper and make them into cards to give (or scare) their friends and younger siblings. Finish your decors with green balloons and a DIY green hat that leprechauns love, made from toilet paper rolls. 

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Cut eight 1/2-inch strips of green construction paper and two 1/2-inch strips of white construction paper.
  2. Roll your green strips of construction paper, then glue the end to the quilled strip. Use the gauge to keep your rounds consistent.
  3. Cut a 4x5-inch rectangle from thick white and green cardstock.
  4. Glue the green rolled strips to the card base to make the caterpillar's body. Add the white rolled strips for the eyes.
  5. Add the antenna to the caterpillar, then add a trick message. Use these cards to decorate your table and spook your visitors.

6. Falling Gold Prank

Falling Gold Prank

Falling Gold Prank - Image by Ross Smith

Here's one of our favorite leprechaun tricks that you should try. How would you feel if a stack of pots fell on you while walking on the streets? This trick will indeed have your friends laughing so hard after recovering from the initial shock. It is best to have a child wear a green leprechaun costume while doing this trick.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Stack 9 plastic cauldrons together.
  2. Cut a 1-inch length of duct tape. 
  3. Stick the duct tape to hold the cauldrons together. Allow enough slack on the duct tape to let the cauldrons "topple over."
  4. Cut the gold glitter foam sheet, and glue it to cover the topmost cauldron.

7. Soda Jelly

Soda jelly

Soda jelly - Image by 123 Go!

This next trick is best pulled on your friends who always steal your soda. Imagine their shock when instead of a drink, something slimy comes out. We bet they won't be stealing your soda for quite a time. That is until they discover the soda jelly tastes great.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Pour out some soda to make room for the oil and food coloring.
  2. Add corn oil and food coloring into the soda bottle. Shake to mix evenly.
  3. Add sprinkles if you want. Although, we discourage adding the sprinkles if you want your prank to look legit.
  4. Pop the soda bottles in the fridge for at least an hour, and it should be ready to prank your friends.

8. Spinach Pancakes

Spinach Pancakes

Spinach Pancakes - Image by Momables

Green pancakes are in during St. Patrick's Day, not to mention that these pancakes taste great. It's an excellent way to start your day since you'll gorge on all kinds of junk food later during your party.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Blend the spinach with milk and egg until you get a fine consistency.
  2. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar well in a mixing bowl. 
  3. Add the spinach-milk-egg mixture into the mixing bowl, then mix everything well.
  4. Add butter to a nonstick pan, then cook the pancakes.

9. Green Milk (Kid & Adult Version)

Green Milk

Green Milk - Image by Mr. Cheezy Pop

Breakfast isn't complete without milk. Instead of using just food color to make your milk green, why not make a healthier version to share with your kids? It tastes great even if they look gross, by the way. You can then make the adult version during your party later that night.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Blend all the ingredients until smooth, except for the tequila or vodka. 
  2. Serve in a festive glass. For an adult version of this green milk, you can add a shot of tequila or vodka.
  3. For a more festive look, make green ice cubes from water added with green food coloring.

10. Marshmallows on Trees

Marshmallows on trees

Marshmallows on trees - Image by William Wesemann

This fun trick will let your kids believe that marshmallows grow on trees, though it's best for three years and younger kids only. Let your kids help you plant and water the marshmallow seed so they'll have more fun discovering the fruits of their labor overnight. 

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Insert a seed (any medium-sized seed will do, ex. a pumpkin seed) inside a marshmallow, then leave it outside for your child to find. Good hiding places are areas where they usually play.
  2. Encourage your kid to plant the "seed" in a pot, then replace the seed with a shrub after the kids go to bed.
  3. Add a few marshmallows on the shrub for your kids to find in the morning. 

11. Chocolate Trail

Chocolate trail and green footprints on the floor

Here's another one of the leprechaun tricks to play on your kids. A sign that leprechauns paid a visit to your house is a trail of green footprints along with gold chocolate coins, so it looks like a sneaky leprechaun dropped them while in a hurry. You may also use this trail when you do a scavenger hunt on St. Patrick's day.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Stick some leprechaun footprint stickers on the floor and drop some chocolate gold coins trailing along the footsteps. You may also add shamrock stickers for extra fun.
  2. You can lead the footsteps to another room with another surprise waiting for your children.
  3. Another trick is to lead the footsteps away from the trap. Use the same chocolate coins you used in the trap to trail on the floor. 

12. Googly-eyed Pancakes

Googly-eyed pancakes and blueberries

Make your St. Patrick's day fun with the right start. This breakfast treat will surely make your kids laugh and enjoy their breakfast even better. Be sure to remove the googly eyes before you let them eat their treat.

What You'll Need

Directions

  1. Make pancakes from the pancake mix. Make one large and two small pancakes for each face.
  2. Arrange the pancakes on a plate - the bigger one for the face and the smaller ones for the bear's ears.
  3. Decorate the bear's face with googly eyes for the eyes, a slice of banana for the mouth, and a single cherry for the nose.
  4. Cut a mustache from black construction paper (or nori sheet), then place it over the banana slice.
  5. Put some blueberries around and on top of the googly eyes for added design.

10 Leprechaun Fun Facts

  1. Leprechauns are mythical creatures in Irish folklore known for their penchant for making shoes. They belong to the family of fairies.
  2. Leprechauns don't always wear green. Depending on the region, a leprechaun can wear a red military coat paired with white breeches, while others wear a red coat over a green vest and white breeches.
  3. They have weapons. Some leprechauns carry a sword that they use as a magic wand. Others wear a pointed, brimless hat that they can use as a weapon.
  4. Leprechaun gold is as elusive as the leprechaun itself. Folklore has it that the leprechaun hides a pot of gold coins at the end of a rainbow that no one can find.
  5. In Ireland, people believe that you will have three wishes and a stroke of luck if you catch this little guy.
  6. Do you know that there are no female leprechauns?
  7. When in Ireland on St. Patrick's day, don't be mad when someone pinches you! It's a tradition that the Irish do to remind each other of the leprechaun mischief.
  8. Mill Ends Park, located in Portland, Oregon is the world's smallest park (Guinness World Records, 1971) and a community for leprechauns, according to journalist Dick Fagan. It became an official park on March 17, 1976, though it was dedicated 28 years earlier as a park on March 17, 1948.
  9. Leprechaun has a cousin, clurichaun. They're known for their surly behavior and penchant for wine.
  10. An EU directive protects the purported habitat of the leprechauns, including the plants and animals in the Slieve Foye, a mountain in Carlingford, Ireland. Accordingly, 236 leprechauns remain in the area.

Conclusion

So now that you have all the tricks, it's time to get started with amazing St. Patrick's Day decorations. Gather your friends and family members and enjoy making these crafts. Not only will they look great, but they will also help you celebrate in style while having loads of fun.

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