St. Patrick's Day Projects for Crafty Little Leprechauns

Sprouts grow from a sponge cut out in the shape of a shamrock

Even the littlest lads and lassies can help with these St. Paddy's Day craft projects. It's a great way to help celebrate everyone's favorite pot-o-gold holiday, while fueling your little one's creativity.

Look to the Rainbow 

Make a darling hanging rainbow cloud with just a few items you probably have around the house.

Things You'll Need:

  • White paper plates
  • Cotton balls
  • Crepe-paper streamers tissue, rainbow colors
  • Glue or glue stick

Directions:

  1. Cut paper plate in half.
  2. Glue cotton balls onto the paper plate "cloud".
  3. Hang streamers or strips of tissue from the straight edge of the paper plate. Encourage little ones to use the colors in the correct rainbow pattern: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet (ROYGBIV).
  4. Punch a small hole at the top of the paper plate. Make a hanger with a piece of string or yarn to complete your rainbow!

Living Shamrock

Bring some real green to life by growing sprouts indoors with household sponges. No malarkey!

Things You'll Need:

  • Green household sponges
  • Felt-tip marker
  • Sharp scissors
  • Chia or wheatgrass seeds
  • A plant mister (helpful)

Directions:

  1. With the marker, draw a shamrock shape on the dry sponge. If you don't want to freehand it, make a cardboard template for tracing.
  2. Lightly dampen the sponge and cut out the shamrock shape. An adult may want to do this part.
  3. Dampen the sponge a bit more, but make sure it's not dripping wet.
  4. Carefully scatter seeds on top of the sponge. Press gently to get as many seeds into the sponge's holes as possible.
  5. Put the sponge on a plate or tray and place in a sunny window. Check sponge often and keep damp (not wet!) by spraying with a plant mister. You may want to cover your shamrock sponge overnight with a plastic dish or plastic-wrap "tent"to keep the moisture in.
  6. Watch carefully! In a few days, your seeds should begin to sprout!

Pot o' Gold Slime 

Kids love homemade slime! St. Patrick's Day is the perfect excuse to mix up a batch that sparkles like a pot o' gold.

Things You'll Need:

  • Green and gold glitter glue
  • Liquid laundry starch
  • Water
  • Large bowl for mixing

Directions:

  1. Cover work surface with newspapers for easy cleanup.
  2. To ½ cup of water, add ½ cup of glue. Stir well.
  3. Add ½ cup of liquid starch. Mix until you get desired slime consistency. You'll probably need to use your hands.
  4. Let kids enjoy the sensory experience! Watching it all come together is also a great mini science session!
  5. NOTE: In place of glitter glue, you can use clear glue. If you do, add green food coloring to the water and glue mixture until you reach desired color. Stir in glitter.