Leapin' Leprechauns!!

Hey girls! Here is a fun Leprechaun Hat idea for the kids for St. Paddy's Day next week. The directions tell you how to make it as a "bowl" to hold chips but I'm sure you could change it up to make an actual hat. What do you think??

♥ Noelle ♥

Leprechaun Hat for Chips

A fun table decoration that can be used to hold chips. We found our green tortilla chips at our local grocery store. You can use regular tortilla chips and then tint your dip with green food color. Whatever you do, have fun!

What you'll need:

• 1/2 gallon Round ice cream container, clean and dry (you do not need the lid)
• 2 or 3 sheets of Green construction paper
• 1 sheet of Yellow or Gray construction paper
• 1 sheet of Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pen
• Double stick tape
• Large circular object (however wide the construction paper is)

How to make it:

1. Trace around the large circular object on the green construction paper with the pen.
2. Cut out the circle.
3. Use the double stick tape to adhere the circle to the bottom of the ice cream container.
4. Cut a piece of green construction paper to fit around the container. You may need two pieces of construction paper or be able to piece them together.
5. Use the double stick tape to adhere the construction paper around the container.
6. Cut a strip about 2" wide out of the black construction paper.
7. Cut a 4" square out of the gray or yellow construction paper.
8. Cut a rectangle in the middle of the gray construction paper about 1 1/4" x 2". Discard the little piece of construction paper. Hint: Fold the square into fourths and cut a square out of the middle of the folded area. Open up the square.
9. Check positioning of the black band by laying it around the hat about an inch above the brim. Cut off any excess construction paper where it meets in the back.
10. Lay the gray or yellow (buckle) over the black band as shown in the photograph. Once the layout is satisfactory, tape in place.
11. Add green tortilla chips, if available, and get ready for your feast.

Rainbow Mobiles

Difficulty: Easy

Age: 6 and up

Average User Rating:

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These mobiles are very colorful and are very easy to make. They look so inviting you may end up making more than just one!

What you'll need:

• 1 paper plate
• Paper streamers or wide ribbon in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
  OR
  Craft paint in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
• Scissors
• White craft glue
• Piece of ribbon for hanging
• Shamrock garland OR cut your own shamrocks from green construction paper

How to make it:

Rainbow Mobile

1. Cut the paper plate in half.
2. Cut a 40-inch length of streamer in each color.
3. Cut each length up the middle to create two long strips of each color.
4. Reserve one set of rainbow color strips for another project or for a second Rainbow Mobile.
5. Use one strip of each color. Glue the red streamer strip around the top curve of the paper plate. Make sure to center the streamer so you have equal lengths hanging off each side.
6. Repeat with each color, moving your way down from red to orange, then yellow, green, blue and lastly purple.
7. Add one more thin purple strip to the back of the plate to fill the gap in the center.
8. Tie a piece of ribbon into a knot, then glue to the back of the plate to use as a hanger.

Shamrock Mobile

1. Cut the paper plate in half. Paint it with craft paint in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Use our photo as a guide. Let dry completely and paint the other side as well.
2. Cut shamrock garland into 18" strips.
3. Glue each strip to the back of the paper plate.
4. If you like, instead of store-bought garland, make your own shamrocks from construction paper and glue to lengths of string or yarn.
5. Tie a piece of ribbon into a knot, then glue to the back of the plate to use as a hanger.

Leprechaun & Pot of Gold Mobile

Try these fun printables to construct a mobile. Paint the paper plate half in rainbow fashion as indicated in the instructions above, then print the patterns below.

Leprechaun - PC (90 dpi) or Leprechaun- Mac (72 dpi)
Pot of Gold - PC (90 dpi) or Pot of Gold - Mac (72 dpi)

Color the printouts, then fold in half along the center line and glue the two sides together. While you're gluing, tuck the yarn for hanging. There is a small mark on the printout at the top center of the picture to show where the yarn goes.

Hang the leprechaun and the pot of gold on either end of the rainbow.

Tips:

• Foam plates work well for this project. They have smooth edges and paint sticks right to them.
• Make a 3-D rainbow by painting two paper plate halves. Glue them together and hang your shamrocks from the bottom.
• Have something fun for the kids to do during drying time so they don't jump the gun and grab their projects too soon.

These ideas were found on Kaboose.com! This is AN awesome site for kids crafts, holiday ideas, etc. You can sign up to receive an e-newsletter too!!