Fun DIY Leprechaun Trap Kids Will Love (Easy St. Patrick’s Day Tradition)
- Helen | Heart and Home
- Feb 10
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Fun DIY Leprechaun Trap Kids Will Love
St. Patrick’s Day is one of those simple, joyful holidays that kids absolutely love. One of our favorite traditions is building a DIY leprechaun trap the night before March 17th. It’s creative, budget-friendly, and creates the kind of childhood memories families treasure for years.
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The idea is simple. Kids build a trap hoping to catch a sneaky leprechaun overnight. By morning, the leprechaun has escaped, but usually leaves behind a few treats and a little bit of mischievous magic.
Supplies You’ll Need
Shoebox or small cardboard box
Green construction paper or paint
Cotton balls
Craft sticks, cardboard, or LEGO pieces
Gold chocolate or plastic coins or small treats
Rainbow paper or markers
Glue or tape (green and gold glue)
Shamrock stickers or decorations
How To Make A Leprechaun Trap
☘️Step 1: Create The Trap Base
Grab a shoebox and cut a small opening. This becomes the leprechaun’s trap.
☘️Step 2: Decorate The Box
Cover the box with green paper or paint. Let kids decorate with shamrocks, glitter, or stickers to make it festive and fun. This is where they can get creative and make it their own.
☘️Step 3: Add A Rainbow Path
Cut out or draw a rainbow and attach cotton balls to each end to create clouds. Place the rainbow leading toward the trap to attract the leprechaun.
Easy Rainbow Options for the Trap
1. Colored Craft Foam
Cut an arch shape out of colored craft foam sheets and glue the layers together in rainbow order. Foam holds its shape well and stands up nicely on the trap.
2. Construction Paper
Cut strips of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple construction paper and glue them together into an arch. Attach cotton balls at the ends for clouds.
3. Pipe Cleaners
Twist rainbow pipe cleaners together and bend them into an arch. Glue cotton balls on the ends for clouds.
4. Markers or Paint
Draw the rainbow directly on cardboard or poster board using markers, crayons, or paint and cut it out.
Tip to Make It Stand Up
Glue the rainbow to two small craft sticks on the back like legs so it stands upright over the trap hole. You can also glue the rainbow onto a poster board or cardboard piece then cut out.
☘️Step 4: Build A Ladder Or Ramp
Use craft sticks, cardboard, or small building blocks so the leprechaun can climb into the trap.
☘️Step 5: Set The Bait
Place gold coins or small treats inside or near the trap.
Helpful Supplies for This Leprechaun Trap
If you want to make this leprechaun trap even easier (and a little more magical), these simple supplies can really help bring the project to life.
• Plastic gold coins – Perfect for creating the “pot of gold” that attracts the leprechaun. Kids love using these as bait inside the trap.
• Wooden craft sticks (popsicle sticks) – Great for building ladders, trap doors, or small structures for the trap.
• Green and gold glue or glitter glue – Adds sparkle and makes the trap look extra magical for St. Patrick’s Day.
• Shamrock or St. Patrick’s Day stickers – An easy way for kids to decorate and personalize their trap.
☘️Step 6: Create The Morning Magic
💚After kids go to bed, slightly move the trap, leave a tiny note, or sprinkle a few treats nearby to make it look like the leprechaun visited but escaped.
💚 Make It A Family Tradition
Many families rebuild or redesign their leprechaun traps every year. Taking photos of each year’s creation is a fun way to capture memories as kids grow. Some families even leave notes from the leprechaun to add extra excitement.
💚 Why Kids Love This Craft
Builds excitement for St. Patrick’s Day
Creates meaningful family memories
Uses simple, affordable supplies
Creating small seasonal traditions like this is one of the easiest ways to add joy and connection to busy family life. Simple moments often become the most meaningful memories.
For more cozy home, family, and seasonal inspiration, visit Heart and Home on Pinterest
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