The Trap was set....but did we catch the Leprechaun??

As a child I remember little green footprints trailing through our house leading us to some treat that the leprechaun would leave behind. Excitement would fill the air when we would find what he left for us.  Some legends state that if a leprechaun like you then he will take you to his gold. Others state that you have to catch the leprechaun before he will take you to his gold.

A St. Patrick's Day Family Home Evening (Promises, Service & Blessings)...

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is: 

A St. Patrick's Day Family Home Evening

What Luck! St. Patty's Day Ideas!

What are the first three things that come to mind when you hear the words, St. Patrick's Day?  My three words were, Rainbows, Shamrocks and Leprechauns.  I could also add, green, pot of gold, coins and trickery.  Yes, I said trickery! Those little leprechauns are tricky little guys, just ask my kids as each year they set their leprechaun traps and each year they turn up empty, with quite a mess left around them.

Here are some fun Leprechaun Day ideas:

Set a Trap...you might catch a leprechaun:  

St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Hat Printable

What little kid wouldn't want to make a leprechaun hat for St. Patty's Day?  These hats are fun and easy to put together!! Print out the colored one onto some card stock, cut it out, size onto the child's head and tape or staple, the band.  Or let your little kiddo be creative and decorate and color their own hat.  To print, just click on the image and save it to your computer as a jpeg. Then print it out :)

Colored Hat Printable:

Black and White Color-able Printable:

Traps, Tricks and Treasures! St. Patty's Day Fun.

This year for our leprechaun trap we decided to make a pot of gold.  To do this, we used an empty cylinder container (Corn Meal Container). We wrapped black paper around it and used a white correction pen to write "Pot of Gold" on the front.  For the top we cut the center out of the lid and then cut a circle the same size of the lid out of yellow felt.  We put the lid on and placed the felt on the top. Then of course we added some "Lucky Charms" bait.

When we woke-up that morning and checked the trap, there was no leprechaun to be found. They are so tricky you know. Well, he must have jumped right out, but as he was making a get away he left a trail of crumbs and dropped some of his coins with riddles, leading to some of his treasure.

We solved the riddles and look at the treasure he left behind. Not quite a pot of gold, but we're not complaining!

Below is a free printable for the coin/riddle treasure hunt.

Printing Tip: Click on the image and save it to your computer. You can then print the image from your computer.

For more St. Patrick's Day Ideas Click here: St. Patrick's Day Ideas

sT. pATTY'S dAY wORD sCRAMBLE pRINTABLES!

Whether it is for a class party or to just have some fun with the kids, who doesn't love a good Word Scramble?

Below, is the word scramble I put together for my son's St. Patty's Day class party. Hope you enjoy, it!!

Printing Tips: Click on the Image and Save it to your Computer. From your computer you will then be able to print the image.

Colored Printable:

Black and White Printable:

Printable with the key/answers:

St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap Ideas

How do you catch a leprechaun? Well, you have to make a trap and lay some "Lucky Charms" out to lure him in.  Have we caught one? Nope, but it's fun to try!

When we lived in Washington my kids and I would make taps for St. Patty's Day.  Here are some pictures of some of them and what we did to try to catch one.

This trap was by far the easiest!  It was made out of an empty tissue box. It was already green and St. Patty's Day-ish.  All we had to do was add a shamrock with a little note on it for the leprechaun and sprinkle some "Lucky Charms" around.  We didn't catch one, he just left some of his loose change behind and some black foot prints to a rainbow trail which led to some yummy treats.

This trap was my favorite.  It is made from an empty oats container, some green, black and yellow paper and some green saran wrap. Also, it wouldn't be a leprechaun trap without "Lucky Charms".

Lastly, this was the first trap we made.  This trap is from an empty tissue box. This is the one the kids were able to have fun with. We wrapped it in green paper and the kids decorated the box.  We propped it up with a plastic spoon and left some bait.  

Here are just a few ideas to have fun with the kids and try to get ya some of that  leprechaun gold. 

Free St. Patrick's Day Printable: Rainbow trail

A few years ago, I decided to do kind of  a little treasure hunt for my kids to find their little treat/prize that the leprechaun had left for them.  So, I came up with this printable. The idea is you place the colored shamrocks around the room or house.  They have to follow the shamrocks in order they are in the rainbow to find their treat/prize from the leprechaun.  There is the green shamrock with the little sang on it that tells them what to do.  I placed this next to the leprechaun trap that we had set up the night before. At the end of the trail would be their treat/prize. I used the other green shamrocks and wrote their names on them and attached it to their treat/prize.

Here are some ideas of some fun little treats:

-Chocolate Gold Coins

- Rolos

-Skittles

-Candy Coated Kix(Gold Nuggets)

-Fruity Pebble Treats (Like Rice Crispy Squares)

St. Patty's Day Flower/Shamrock Hair Clips: Tutorial

At my children's school the PTA board puts on a box top store every month.  At it the kids bring their box tops in exchange for tickets.  They then go over to the box top store where they can spend their tickets for some fun stuff.  This month, I am donating some items to be sold at the box top store.  One of these items is St. Patty's Day Hair Clips.  Here is a picture of the finish product!

And here is my little Tutorial:

 You will begin this craft by gathering your supplies: - Green felt
- Needle and thread
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Hair clip
- Ribbon

First, cut a strip of the green felt.  Then cut them into 4 rectangles, about the same size. The size will depend on how big you would like your hair clip to be. It should be rectangular in shape.

Next, fold the rectangle in half and round the top with scissors.  See the picture on the right.  When you open back it back up there should be two round humps.

Now, it is time to start stringing them onto the thread.  I like to double up my thread.  That means I fold it in half. The needle should be at the middle point of the thread.  Then tie a not at the bottom. Start fishing your needle in and out towards the bottom of the felt pieces as shown in the picture to the right.  String all for pieces onto the thread this way.

When all four pieces are strung onto the thread, you will pull the thread tight.  So it forms the shape in the picture to the right.  Needle back through the first felt piece and tie both ends of the thread together. Making sure it is knotted and secure.

  Get your ribbon and tie a bow.  I had to melt the ends of my ribbon lightly with a lighter so it would not fray.  Once you have tied your bow you can fasten it to your felt flower/shamrock with some hot glue. See picture to the left.

You are almost done!  Cut a circle out of the green felt. And cut a small slit towards one end. To do this fold the circle in half and make the slit.  This is for the hair clip to go through.  Hot glue the top of the hair clip to the circle felt piece. (I hope this makes sense!) Now hot clue the felt piece/hair clip to the back of the flower/shamrock as seen in the picture to the right.  This can be worn in your hair or on your clothing so you can avoid getting pinched when St. Patty's Day rolls around!





*I linked this post onto Skip to My Lou's Made by you Monday link party. I am #326.

A little bit of Gold for St. Patty's Day! Free printable tags and treat gold nugget treat idea.

St. Patty's Day Treat Idea:

These little gold nuggets are so tasty and easy to make.  

Here is what you'll need:

-Kix Cereal

-Yellow Candy Melts

-Yellow Sugar Sprinkles

Here's what to do:

Place Candy Melts in a microwave safe container. Melt in microwave 30 sec., then stir. Continue doing this in 15 second increments until candies are melted.

When melted and smooth pour over Kix cereal and stir to coat cereal.

With a spoon drop spoonfuls onto the mixture onto wax paper.  

Sprinkle with the yellow sugar sprinkles.

Allow to harden, then place in cellophane baggies, tie a ribbon and place a tag on it.

To speed hardening time place in fridge.

Free St. Patty's Day Tag Printable