7 St Patrick’s Day Crafts to Make With Your Kiddos (Glitter, Rainbows, and Chaos Included!)

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect excuse to break out the glue, grab the scissors, and let the glitter fly for a festive time . Whether you’ve got toddlers or teens at the table, crafts are a go-to for keeping little hands busy—and sneaking in some laughs while you’re at it.

We all deserve some fun, simple activities for students to celebrate together, no matter how much time (or energy) we actually have.

We’re not aiming for Pinterest perfection here. We just want a little green magic that brings the whole crew together and makes some memories.

So, roll up your sleeves, embrace the mess, and get ready to spread a little lucky charm around the house!

1) DIY Mossy Four-Leaf Clover Door Wreath

Let’s get our hands a little messy and make shamrock decorations, li a mossy four-leaf clover wreath! Shape a big clover out of thick wire, then hot glue moss or green garland all over it.

It’s simple, kinda wild, and honestly super cute. If you need inspiration, check out more ideas for a St. Patrick’s Day wreath.

Hang up your creation and let the good vibes roll, making everyone feel lucky !

2) Leprechaun Hat Treat Cups with Popcorn & Candy

Let’s be real—anything stuffed with popcorn and candy is a win for us and our kids. These leprechaun hat treat cups are SO easy but look adorable sitting on the table.

All you need are green cups, a little black and gold paper, and a glue stick. Fill them with popcorn, jelly beans, or whatever leftover holiday candy you can sneak in from the pantry.

They’re perfect for class parties or just a fun snack idea at home. Get crafty, snacky, and a little extra fabulous all at once!

Check out this awesome DIY Leprechaun hat cup idea for more inspo.

3) Shamrock Paper Garland for Easy Décor

Let’s get real—our Pinterest dreams need crafts that are cute and actually doable. This shamrock paper garland totally fits the bill.

Grab some green paper, scissors, and yarn or string. Cut out shamrock shapes, punch holes, and string them together.

It’s easy enough for impatient littles or while bingeing TV. Plus, it adds instant St. Patty’s vibes to any room!

Need inspiration? Check out this shamrock garland tutorial for more ideas.

4) Green Play Dough for Hands-On Fun

There’s just something about homemade play dough that brings the magic. We’re talking hours of squishing, rolling, and pretending, all while keeping those tiny hands busy.

For St. Paddy’s Day vibes, make your own green play dough with food coloring or even glitter if you’re feeling wild. If you want an edible spin, try this green Jello playdough recipe—it’s super kid-friendly.

It’s sensory fun, no perfection required. That’s our jam!

5) Rainbow and Pot of Gold Craft Kits

Who doesn’t love rainbows and gold coins? Go all out with a rainbow and pot of gold craft kit and let the kiddos create their own magical masterpiece.

All the colors, shiny “coins”—and honestly, a little glitter on the floor never hurt anyone. These are super easy to set up, even for the craft-challenged among us.

It’s honestly adorable watching the kids chase that rainbow!

6) Glittery Leprechaun Traps to Catch Some Magic

Who else loves any excuse to break out the glitter? Building leprechaun traps as a leprechaun craft is the perfect time to get wild with sparkles, green pom-poms, and popsicle sticks.

These mini masterpieces are all about catching that little guy—or at least making him jealous of our creativity.

Use shoe boxes, paper straws, or even old cereal boxes. Add a trail of chocolate coins and rainbow stickers to invite the magic right in!

Check out these cute leprechaun trap ideas for major inspo.

7) Clay Clay Rainbows with Puffy Clouds

Let’s get our hands messy—like, really messy—with clay rainbows and puffy clouds! Roll out each color of clay (think ROY G. BIV), then squish some fluffy cotton balls or puffy paint at each end for clouds.

It’s totally fine if your rainbows look a little wobbly. That just adds to the charm.

The kids will love stacking and bending the clay, and hey, you get a cute rainbow keepsake for the fridge. Want more ideas? Check out these rainbow crafts for inspo!

Why Get Crafty For St Patrick’s Day?

Let’s be real—sometimes you just want a creative reason to break out the glitter and glue! Doing St. Patrick’s Day crafts isn’t just about making cute things; it’s about building connections and having a blast as a family.

Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to make a big ol’ mess without feeling guilty?

Making Memories With Your Littles

Life gets wild, and sometimes it feels like you blink and your kids are suddenly taller than you. Crafts help everyone slow down and soak in those little moments.

When you sit together and make rainbows, shamrocks, or leprechaun hats, you’re not just filling up time—you’re making memories. Those wonky, hand-cut four-leaf clovers are the kind of stuff you keep forever (even if they end up stuck to the fridge for way too long).

This is your chance to listen to their stories from all age groups , swap silly jokes, and see the world through their eyes. Crafting lets you focus on each other—no screens, no distractions.

Just you, your kiddos, and a pile of green construction paper. These are the things you remember, and maybe, just maybe, your kids will remember too.

Affordable Fun For Any Age

We love a good celebration that doesn’t make our wallets cry with these craft ideas . St. Paddy’s crafts are awesome because you don’t need fancy supplies.

A quick stash raid for paper plates, cardboard, and some paint, and you’re good to go! It’s not just for the littles, either.

Big kids, teens, and even us grown-ups can get in on the fun. Keep it super simple for the younger crowd—think finger-painted rainbows or potato stamp shamrocks.

For the older bunch, upgrade to stuff like DIY wreaths or more detailed clover art, just like the ideas found in these family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day craft lists.

Nobody gets left out, and nobody has to spend a ton to join the party. It’s about getting creative together and laughing at the mess you make.

Tips For Mess-Free Crafting

Let’s be real—crafting with kids gets wild fast. You can totally keep things under control with the right supplies and a few smart cleanup moves that save your sanity (and your table).

Supplies To Have On Hand

Here’s our go-to list for avoiding chaos:

• Washable markers and paints: Seriously, these save us every time. Stains come out so much easier.
• Non-toxic glue sticks (honestly, way less mess than liquid glue).
• Pre-cut shapes like shamrocks or rainbows—no need to hand over the scissors and hope for the best!
• Paper plates and bowls for organizing everything. They’re cheap and surprisingly helpful.
• Old T-shirts or aprons to keep those cute outfits safe from runaway glitter.
• Table covers (newspaper, an old sheet, or even a party cloth work just fine).

Honestly, we love grabbing St. Patrick’s Day craft kits. They come with everything, so there’s no mad scramble through the “junk drawer of doom.”

If you want super easy ideas, peek at these mess-free St. Patrick’s Day crafts. It’s hard to go wrong with simple and low-mess.

Easy Cleanup Hacks

Cleanup can actually be quick and painless if you know a few tricks.

• Set up a “splash zone” by crafting on a tile floor. Or just toss down a plastic tablecloth and call it a day.
• Keep a pack of baby wipes or some damp paper towels right on the table. That way, you can wipe your hands as you go, instead of scrambling later.
• Grab a laundry basket to collect trash and dirty supplies. Everything lands in one spot, so you can just haul it away when you’re done.
• Put a recycling bin nearby. No more sprinting back and forth to the kitchen every five minutes.
• Pick crafts with peel-and-stick decorations when you can. Glue messes? Nope, not today.

When the kids finish, just fold up the tablecloth and—boom—most of the mess disappears. Honestly, that means you can enjoy your cute projects instead of scrubbing the carpet for shamrock stains.