Create St. Patrick ’s Day memories with these fun leprechaun ambuscade ideas to craft with the kids .

For decades , tike have been trying to capture a glimpse of Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy . But what about St. Patrick ? Now , inspire by the well - selling children ’s bookHow to captivate a Leprechaunby authorAdam Wallace , we ’re sharing our leprechaun trap idea just in sentence forSt . Patrick ’s Day .

What is a Leprechaun Trap?

The Leprechaun Trap tradition is standardised to theElf on the Shelf conceptfrom Christmas , but with room less work for Mom and Dad . Rather than motivate an imp to a newfangled location each Nox , you set up a leprechaun bunker the night before St. Patrick ’s Day . If you fire up up to find amber coins or hoarded wealth in the hole , you ’ll know you ’ve caught a leprechaun .

The best part about this tradition is that it can be easily fulfil by the kids — all you have to do is tot the coin once they ’re asleep ( unless a leprechaun beat you to it ) . To start this custom with your family , grab a written matter of the bookHow to Catch a Leprechaunto learn a bit about St. Patrick ’s Day and to civilize the nestling on the art of leprechaun - catching . Then set them unaffixed with craftiness supplies ! insure out a few of our pet version to enliven your own DIY leprechaun trap estimate .

DIY Leprechaun Trap with Candy

This sweet St. Patrick ’s Day display is centered around a enceinte jolt of colourful marshmallows and confect chocolate coins . A sparkly ' free Au ' sign and glistening ladder made from metal paper straws are certain to lure in a little leprechaun .

fulfill the trash jounce with Lucky Charm cereal grass or , in a pinch , leftover Valentine eye confect .

DIY Leprechaun Trap Tray

wrick your leprechaun trap into a St. Patrick ’s Day decor display by creating it on a ornamental tray rather than the traditional box . Here , a atomic number 79 tray fits the theme while providing a base for a festive centrepiece . A miniature rainbow , cauldron , and top hat provide the leprechaun ' sand trap ' alongside shamrock confetti and Au coin .

DIY Shoebox Leprechaun Trap

Most DIY leprechaun hole approximation use recycle material to attract a leprechaun which intend creativity can burst . The green cardboard box ( you could also use a paint shoe box seat ! ) furnish a backdrop for a modest passel of gold and hot chocolate coins . Gold pipework cleaners and hop clover - physical body chaplet summate extra color .

Courtesy of Ms. Harli ’s Honeys / Instagram

Rainbow Road Leprechaun Trap

Every leprechaun knows that at the remnant of a rainbow , there ’s indisputable to be a pot of gold . So , take over this theme from Harli of Ms. Harli ’s Honeys : Lay down a sheet of rainbow - striped paper for leprechauns to succeed , then have the kids decorate the sides of a box compensate in fleeceable composition . Prop it up with a wooden skewer cutting off in one-half . When a leprechaun arrive to steal your potbelly of gold , the loge will diminish , trapping him at bottom .

Sometimes the leprechaun will get away but he might leave a tasty treat behind like a batch of cookies for the kids .

Leprechaun Trap Garden

A secret trap threshold is a sneaky style to catch a leprechaun . work up a ravel of painted green workmanship pin , then jump on it against a small box ( like the wooden one seen above ) . underwrite the top with shining colored composition in hopes that a odd leprechaun will mount the ladder and fall in . Tonya Staab decorated her scene inspire by the Christian Bible to make the trap even more alluring .

Bird House Leprechaun Trap

Kids will lie with decorating this adorable DIY leprechaun trap . Help them paint a little wooden birdhouse in a rainbow of colors and leave it to dry . put the house on a decorative disc , fence in by umber coins and sparkly foam dots ( available at workmanship memory ) . Print out or make your own colorful rainbow on cardstock and attach it to the roof of your trap to attract leprechauns by the dozen .

Top Hat Leprechaun Trap

Leprechaun ambuscade ideas would n’t be worth its atomic number 79 if one did n’t feature the iconic top hat . Kellie fromThe Suburban Soapboxmade the festal hat out of green poster dining table , then topped it with a pipage - cleaner rainbow , cotton ball clouds , and a black batch fill up with gold confect — or severally - wrapped candy . We ’re love the run made from green newspaper publisher straws , too .

Out of straws ? forge a ladder from paint sprig in the backyard or unripe Legos from the toy box .

DIY Leprechaun Trap Box

This homemade leprechaun snare is passing easy to make . Steph fromModern parent Messy Kidstransformed a plain browned box with a streak of green rouge , sparkly shamrocks , and a organ pipe - uninfected rainbow . Chipboard corner like this one are inexpensive and can be found at most craft stores , so why not corrupt a trap for each child to decorate ?

Frequently Asked Questions

Leprechauns are curious wight , so the most effective leprechaun sand trap is one that allure them with color , wealth , or treats . sate your leprechaun trap with rainbow - imbue dainty , something green , or the promise of shiny Au .

Many people choose to have leprechauns leave something related to gold behind , like amber coins or amber foil - wrap up drinking chocolate . Really though , leprechaun can leave whatever kind of treat your family or child like comfortably , whether that ’s a sure candy bar or fresh cookies .

Lore states that leprechaun pay a visit to family the eve before St. Patrick ’s Day , which is traditionally lionise on March 17 . The only formula : Everyone must be sleeping for the leprechaun to chat !

DIY Leprechaun trap

Credit:Courtesy of Ms. Harli’s Honeys / Instagram

Green top hat made from green paper and

Credit: Courtesy of The Suburban Soapbox

Leprechaun trap made from brown cardboard box

Credit: Courtesy of Modern Parents Messy Kids