Easy St. Patrick Day Crafts for Kids of All Ages

Crafts have always been a great way to spend some time with your kids and others. If you teach a Sunday school class, or a 4H group, you're constantly on the lookout for fun and easy crafts. No matter the ages of the children you're working with, this is a great time to teaching sharing, tolerance, encouragement, appreciation of others work, pride in your own work and much more. Use the time to enjoy each other. Don't expect perfection. Stress enjoyment and putting forth your best effort. When you're done, share your crafts with others. View more crafts at www.easycraftsonline.com

3-6 inch long smooth stone (washed)
Green paint
Assorted other colors of paint
Glitter, eyes, scraps of lace, pipe cleaners etc.
Glue
Newspaper

Place newspaper on table. I use old adult t-shirts as cover-ups for the kids. Paint stones green. Allow to dry. Decorate with paints and assorted scraps of lace, fabric, glitter and whatever else your imagination dreams up. This allows a lot of room for different ages, abilities and creative styles. Now you have crafted your own personal Blarney Stone.

Heart cookie cutter (or plastic glass to trace)
Heavy poster board in green or white
Yarn or heavy string
Glue
Scissors
Pencils
Glitter, paint, markers etc. for decorating

Use the cookie cutter to make a pattern for your shamrock. Make sure you overlap the ends of each leaf, not leaving the center of the shamrock too thin. Don't forget to add the stem, making it thick also. For young children, it helps to make a 'template' they can trace and cut out. Some children can make the shamrock design themselves. If you're working with very young children, it helps to have the shamrocks already cut out. Next, punch a hole in the top of the shamrock. Now use glitter, paint, markers and whatever else you have available to decorate your necklace. If you've used glue, allow time for them to dry. Finally cut yarn (or string) and pull through hole in top. Tie and slip your shamrock necklace on.

Extra: If your children are older, you can use your shamrock template to make cutout cookies. Trace around the template with a knife. Add green sprinkles and bake according to the recipe. Now share your shamrock cookies.

Picture with Irish theme
Poster Board
Glue (or spray glue)
Scissors
Pen or marker

Glue picture to poster board. Take care to smooth out all air bubbles, and to have the whole picture glued down. Allow glue to dry. Use the marker to make lines for the puzzle pieces on the back of the poster board. Carefully cut out on the lines. For younger children make fewer pieces. For older children make smaller pieces. For extra fun, have the children make each others puzzles.

Variation: Have the children drawn their own picture to use for the puzzle, or color a picture from a coloring book. Remember, St Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland. Snakes, people in long capes, wooden staffs. What could be more fun for kids to draw?

Lori Bedard has been sewing and crafting since she was 5 years old. Since then she has been a mother of two, a Sunday School teacher and a 4-H leader. She has recently started a website http://www.easycraftsonline.com where she hopes to feature new crafts every month.

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