How To Make A Leprechaun Trap (Coffee Container Leprechaun Trap)
Do you think you can catch a tricky leprechaun this St. Patrick’s Day? Use this tutorial to help your kids learn how to make a leprechaun trap (the easy way) and learn about leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day.
Irish folklore portrays leprechauns as tricky and naughty mythical figures. Most people know they hide a pot of at the end of the rainbow, but they also play lots of tricks on unsuspecting humans.
Leprechaun traps are often a school homework assignment for young children because they’re a TON of fun and an awesome creative activity that incorporates STEM skills!
Whether your child’s teacher assigns this activity as homework or not, you can have a lot of fun with your child by making a leprechaun trap this year!
Why make a leprechaun trap?
According to legend, anyone who successfully traps a leprechaun on the night before St. Patrick’s Day will be given his pot of gold or granted three wishes!
Now, let’s be clear: actually CATCHING a leprechaun is next to impossible. And although the reward of catching one is highly appealing, the point of making a leprechaun trap is to catch evidence of them checking out the trap to try to grab the bait!
That might be shamrocks, gold coins, footprints, or even a note for the kids who set the trap. You might also find things like Rolo candies, Hershey kisses, or anything else shiny and gold (or silver).
And, most telling, you may find evidence of their naughtiness nearby such as overturned furniture.
What happens if you catch a leprechaun?
If you’re lucky enough to catch a leprechaun, it’s said that he has to give you his pot of gold or grant you three wishes. BUT, I have a couple of points of caution.
First, make sure you watch him very closely because he’s quick and tricky and likely to escape before you receive your reward!
Second, if you choose to receive three wishes, it’s essential to be careful and clear about what you wish for because they can twist things up and cause a huge amount of trouble while granting your “wishes!”
How to build a leprechaun trap
You can make a leprechaun trap out of nearly anything! All you need are everyday items and craft supplies such as a shoe box or Kleenex box, a cereal box, a small shipping box, an empty oatmeal container, etc.
In this case, we’re using an empty coffee container!
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Supplies Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to create a fun and easy leprechaun trap that gives you an excellent chance of catching a leprechaun!
- Empty and clean coffee container
- Green construction paper
- Green paper shreds
- Gold coins (they can be plastic or gold-wrapped chocolates)
- Shamrock beads
- Glittery foam shapes
- Glittery shamrocks
- Yellow popsicle sticks
- Mini popsicle sticks
- Glue – hot glue (with adult support) or Elmer’s
- Scissors
- Tape
DIY Coffee Container Leprechaun Trap Instructions
Leprechaun traps often look complicated and time-consuming, but I have news for you: they’re easy! All you need is a little bit of creativity or a simple tutorial like this one!
Follow along below to learn how to make a leprechaun trap with an empty coffee container.
Step 1
Cover the coffee container with construction paper. You can glue the paper to the container or tape it.
Step 2
Fill the container with paper shreds about ¾ full.
Step 3
Add a few foam shapes and gold coins to the container.
Step 4
Glue or tape a shamrock and gold coins to the lid of the container. Use strong tape to attach the lid to the container.
Step 5
Use a popsicle stick to pry the lid open on the container. You can set the popsicle stick on top of a few items to help it to stay propped up.
Step 6
To make a ladder, use two yellow popsicle sticks. Glue mini popsicle sticks to the back. Set aside to dry. Once dry, prop the ladder up against the container.
Step 7
Place other shiny gold or green objects around the container and set out to try to catch a Leprechaun!
What kind of bait should I use in a leprechaun trap?
Given leprechauns’ attraction to gold, it makes the BEST bait. But they also love:
- Rainbows
- Four-leaf clovers
- Green (their favorite color)
- Lucky Charms cereal
- Skittles
- Rolos
- St. Patrick’s Day Candy Bark
- Green or colorful desserts (ex: Rainbow St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes or Lucky Charms Cupcakes For St. Patrick’s Day )
Ideas for staging a leprechaun visit
Kind of like staging a visit from Santa by eating a cookie or two, leave little traces of your leprechaun’s visit around the house.
Here are a few ideas you can do (you don’t need to do them all, just use what you like and modify as you need to)!
- Make a mess – move some items, turn over some furniture, spread toilet paper around, empty out a clothing drawer. Leprechauns are mischievous, but they cause HARMLESS trouble. Make it funny!
- Color the water in the toilet green!
- Scatter gold coins around the house (plastic coins or gold-wrapped chocolate)!
- Leave a note from your leprechaun explaining what he did during his visit. Make it funny and be sure to sign it with an Irish name! Extra points if you can write it in limerick form!
- Find a leprechaun hat and leave it somewhere obvious so the kids spot it.
- Leave shamrock cutouts all over the floor, counters, chairs, and taped to doors, walls, or mirrors!
More St. Patrick’s Day Inspiration
- St. Patrick’s Day Homemade Copycat Starbucks Cake Pops
- DIY Hot Cocoa Bombs for St. Patrick’s Day
- EASY Leprechaun St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Treats
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