This coffee filter leprechaun is one of our cute Saint Patrick’s Day coffee filter crafts for kids. Transform coffee filters and wooden clothespins into a mischievous Leprechaun with a bright orange beard!
You can create this leprechaun craft in about 30 minutes with the kids plus drying time. It makes a super adorable decoration. The kids will love helping with this project!
For more St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids, check out our Coffee Filter Rainbow, Leprechaun Slime, Shamrock Shaker Craft, and ideas for leprechaun traps.
Coffee Filter Leprechaun
Kids of all ages as well as adults will have fun creating their own adorable leprechaun made with coffee filters and clothespins.
Coffee filter crafts are perfect for preschool and kindergarten children.The kids can help with decorating his beard and even painting the clothespins.
If you are making these with younger children, you may need to assist with cutting out pieces and putting it all together. Older kids may be able to complete this Saint Patrick’s Day craft project on their own with adult supervision.
These big bearded leprechauns make adorable decorations. Use them to clip onto a banner or attach some twine or ribbon to hang them up. They would also make a fun clip on top of a gift bag of St. Paddy’s Day treats!
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Do I Have To Use Hot Glue?
I recommend using a hot glue gun for this project because it makes the craft more durable, especially if you use it for decoration. Plus, it dries quicker.
However, if you are making these with younger children, you may need an alternative to hot gluing. I recommend using a tacky craft glue (that’s my favorite one to use) rather than school glue if possible, and your leprechauns will need additional drying time.
Get 15 easy coffee filter craft tutorials conveniently all in one place for you with our Cute Coffee Filter Crafts digital craft book! Access it on your phone, tablet, or computer any time.
Coffee Filter Leprechaun Craft Supplies
- Round White Coffee Filters
- Washable Markers; Orange, Yellow and Red colors
- Gold Glitter Glue
- Wooden Spring Clothespins
- Green and Orange Craft Paper
- Small Googly Eyes
- Craft Paints in Flesh Tone and Peach (this set has a variety of flesh tones) and Kelly Green
- Glue gun and glue sticks or tacky craft glue
- Gallon Size Zipper Bag OR Metal Baking Sheet Pan OR wax paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Paintbrush
- Water Spray Bottle
How to Make a Coffee Filter Leprechaun
Start by flattening your round coffee filters and color them completely with orange washable marker. Add in some yellow and red.
Then place the colored coffee filter on a gallon size zipper bag or metal baking sheet and mist with a water spray bottle.
TIP: Wax or freezer paper will work as well in place of a cookie sheet, but place an old towel underneath to protect your work surface.
Set them aside to dry. Depending on the humidity, it will take about 1-2 hours for the filters to air dry. Some readers have suggested using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
Once dry, fold the orange coffee filter in half. Apply gold glitter glue in a swirly pattern over the entire folded coffee filter. Set aside to dry.
Paint the bottom one-third of the clothespin (the clippy end) with flesh tone craft paint.
Paint the top two-thirds of the clothespin with green craft paint for his hat. Set aside to dry.
Draw and cut out a mustache shape from orange craft paper. Glue the mustache to the bottom of clothespin and glue the googly eyes just above the mustache.
Use the end of a paintbrush or a cotton swab to add a dot of peach craft paint for the Leprechaun’s nose.
Cut a rectangular hat brim from green paper and glue it to the clothespin where the green and flesh tone paint meet.
Draw a square of gold glitter glue above hat brim as a buckle.
Once glitter glue is dry, clip the clothespin Leprechaun head onto the middle of the folded coffee filter beard.
Now you have a cute little leprechaun face to use as decoration!
More Coffee Filter Crafts:
- Coffee Filter Rainbow
- Coffee Filter Hearts
- Coffee Filter Bats
- Coffee Filter Turkeys
- Coffee Filter Santa
- Coffee Filter Angels
- Coffee Filter Wreath
- Coffee Filter Poinsettia
- Coffee Filter Holly
Coffee Filter Leprechauns
Transform coffee filters and wooden clothespins into a mischievous Leprechaun with a bright orange beard! Cute Saint Patrick's Day craft for kids and adults.
Instructions
- Start by flattening your round coffee filters and color them completely with orange washable marker. Add in some yellow and red.
- Then place the colored coffee filter on a gallon size zipper bag or metal baking sheet and mist with a water spray bottle.
- TIP: Wax or freezer paper will work as well in place of a cookie sheet, but place an old towel underneath to protect your work surface.
- Set them aside to dry. Depending on the humidity, it will take about 1-2 hours for the filters to air dry. Some readers have suggested using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
- Once dry, fold the orange coffee filter in half. Apply gold glitter glue in a swirly pattern over the entire folded coffee filter. Set aside to dry.
- Paint the bottom one-third of the clothespin (the clippy end) with flesh tone craft paint.
- Paint the top two-thirds of the clothespin with green craft paint for his hat. Set aside to dry.
- Draw and cut out a mustache shape from orange craft paper. Glue the mustache to the bottom of clothespin and glue the googly eyes just above the mustache.
- Use the end of a paintbrush or a cotton swab to add a dot of peach craft paint for the Leprechaun’s nose.
- Cut a rectangular hat brim from green paper and glue it to the clothespin where the green and flesh tone paint meet.
- Draw a square of gold glitter glue above hat brim as a buckle.
- Once glitter glue is dry, clip the clothespin Leprechaun head onto the middle of the folded coffee filter beard.
Notes
Drying times may vary. Time to complete project is provided as an estimate.
Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.