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Leprechaun Paper Bag Puppet [Free Template]

Leprechauns are funny little creatures that kids just love. They’re full of silly mischief and are always up for an adventure!

This St. Patrick’s Day, add a touch of magic to your kids’ day by making this easy leprechaun paper bag puppet! You only need a few simple supplies and our free printable template to get started.

We love how this craft helps kids develop their fine motor skills as they cut, glue, and decorate their puppets. It’s also a great way to spark their imagination and storytelling skills – which are essential for their overall development.

Just follow our step-by-step instructions below and print out our free template to make your own leprechaun paper bag puppets!

Once you’re done, check out our other St. Patrick’s Day crafts for kids. There’s something for all skill levels and ages, so everyone can join in on the fun.

Easy Leprechaun Puppet Printables

Collage images of leprechaun paper bag puppet with the words leprechaun paper bag puppet in the middle

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This paper bag puppet is a great St. Patty’s craft because of the supplies needed to make it. All you need is colored paper, a brown paper bag, and a few supplies to put it together.

This means it’s a frugal craft you can do with one or two kids or with a big group of kids!

Supplies

Directions

Start by downloading the leprechaun puppet template and printing it out. Once you have the template printed, gather the materials needed for this fun activity.

Hands holding paper bag leprechaun craft template

Let’s begin with our leprechaun’s stylish shirt. Have your kids find the leprechaun shirt piece and place it at the bottom of the brown paper bag. Show them how to apply glue on the back and stick it in place.

Hands gluing green paper onto brown paper bag

Next, let’s add a touch of elegance with the dark green vest pieces. Help your children position them just above the shirt, making sure the pointy ends slightly overlap the shirt. Once in place, secure them with glue.

Hands gluing green vest onto paper bag

Now, it’s time for some sparkle with three yellow buttons. Guide your kids to glue them along the middle of the vest.

Hands gluing buttons onto paper bag leprechaun

Let’s bring our leprechaun to life by placing the face on the flap of the paper bag. Your kids will love seeing their creation start to have a personality. Glue the face in place and watch as your leprechaun starts to smile back at you.

Hands gluing leprechaun face onto paper bag

Every leprechaun needs a head of hair! Glue the leprechaun hair along the top part of the face.

Hands gluing hair onto paper bag leprechaun craft

Now, for the beard! Position it just below the leprechaun’s smile, making sure it’s snug. This cozy beard is sure to keep our friend warm on cooler Irish nights.

Hands gluing beard onto paper bag leprechaun craft

Eyebrows can say a lot! Glue each eyebrow above the eyes and watch as your leprechaun’s expression comes to life. It’s a fun way to discuss emotions and expressions with your kids.

Hands gluing eyebrows onto paper bag leprechaun craft

The leprechaun’s pink nose goes right between his eyes. This tiny detail adds a whole lot of cuteness.

Hands gluing nose onto paper bag leprechaun craft

Now, onto the hat! Start by gluing the rim to the bottom of the hat base. This step begins the transformation from a simple paper bag to a leprechaun ready for St. Patrick’s Day!

Hands gluing leprechaun hat together

Place the black rectangle near the bottom of the hat and secure it with glue.

Hands gluing hat band onto leprechaun hat

Then, add the yellow buckle in the middle of the black hat band.

Hands gluing leprechaun hat buckle on

Don’t forget the small black rectangle in the center of the yellow buckle. It’s all about the details, and this final touch makes the hat look extra fancy.

Hands gluing leprechaun hat buckle on

Finally, place the completed leprechaun hat at the top of the leprechaun’s head. This is the moment where everything comes together, and your kids see their creation fully come to life.

Hands gluing leprechaun hat onto paper bag leprechaun craft

Isn’t this such a bright and cheery craft?! If your kids enjoyed making this cute craft. Be sure to check out our other spring crafts for more fun!

Two leprechaun paper bag puppets crafts

Simplifying This Craft For Younger Kids

We think the details of this fun project are what make it extra special, but sometimes, when you’re making it with little kids, it’s too much.

If you’re crafting with preschoolers or kindergarten kids, feel free to adjust the craft to fit their skills and attention span.

We have a few suggestions on what we would do to simplify this leprechaun paper puppet craft.

First, you can get rid of the green paper vest and just make a solid green rectangle for the bottom of the paper bag. This will cut down on cutting time and gluing. You won’t need to use the yellow craft paper buttons either.

Second, we suggest taking the buckle off of the hat. It’s cute, but definitely not necessary. And, if you really don’t mind paring everything down you can skip the hat altogether!

Finally, if you don’t want to do as much cutting you can skip the eyebrows and hair and just let the kids draw them on with markers! You can even draw on a cute pink nose as well.

This will help you save paper, reduce the cutting and let the kids’ creativity and artistic skills expand!

However you decide to make this paper bag leprechaun puppet craft, we’re certain the kids will have a blast making it and playing with it once it’s done!

More Kids Activities

More St. Patrick’s Day Ideas For Kids

Looking for more fun ideas for your St Patrick’s Day celebrations? We’ve got tons of creative activities and crafts your kids will love!

From toilet paper roll projects to color by numbers, these ideas will bring the luck o’ the Irish into your home or classroom. Keep reading to discover more ways to celebrate the holiday with your little ones!

Kids Books For St. Patrick’s Day

We always recommend starting any theme with books! These St. Patrick’s Day books are fun and will definitely keep the kids engaged. Grab them from the library or buy them to add to your home collection.

Pete The Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase is a must-have for Pete the Cat fans! Join Pete as he tries to catch an elusive leprechaun.

How To Catch A Leprechaun is a silly book that’s, you guessed it, about catching a leprechaun! Please read this book and let your kiddos build their trap and start a family tradition.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover is another book kids can’t get enough of. See what the old lady is doing this St. Patrick’s Day!

Need more book suggestions? Check out our favorite leprechaun books for kids!

paper bag leprechaun craft

Simple St. Patrick’s Day Crafts

Shamrock Preschool Craft – With some construction paper, pipe cleaners, and our free template, your preschooler can make this adorable shamrock craft. It’s perfect for practicing fine motor skills and creativity, and it’s also a great way to decorate the house for St. Patrick’s Day!

Toilet Paper Roll Leprechaun Craft – Don’t throw out those toilet paper rolls! This easy project is the perfect way to use them and create something with your kiddos. It’s a fun St. Patrick’s Day twist on the classic toilet paper roll craft! Your little ones will love making their own leprechaun with just a few simple materials.

Collage of Simple St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Leprechaun Handprint Craft – Your kids will have so much fun using their handprints to create these cute leprechauns! It’s a great activity for younger children and will be such a cute keepsake to display each year. Download the free template today; it’s perfect for home or classroom use and will keep your little ones entertained for ages!

Pot of Gold Card Craft – Gather your craft supplies and get ready to make this adorable pot of gold card! It’s a quiet independent art activity for kids and can be easily customized with different colors and decorations. It’s a fun way to spread some St. Patrick’s Day cheer to friends and family!

St. Patrick’s Day Activities For Preschoolers

Print out our St. Patrick’s Day worksheets to add some educational fun to the holiday! The digital download comes with three pages of activities, including letter tracing, a letter maze, and pattern recognition. It’s a sneaky way to keep kids learning while having fun with the holiday theme!

These St. Patrick’s Day cutting practice worksheets are perfect for developing fine motor skills this St. Paddy’s Day.

The action of cutting helps little ones practice their grip and hand-eye coordination, and the themed sheets add a touch of festive fun! They’re a low-prep activity that’ll keep kids entertained and learning at the same time.

Collage of St. Patrick's Day Activities For Preschoolers

Do your kids love coloring pages? If so, these St. Patrick’s Day color by number printables will be a huge hit! There are different difficulty levels to choose from, making them perfect for kids of all ages. Add them to your kiddos’ St. Patty’s Day activity rotation for some colorful and educational fun!

Tracing is the perfect pre-writing activity for young children! Try these pot of gold line tracing pages this St. Patrick’s Day to help your little ones get a head start on their handwriting skills. They’ll have so much fun tracing the lines and completing each activity this St. Patrick’s Day!

leprechaun paper bag puppet craft

Share With Us

Did you make this craft with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!

For a chance to have your child’s craft featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

More Kids’ Activities

leprechaun craft

Leprechaun Paper Bag Puppet Craft

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Make this cute leprechaun paper bag puppet craft with the kids this St. Patrick's Day!

Materials

  • Brown paper bag
  • Colored card stock or construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Leprechaun puppet template

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Download the leprechaun puppet template, print and cut out the pieces.
  2. Place the Leprechaun shirt piece at the bottom of the brown paper bag and glue in place.
  3. Position the dark green vest pieces just above the shirt, with the pointy ends overlapping the shirt and glue down.
  4. Glue the three yellow buttons in place along the middle of the vest.
  5. Place the leprechaun face on the paper bag flap and glue in place.
  6. Glue the leprechaun hair along the top part of the face.
  7. Position the beard along the bottom of the leprechaun face, just along the bottom of his smile.
  8. Glue each of the leprechaun's eyebrows above each eye.
  9. Place the leprechaun's pink nose in between his eyes and glue down.
  10. Begin assembling his hat by gluing the rim of the hat to the bottom of the hat base.
  11. Place the black rectangle near the bottom of the hat and glue in place.
  12. Position the yellow buckle in the middle of the black hat band and glue down.
  13. Glue the small black rectangle in the center of the yellow buckle.
  14. Place the completed leprechaun hat at the top of the leprechaun's head.

Did you make this craft?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Free Leprechaun Puppet Template

Freebie download image

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Beth

Monday 19th of February 2024

Always the most ADORABLE craft projects for kids! We will be featuring you starting Wednesday at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party! Pinned and shared! Creatively, Beth

Sam

Tuesday 20th of February 2024

Aw, I appreciate that! Thanks so much!

Kelley

Saturday 17th of February 2024

Thank you for the puppet.

Sam

Monday 19th of February 2024

You're welcome!

Maria

Saturday 17th of February 2024

This is adorable and so easy for the kids. Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Senior Salon Pit Stop! I'm excited to be featuring you at Monday’s party. Congrats! Pinned Hugs, Maria @ kraftyplanner.com

Sam

Monday 19th of February 2024

Thanks so much! Glad you like it ◡̈

Arlene

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Please send Leprechaun Paper Bag Puppet template

Sam

Monday 6th of March 2023

Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page 🙂

Sharon Herbe

Friday 24th of February 2023

Please send Leprechaun Paper Bag Puppet template.

Sam

Friday 24th of February 2023

Since you’re already an email subscriber, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of any post and it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page 🙂

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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