Leprechaun Traps for A Little Saint Patrick's Day Magic

Leprechaun traps are a wonderful way to create a little excitement in the days before Saint Patrick's Day.

Each one of these leprechaun traps for Saint Patrick’s Day is the perfect way for your kids to get creative and use their imaginations, as they figure out how to catch the little man in green!

Not only will kids have fun making their own diy leprechaun traps but they will also enjoy spending quality time as a family to celebrate this Irish holiday.

So choose a trap and see if you can catch a leprechaun this year!

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What Are Leprechaun Traps?

Leprechaun traps are crafts that are created with the intention of trying to catch a leprechaun. They are usually made out of easy to find and common household items.

Traps usually feature the color green and lots of items that might attract a leprechaun such as gold coins, black pots, rainbows, leprechaun hats, shamrocks, and sweet tasty treats.

These traps have become favorites for families with small children and elementary school teachers who wish to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with a little fun.

Leprechaun traps are very similar to Christmas Elf on the Shelf, but for St. Patrick's Day instead. And the good news - they're way less work for mom and dad. Let's face it, these little guys in green are difficult to catch, so you make your trap and wait to see if you catch one.

Inspiration for leprechaun traps finds roots in Irish folklore. Irish people believe that if you manage to capture a leprechaun he must share his gold with you.

You can check out the whole tale here where we discuss the story of the pot of gold under the rainbow.

Here's a collection of fun leprechaun trap ideas so that you too can participate in some leprechaun tricks this St. Patrick's Day.

Leprechaun Hat and Lucky Charms Trap

If you’re looking for an easy St Patrick’s day craft, then why not build your very own trap to catch one of these cute little cobblers from Ireland.

This one features a propped up leprechaun hat with a trail of lucky charms to entice a magical fairy. This craft is a perfect STEM activity. Kids will love creating their unique leprechaun trap for St Patrick’s day.

Rooftop Garden Leprechaun Trap

This rooftop garden leprechaun trap features silk flower blooms to entice the little fellow up to the top of a skyscraper.

Made with easy to find items this lovely garden trap may just help you to catch that sneaky leprechaun once and for all! Plus some chocolate gold coins can be used to lure your leprechaun.

Under the Rainbow Trap

This amazing Under the Rainbow trap costs very little to make and will outsmart even the sneakiest of leprechauns!

It features a green felt hat with a circle cut out of the top. The inside of the hat is filled with glittery, golden strands like straw, and topped with a rainbow with a golden coin.

Clay Pot Leprechaun Trap

St Patrick’s Day can only mean one thing, it is time to catch a leprechaun! This easy Clay Pot Leprechaun Trap can help kids try and find a pot of gold under the rainbow or some lucky four leaf clovers.

It features a painted clay pot with a shamrock design, topped with a paper pot of gold and rainbow.

Shiny Leprechaun Traps

Here are three leprechaun trap ideas - pick your favorite and get to work trapping that sneaky little guy!

These three ideas feature a shiny base covered in aluminum foil with all kinds of embellishments and decorations. Let's face it! If leprechauns like gold, a little shiny silver might catch their eye too.

Thatched Cottage Garden Trap

This festive little garden makes a fun leprechaun trap and is brimming over with colorful whimsy and bright spring cheer.

Plus this homemade leprechaun trap features a lovely thatched cottage, witha rainbow ladder leading up a flower pot, with lots of leprechaun bait. Fairy toadstools, rainbows and shamrock bunting await any curious fairy.

Cereal Box Leprechaun Trap

Leprechauns are super tricky and really fast, so if you want to find out the secret about where their gold is hidden you must set a leprechaun trap!

This inventive cereal box trap may lure a leprechaun in search of free gold. A cereal box is balanced on a paper straw or stick, over a rainbow and cloud path dotted with golden coins.

Tissue Box Trap

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to build a leprechaun trap using a tissue box and green construction paper.

Your kids will love this St. Patrick’s Day craft and STEM activity. The trap door can be covered with candy coins.

Shamrock Shoebox Trap

Make a shamrock shoebox leprechaun trap to see if some extra goodies might be left behind by the leprechaun that was too crafty to be caught!

Sometimes they leave shiny rolos, or shamrocks or gold coins.

Large Decorated Box Trap

Are you familiar with the Saint Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Trap Tradition? If not, learn how to make your own leprechaun trap and see if you get lucky enough to catch one!

This prank features a large box covered in green paper, and decorated in creative ways. It's balanced on a stick with a string, so if a sneaky little leprechaun tiptoes inside, the box can be pulled down on top of him.

Easy Hat and Rainbow Leprechan Trap

Go ahead and try and make my Easy Hat Leprechaun Trap and see if a tiny bearded red haired man turns up with a pot of gold or else tells you where to find some!

Some choclate candy can lure a little Irish man up the latter to this pot of gold.

Slide Leprechaun Trap

Kids will love making this free ride leprechaun trap with a slide made out of a paper towel roll that the little guys won’t be able to climb back up!

Cozy Inn Trap

With a paint chip rainbow roof, toilet roll tulips and craft stick rope ladder, a Leprechaun won't be able to resist this cozy inn trap!

Potted Plant Trap

How do you truly catch a Leprechaun? Apparently for Leprechaun’s, it’s all about finding the Pot o’ Gold at the end of the rainbow.

Rainbow Leprechaun Trap

Building this rainbow trap with a hidden tunnel is a fun STEM challenge that you can do at home.

Kids will love this fun activity and may ask to do it again year after year.

Celebrating Saint Patrick's Day With Crafts

And there you have it - my collection of favorite leprechaun traps from around the internet, to help celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.

So grab your pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, chocolate coins, paper straws, green glitter, cotton balls, pom poms, and hot glue guns.

I think shoe boxes, cereal boxes and toilet tissue tubes will be upcycled, recycled and transformed into clever ruses with secret trap doors this year.

Wishing you the best of Irish luck as you try to catch these magical little fellows from Ireland, who'll be roaming the world in the lead up to Saint Patrick's Day.

It's lovely to know so many people love to celebrate Saint Patrick and Irish heritage.

Many thank to all the wonderful crafters who shared their projects with us today and gave me permission to share their artistic photographs.

I hope you find the perfect leprechaun trap project to feed little imaginations and stir their creativity today.

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