St. Patrick's Day crafts for kids

Want to spread a little luck o' the Irish with your children this St. Patrick's Day? Making creative crafts as a family can be a fun thing to do together and provide some great handmade memories.

Don't worry if you aren't crafty! These crafts are pretty simple to make, but will brighten your child's day. Most of these crafts are suited for preschoolers and up.

Ready to get started?

OK, so St. Patrick's Day isn't one of those holidays where you hand out presents or hide candy. Nonetheless, these little totes are a cute and fun thing to make with kids — and maybe St. Patrick will deliver a few trinkets or handfuls of candy to the bags on the evening before St. Patrick's Day.

What you'll need:

• 1 sheet of green felt
• green patterned ribbon
• scissors

What you'll do:

1. Using scissors, cut slits (about 1/2-inch long) along the edge of the felt, about 1 inch apart, all the way around.
2. Weave the ribbon through the slits (little fingers are a big help with this — have them alternate between pushing and pulling the ribbon through the slits). Tie the ends of the ribbon together. Then, pull the ribbon tight, scrunching the felt to form a pouch. Tie a second knot about four inches from the pouch opening.
3. Fill with candy, trinkets or whatever you desire.

What better way to decorate your St. Patrick's Day table than with some fun homemade napkin rings. Anyone can make these and materials will cost you around $2. If you have older kids, you can get more creative, adding different colors of green or letting them paint the rings.

What you'll need:

• white foam sheet (cut into 2x5-inch strips — one per napkin ring)
• green acrylic paint
• paper plate
• stapler

What you'll do:

1. Make sure that your hands and your child's hands are clean and nails are clipped. Set up an area on your table with plastic or newspaper to protect the table. On a small paper plate, squirt a bit of the green paint. Have a wet paper towel at the ready.
2. Lay out one of the white foam strips. Using your child's pointer finger, dip it into paint and then put four finger prints in a shamrock pattern on the white strip. Create as many patterns as you like on the strip and then set aside. Repeat until all of the strips have the pattern. Use the wet paper towel to wipe your child's finger clean before leaving the table.
3. Use a thin paint brush to draw a stem on each shamrock.
4. Let the strips dry overnight.
5. Curve the strips into a loop with about 1/2" of overlapping foam. Staple together.

This one is about as easy as they come and could be something cute and unexpected to deliver to teachers or grandparents.

What you'll need:

• little green bucket (you can pick them up at Target or Walmart for about $1)
• candy or trinkets (beads, chocolate coins, etc.)
• white felt

What you'll do:

1. Stick the felt in the bucket and add the golden goodies.
2. If you are feeling particularly crafty, you could make a rainbow and affix it to the bucket as well. Easy peasy!

Image credit: Amy Vowles

Next up: Shamrock frames and other St. Patrick's Day crafts