This cute leprechaun hat tutorial for St Patrick's Day is one of my oldest projects - I first wrote this St Paddy's Day craft tutorial back in 2013!

I had never been a big St Patrick's day crafter but with a three year old who loved holidays, I had to do something.

At the time I wrote this tutorial, I had been laid off from my corporate job and was trying to make it as a craft blogger.

I had JUST changed my name from Carissa's Creativity Space to Creative Green Living.

I was also working for Dollar Store Crafts and spending my days creating things you could make with just a few dollars in supplies.

It's now 2020 and looking back through my St Patrick's Day projects, I have to admit I was a little embarrassed to see this tutorial still up on the site.

It uses craft materials I normally might not use - namely craft foam and glitter.

There are lots of eco friendly glitters on the market now (like this one, this one or this one).

So I would absolutely advise using a biodegradable glitter made from plant cellulose instead of plastic.

I also would not normally recommend using craft foam unless you happen to have some on hand you need to use up. It's plastic, won't break down and will eventually either end up in a landfill or the ocean. Sad.

BUT when I looked up how many people were actually reading this post each year, it was a surprising amount of you!

So even though I would personally do this craft differently in 2020 (I would use paper/cardstock and eco-glitter), I wanted to leave it up for any internet travelers hoping to learn how to make this fun kids leprechaun hat projects for St Patrick's Day.

But do kids like this cute craft?

My son sure thought this little hat was fun.

Seriously, he was SO excited to wear it for the photoshoot, he kept dancing around once it was on his head and it's almost miraculous I got him to hold still for this photo:

leprechaun hat craft tutorial - green glittery mini leprechaun hat for kids

This hat would also work great by gluing it to plastic headband.

Or make it without the strap and leave it out as a cute decoration.

But isn't that hat cute? You know you want one!

Here is how to make a wee little leprechaun hat of your own for wearing or displaying as part of your St. Patrick's day mantel

(original supply list and directions from 2013 with notes at the bottom about how to modify it and make it more eco-savvy for 2020)

Leprechaun Hat Craft Supplies:

(original 2013 supplies list)

Glitter foam can cozy in light green
1 sheet dark green glitter foam
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue
Plain glue (white glue, clear glue, glitter glue will all work)
Green glitter
Ribbon scrap (mine is gold)
Plastic shamrock token (about $1 for a package of 6 at Michael's)
Elastic cording for chin strap

2020 eco-savvy updates:

Instead of a foam can cozy, get green cardstock to wrap into a cylinder shape or use an empty food can painted green.
Buy biodegradable glitter instead of plastic glitter

Leprechaun Hat Craft Directions:

(original 2013 instructions)

how to make a mini leprechaun hat craft for St Patrick's Day

Once you have your supplies gathered, use your can cozy as a guide to draw two circles on the back of your craft foam.

The first one should be the same size at the cozy (for the top of the hat) and the other should be larger for the brim.

Once you cut out your circles, use the hot glue to glue the small circle to the top of the hat.

Add glue around the rim of the cozy and center it on the large circle to glue it down.

Use your non-hot glue to run a line of glue around the seam on the top of the hat. Douse in glitter and shake off excess.

directions for making a DIY leprechaun hat craft for st patrick's day

Carefully stand the hat up and use the hot glue to secure a band of ribbon and a shamrock to the hat.

Cut the elastic cording to the proper length for the wearer and secure the ends to the underside of the hat with hot glue. Set aside to allow glues to dry before wearing.

2020 suggestions for a more sustainable craft:

As mentioned above, if I were to make this St Patrick's Day craft today (in 2020) I would modify the procedure a little bit (and use more sustainable supplies).

First, I would use either a clean empty metal can painted green (using this nontoxic multisurface paint from FolkArt) or I would wrap a piece of green cardstock into a cylinder shape around a can.

For the glitter, I would use this emerald green biodegradable glitter.

I might also use the chance to upgrade a plastic headband to be the base for this and adhere the hat to a headband with hot glue.

little leprechuan hat tutorial graphic showing off St Patrick's Day kids craft hat

That's it! Super cute.

If you love this fun kid's craft for St Patrick's Day, pin it for later!

How to make a cute leprechuan hat using the end of a can or dollar store supplies as a template. Get the directions to DIY this adorable hat for kids or for adults. Glue the mini hat onto a headband or place it on your mantel.

Printable Easy Directions for Leprechaun Hat Craft

Leprechaun Hat for St Patrick's Day

Yield: 1 hat

Author: Carissa Bonham

Estimated cost: $5

Make an adorable leprechaun hat to wear on your head for St Patrick's Day or to use to decorate your home!

materials:

Glitter foam can cozy in light green
1 sheet dark green glitter foam
Hot glue
Plain glue (white glue, clear glue, glitter glue will all work)
Green glitter
Ribbon scrap (mine is gold)
Plastic shamrock token
Elastic cording for chin strap

tools:

Hot glue gun
Scissors

steps:

Original 2013 directions

Use your can cozy as a guide to draw two circles on the back of your craft foam. The first one should be the same size at the cozy (for the top of the hat) and the other should be larger for the brim.
Cut out the circles and use hot glue to attach the small circle to the top of the hat to the cozy.
Add a line of glue around the rim of the cozy and center it on the large circle to glue it down.
Use your non-hot glue to run a line of glue around the seam on the top of the hat. Douse in glitter and shake off excess.
Carefully stand the hat up and use the hot glue to secure a band of ribbon and a shamrock to the hat.
Cut the elastic cording to the proper length for the wearer and secure the ends to the underside of the hat with hot glue. (alternatively: attach hat to a firm plastic headband)
Set aside to allow glues to dry before wearing.

Updates for 2020

For a more sustainable crafting experience, make these modifications to the directions:
Use either a clean empty metal can painted green (using this nontoxic multisurface paint from FolkArt) or I would wrap a piece of green cardstock into a cylinder shape around a can.
For the glitter, I would use this emerald green biodegradable glitter.

About the Author:

Carissa Bonham is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. Her goal is to empower families to make easy projects and healthier choices that are beautiful and delicious!

The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she is an award winning blogger and most recently won the ShiftCon Media "Best Green Lifestyle Blogger" award in 2019.

She is also the author of several books including Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017), Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018) and The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom (Skyhorse, 2020).

Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe.

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