Tap into your Irish roots by making this charming leprechaun hat vase, the perfect complement to a St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef and cabbage. Simple and quick, this activity is easy on the pocketbook but heavy on the charm!
What You Need:
- Black poster board
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Yellow construction paper
- Green construction paper or green foam at least 17 inches long (you can find green foam at craft stores)
- White crayon
- Scissors
- Glue gun
- 2 sheets of card stock
- Top of hat, brim, and buckle templates
- Tall vase, five inches in diameter or less
What You Do:
- Have your child measure the height of the vase.
- Ask your child to cut the black poster board to the length of the vase and 15 inches wide. Set aside the poster board scraps (don't throw them away).
- Roll up the sheet of poster board and place a rubber band around it. Set it aside for at least half an hour. Rolling the poster board will help your hat stay together better.
- While you wait for the poster board, print out the hat templates onto the card stock.
- Have your child cut out the templates to use as stencils.
- Have her trace the belt buckle onto yellow construction paper and cut it out. Trace the brim and top of the hat onto the leftover black poster board scraps with a white crayon and cut them out.
- When it's time, remove the rubber band from the rolled-up poster board. Have your child glue the ends of the roll together to form a cylinder with a 5-inch diameter.
- Ask your child to cut a strip of green construction paper or foam 3 inches wide and 17 inches long.
- Have her carefully glue the green strip around the bottom of the poster board cylinder, then glue the yellow buckle over the green strip.
- Place the cylinder over the vase and set it on top of the brim.
- To finish your hat centerpiece, have your child tape the top of the hat piece to the edge of the hat so it dangles to one side.
- Arrange some pretty flowers inside the vase, and place your centerpiece on the dining table for instant St. Patrick's Day cheer!
