Hanging a shamrock suncatcher in your window will make your space feel positively magical this St. Patrick’s Day. It’s good fine motor skills practice for even your youngest crafters and it’s so much fun to make!
With minimal supplies needed and the ability to change up this craft for kids of all ages, you’ll be feeling the luck o’ the Irish in no time once you start crafting!
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Why You’ll Love This St. Patrick’s Day Craft
This simple craft is a great way to help younger children feel included in St. Patrick’s Day traditions. The best part is you can customize it in many ways to make it a super easy craft for toddlers or allow older children to do every step themselves!
They’re a beautiful way to decorate your home or classroom for a St. Patrick’s Day party.
Materials
- Contact paper or clear packing tape
- Paper plate
- Green tissue paper (crepe paper)
- Green yarn
- Green paint
- Paintbrush
- Markers
- Scissors
Instructions
Step 1)
Gather your supplies and print the shamrock template.
Step 2)
Trace the shamrock onto the paper plate. Then gently bend the paper plate in half so you can cut the template out of the middle of the shamrock shape.
Step 3)
Paint the paper plate green and let it dry.
Step 4)
Cut a circle of clear contact paper the same size as the shamrock opening and attach it to the back of the paper plate.
Step 5)
Cut small squares from the green tissue paper then attach them to the sticky part of the contact paper.
Step 6)
Lastly, use a hole punch at the top of your paper plate so you can hang your suncatcher on a piece of yarn.
Video Instructions
Prefer video instructions? Check out Crafty Kids Play YouTube channel and watch the full video tutorial of this Shamrock Suncatcher Craft here.
Free Template
Download your free shamrock template by using the button under the next image. Use this shamrock shape to trace onto your paper plate. Older kids will be able to cut it out themselves while younger kids may need adult assistance.
This template is for your own personal use only, not for commercial use or resale.
Tips & Troubleshooting
Contact Paper Tips
Contact paper comes with a protective cover on it that you peel off to reveal the sticky side. Make sure you leave the protective cover on when you’re cutting the contact paper circles out.
If you can’t find a sheet of contact paper, you could also use strips of packing tape and stick them in overlapping stripes onto the back of the paper plate.
Use Washable Paint:
If working with young children, opt for washable paint to make clean-up easier. Place newspaper or a plastic tablecloth under the crafting area to protect surfaces. You could also use washable markers if you find paint is too messy.
Prepare Materials in Advance:
Have all the materials organized and ready before starting the activity. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted crafting process.
Adjust for Age and Skill Level:
Adapt the difficulty level based on the age and skill level of the children. Younger kids may need more assistance, while older children can handle more intricate tasks like the shamrock cut out.
Variation Ideas
Experiment with Colors:
While green is traditional for shamrocks, encourage experimentation with different shades of green or all the colors of the rainbow for a more creative final product. Experiment with either the paint colors or the tissue paper colors to make colorful shamrock suncatchers.
Glitter Glam Shamrock:
Add a touch of sparkle by incorporating glitter on the painted paper plate or mixing glitter into the paint before applying it.
Tissue Paper Alternatives:
Lots of things stick to contact paper! Loose glitter, small beads, pom poms and petals are all more options you can test out instead of just using contact paper.
Benefits of This Shamrock Craft For Kids
Fine Motor Skills Development:
Cutting, tracing, and painting involved in this craft help develop fine motor skills in children. These activities require precision and control of hand movements, promoting hand-eye coordination.
Your youngest learners in preschool or toddlers at home should be able to paint their craft and use child-safe scissors to cut strips of tissue paper into pieces, or to tear them into small parts and stick them to the contact paper.
Creativity and Expression:
This craft allows kids to express their creativity by choosing colors and arranging the tissue paper squares. This fosters imagination and artistic expression. The paper plate can be painted any color you like; paint it with rainbow stripes or use multicolored tissue paper instead of green.
Seasonal Awareness:
Creating a shamrock suncatcher may introduce kids to cultural or seasonal themes, such as St. Patrick’s Day. This helps broaden their awareness of different traditions and celebrations.
Hand-Eye Coordination:
Cutting and placing tissue paper pieces on the suncatcher involves precise hand movements and hand-eye coordination, contributing to the development of these skills.
Final Thoughts
We hope your little ones enjoy the process of turning simple materials into charming decorations with this fun shamrock suncatcher craft! What better way to celebrate a holiday than with a pinch of handmade joy.
Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more great craft projects, sensory activities and fun ideas for kids!
