With Saint Patrick’s Day just around the corner, how about making a little leprechaun? They are the perfect size for an accent for your home, classroom or office. These fun leprechauns are made from an Old Orchard frozen juice can. They are great to make with the kiddos to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.

Have you ever heard of "Elf on the Shelf"? Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition many families have with their kids. Basically, every morning before the kids wake up, the parents hide the elf anywhere in their home. When the kids wake up they are to search for the elf, maybe even resulting in a little prize to whoever finds the elf first! Why not try this during the month of March in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day and make your own "Leprechaun on a Ledge"? We thought this could be a fun idead for families to try out, however, it looks like others have been trying this idea out too!  [url=http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/2013/03/leprechaun-on-ledge.html?m=1]http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/2013/03/leprechaun-on-ledge.html?m=1[/url] Now you can join in!

What you’ll need:

  • Empty Old Orchard frozen can
  • Green, black, tan/yellow, and orange construction paper
  • Googly eyes
  • Orange yarn
  • Black marker
  • Scissors
  • Liquid glue or glue stick
  • Binder clip

Step 1: Making the Hat

  • Start by drawing a slightly bigger circle than the top of the frozen juice can (use a household object to trace if necessary)
  • Cut off the remainder of the green construction paper horizontally
  • Put glue on the short edge of the paper and make it into a circle
  • Put the binder clip in the top of the paper  while the glue dries (might need a paper clip for the bottom as well)
  • Glue the circle you cut out to the top of the juice can

Step 2: The Face

  • Lay the frozen juice can on its side on top of a piece of yellow construction paper. Measure the construction paper to the length of the can, then cut
  • Put glue on the outside of the frozen container and wrap the yellow construction paper around it, trimming off extra paper, if necessary
  • Let the glue dry before continuing

Step 3: The Beard

  • Take a pen/market and draw a “U” on the front of the juice can, which will be the frame for the face and beard
  • Cut about 10 pieces of yarn at about 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches each -- these will be for the front of the beard
  • Put glue on the yellow construction paper on the bottom of the “U” shape and stick the orange yarn onto it, hanging the extra yarn off the bottom of the can
  • Cut about 5 inch pieces of yarn for beard and hair pieces to cover the rest of the way around the can
  • Continue gluing the yarn in the "U" shape from the bottom of the hat to the bottom of the can to create the hair
  • Trim the hair on the bottom so that it's flush with the bottom of the can

Step 4: Finishing the Hat

  • Cut a 2-inch wide strip of black construction paper
  • Glue the strip onto the the bottom of your green rolled construction paper to make the hat
  • Take the orange paper and cut out 4 small circles
  • Glue the circles on top of the black strip on the front of the hat in a square
  • Glue the finished top of the hat onto the base of the hat

Step 5: Face

  • Glue the two googly eyes onto the Leprechaun’s face
  • Draw on the Leprechaun’s nose and mouth with the black marker

And your leprechaun is finished! Feel free to add your own touch to this St. Patrick’s Day friend. You can make his hat more decorative, give him a sparkly touch, or even make a body for him from a used Old Orchard juice bottle. The possibilities are endless. For extra fun, hide him on a "ledge" somewhere in your house each morning and see who can find him first!

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