This Shamrock Magnet is a fun and easy St. Patrick’s Day Craft Project for kids! All you need is some green felt, green foam sheets, a few sequins and a magnet, then all that’s required is to cut everything out and glue it all together.
Shamrock Magnet Kids Craft Project
I love celebrating the holidays, such as St. Patrick’s Day, with fun crafting projects for the children.
While they may not understand fully the original purpose of the holiday, most usually do know and enjoy the traditions of the day, such as wearing something green, leprechauns that grant wishes, shamrocks are for “good luck”, or certain foods that your family eats each year on March 17.
Crafting is a great opportunity to explain what the holiday is about, and the activity can be adjusted for several age categories!
It would make a great crafting activity with larger groups of children, and would work well for preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary aged kids.
For younger kids, you’d need to provide a bit more assistance, while the older kids could show their creativity and be given a bit more independence.
What you will need:
- Dark Green Craft Felt – I buy this in packs of assorted colors. It’s often less expensive this way and I save the rest for future holidays.
- Light Green Craft Foam – again I buy this in packs of assorted colors. I use the lighter green and save the remaining colors for another crafting activity.
- Sequins – or use a button.
- Tacky Glue or a Hot Glue Gun – whichever you have to hand.
- Round magnet or small cut piece of magnetic strip
- Scissors
What kind of glue is best for crafting with kids?
If the kids want to do the entire activity themselves I recommend using Tacky Glue. However, for adults or older kids, a Glue Gun with Glue makes quick work of these magnets.
PLEASE TAKE CARE when using glue guns around children and avoid burning, as both the glue and the gun become really hot!
How to make a Shamrock Magnet
- Free hand cut a large shamrock from the dark green craft felt. I used a shamrock decoration I had at home as a template. I put the decoration on a piece of paper, traced around it, cut it out, placed it on some felt, traced it on, and cut it out.
- Try to cut inside the traced line so it doesn’t show.
- ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: Use a free printable pattern (you’ll find these online), or a Shamrock Cutout.
- Cut a similar shaped shamrock from the light green craft foam.
- Make this one slightly smaller as it will be placed on top of the large one and you want to create a 3D type effect.
- Glue the smaller shamrock onto the larger shamrock.
- Then glue the sequins into the center.
- Let the shamrock set for about 5 minutes to ensure the glue has dried.
- Flip the shamrock over and glue the magnet onto the back.
- Once dry, hang the magnet on the fridge or your child’s school locker!
Variations:
- For younger kids, you’ll need to do more of the work, perhaps have the shamrocks pre-cut and let them assemble.
- Older kids can do more of the work themselves, making this a great classroom idea for the kids to take home as a party favor!
- For a bit more sparkle, add some glitter to the magnets.
- I’ve made shamrocks, but you can use the same process for any shape:
- Hearts for Valentines Day
- Egg shapes for Easter
- Pumpkins for Halloween or Thanksgiving
- Christmas trees for Christmas
Don’t miss these additional fun St Patrick’s Day Crafts and Recipes here at When Is Dinner:
Shamrock Magnet Kids Craft Project
Materials
- Dark green craft felt
- Light green craft foam
- Sequins or button
- Hot glue gun or tacky glue
- Round magnet or small cut piece of magnetic strip
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
Free hand cut a large shamrock from the dark green craft felt. (Alternate options: Use a free printable pattern, a shamrock cut out, or I had a shamrock decoration from the dollar store here. I put the decoration on a piece of paper, traced around it, cut it out, placed it on some felt, traced it on, and cut it out. I cut inside the traced line so it didn’t show).
Cut a similar shamrock from the light green craft foam, only make this one slightly smaller as it will be placed on top of the large one and you want to create a 3D type look.
Hot glue the smaller shamrock onto the larger shamrock. Then hot glue the sequins into the center.
Let the shamrock set for about 5 minutes to ensure the glue has dried.
Flip the shamrock over and glue the magnet onto the back.
Once dry, hang the magnet on the fridge or your child’s school locker!
Notes
*For younger kids, you’ll need to do more of the work, perhaps have the shamrocks pre-cut and let them assemble. For older kids, they can do more of the work. Great classroom idea for the kids to take home as a party favor!
Original Post Updated: 2/14/20