The Creative Process and Try, Try Again
Do you talk with children about ideas that didn't work? Children are fascinated when I share that I tried about forty other ways before figuring out the classic Forest Fairy Craft criss-cross thread. This little fairy was my learning process while creating the Valentine Fairy. I wanted hearts and hearts and hearts. And it worked for her hat, but the wings didn’t quite turn out how I had hoped they would look.
Children value hearing that everyone, even adults, need to try things that don't work in order to discover what does work. I enjoyed this version of her heart-shaped hat, which is in the book. Her wings, though, were a draft on the way to a design that I liked better. And I knew that sewing all the little seams wouldn't work in a classroom setting. Creating is learning.
I had many, many discussions with students about what we called “The Mind of a Maker.” After all, people who make things of all sorts face challenges, frustration, and inspiration. Children really enjoying discussing how everyone, even adults, keeps learning and growing. Sometimes the most valuable part of crafting isn't the craft after all ❤️
Creative Leprechauns
Leprechauns have diversified through the years. The jolly little folk hanging around rainbows have sought out adventure in recent years. And children are delighted to imagine all the ways that leprechauns may appear in modern times. Our first Forest Fairy Crafts book is perfectly suited to this creative craft. You can make any style of leprechaun by leaning into green and gold (especially sequins). This means that the ninja leprechaun can move through the world.
This little leprechaun was so fun to imagine with her rainbow hair and sparkly gold arms. I simply used the ninja pattern with different colors. This inspired me to wonder about a pirate leprechaun. Or a leprechaun mermaid? The possibilities are endless.
Of course, a fairy pattern can easily be made into a leprechaun. And it’s fun to celebrate gold and green, especially if you can find yarn threaded with gold or, like this fairy’s hair, a gold eyelash yarn.
So fun how they sparkle!
Of course, the book has an official leprechaun as well.
A fun way to add extra magic to the leprechauns world is to paint little pebbles gold (or simply pretend they’re gold). After all, couldn’t leprechauns use a magic spell to disguise their gold while on an adventure?
Photo credit C&T Publishing
I could imagine games with leprechauns that you create together. You could use larger pieces (or sew two pieces of felt together to show “gold”. Then hide them around the house similar to an Easter Egg hunt. Make your leprechaun a leprechaun home. I have it on good authority that leprechauns love new homes far more than leprechaun traps. Build a leprechaun town!
With the Magical Forest Fairy Craft Through the Seasons book, you can create any of the patterns with gold/green themes. You could make beanbags with sparkly sequins that could then be gently tossed onto chosen targets, such as into a bucket or onto a felt square.
Then write a story about your leprechaun(s). And draw a picture or two of them. You could write about their adventures when they met children for the first time, or what their home is like in Leprechaun-Town or what life is like for leprechauns. Honestly, after you make a leprechaun or two or three, the children tend to inspire their own games and ideas. What can you create together?
We also made Leprechaun babies. The baby pattern is in the first Forest Fairy Crafts book. And this post shows how to make the cute little hat.
So many magical ways to bring Leprechaun magic into your home. We hope that all the good luck of the Leprechauns finds you and your family!
For more Leprechaun inspiration and activities, visit these posts:
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!