Bring these sweet leprechauns into your home for a pot o'luck this St Patrick's Day.
Get your DIY Art Kit from Three & Me here, and follow along with this virtual art experience from the comfort of your home.
The DIY Art kit includes:
4 3D leprechauns in wood with LUCK and four-leaf clovers
1 stand
paints in white, black, green and orange
3 sponge wedges
1 1" nail
wood glue
From home you will need:
paper plate
paper towels
masking tape
parchment/ freezer/ news paper to protect your work space
glue- I recommend Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue, but wood glue and Elmer's craft glue work too
Lay out your leprechauns in their groups to familiarize yourself with each of them.
Separate the backings. They will not be painted.
I also do not paint my noses and hands, because they look so natural in wood.
Attach smaller pieces onto up-turned masking tape, so they do not move around during painting. Place them in their color groups.
If you think you'll forget which noses, beards, shoes and hats go with each leprechaun, number each piece on the back with a pencil. Hands are all cut the same.
Rather safe than sorry! Unless you like 3D puzzles!
Pour some of your paints onto a paper plate, for easier blending.
You will create different shades of green and orange by blending them with white.
If you're unsure about which colors to use where, start off with those you know for sure. I started off with black shoes.
Dip your wedge into paint, and dab off the excess.
Then carefully blot or wipe paint onto the wood shapes.
For shading brush the virtually dry wedge over the edges of the shapes, eg. the beards and hats.
Cut the tip off your wedge when you're done with the shoes. You won' need black again.
Now dip the wedge into a messy, streaky blend of orange and white.
Do not overload your wedge.
Swipe the blend downwards on the beard and plaits to give the hair realistic highlights.
Create different shades for each leprechaun if you'd like.
Paint all the green parts.
Start with the easy bits, to get into the swing of things.
Dip your wedge into paint, and dab off the excess.
Then carefully blot or wipe paint onto the wood shapes.
For shading blend some white into the green to make a lighter shade and stipple onto the clovers for interest.
Highlighted clovers are so pretty!
While you have green on your sponge, dab green onto the base too.
Using your wedges, blot paint onto the LUCK. Use whichever color combinations appeal to you.
Dab a variety of green and white shades onto the hats and bodies of your leprechauns.
Let the pieces dry, before adding embellishments, such a dots and stripes.
To add dots to any of the pieces, dip the flat head of the 1" nail into the paint and stamp it onto the wood shape.
For smaller dots, use the tip.
To create rustic stripes, dip the tip of the nail into paint and pull the line along the shape.
You can also use oil sharpies or paint pens to create stripes, dots, twirls, zigzags and curves.
You can always add additional dots, stripes and embellishments to your leprechauns when they are assembled and you have a better idea of color combinations. You don't want them to be too busy.
Now comes the best part! Assembling your painted leprechauns.
Do not use too much glue, as it will squeeze out the sides of your leprechauns.
Either apply by dabbing a wedge into the glue and the onto the wood shape or use Aleene's Turbo Tacky glue or other glue of choice, with a thin opening for sparing application.
An example of how little glue to apply on the K Leprechaun.
Assembly of the L Leprechaun.
Assembly of the U Leprechaun.
Assembly of the C Leprechaun.
All of them together. So cute!
Lastly, slide your leprechauns into the base. The slot should be snug enough for them to stand without glue.
You can always add a dab of glue to the bases, to adhere them permanently.
Wishing you all the luck in the world!
Enjoy these sweet leprechauns year after year on your tables, mantel or in your window.
I'd love to see photos of your creations! Please send me an email to or tag it with @threeand.me or #threeandme on social media.
Thank you for joining this Three & Me art experience. I hope you had so much fun creating this sign. If you have questions, suggestions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly here.
Warmly,
Claire Houlding
