project // vintage-style pipe cleaner leprechauns

Kitschy, vintage-style holiday decorations are so cute (and okay...sometimes a little creepy). But I love them. And I love making them! These pipe-cleaner leprechauns are a variation on the pipe-cleaner Santas I made a few years ago. They were modeled after a vintage decoration, and I couldn't resist making a new version.

These little guys are simple and silly, and lots of fun to tuck in around on shelves. You could even use them as a little St. Patrick's Day greeting or hide them as a game!



You will need:

Green "Bumpy" Pipe Cleaners
Scissors
Craft Glue
Paper

Printable Leprechaun Faces PDF



Fold a bumpy pipe cleaner in half. At the skinny section, twist the pieces together a couple times. The "bumps" sticking out will be the arms.



Take a second pipe cleaner and fold it in half as you twist it around the skinny section of the first pipe cleaner.



Here's where it starts to get interesting. Fold the head toward the back, then up and around through the two loose stems.



Odds are, the arms will look extra long, so wrap each one across the front to shorten them a bit. Twist the two lower stems at the skinny point, to form the torso and legs.



The legs and lower body look a little strange if you leave them, so let's fix that.

Fold the legs toward the back, then through the torso and back into the correct position. Sometimes it helps to repeat this step twice to get the legs looking right, but you can look at your leprechaun and decide.



We're down to the final details now!

If you want, pinch the fold a little to form the top of the hat. Fold the tips of the arms and legs to make hands and feet. Then, cut a single "bump" to fill in the torso.



Fold the ends of the single "bump" through around the torso so his belly isn't open.



Cut out a printed leprechaun face and have it handy. Dab a bit of glue on the lower part of the pipe cleaner head (this works better than putting the glue on the paper face).



Attach the face and let the glue dry.



These leprechaun friends are ready to create some mischief!



I'm tempted to try making some Easter Bunnies like this too...what do you think?