As shown here, I've pasted 6 shamrocks onto a Word document page. If you don't know how to do this, then you can get a fully illustrated tutorial for how to work with clipart at:

•  http://www.printables.thecraftcafe.com/cliparttutorial.html

I've assembled green and beige construction paper, green and gold glitter, kid-friendly scissors, a glue stick, and a green envelope (which is optional). These supplies are available at craft stores like Michaels, and other stores like Wal-Mart and Target. I picked up a package of assorted color envelopes at Office Depot. I prefer to use Elmer's Glue Stick---it goes on purple and dries clear.

To begin the craft, cut apart the shamrocks. If you had some trouble figuring out how to put all six shamrocks on one Word document page, then you can always just print the shamrock clipart as many times as you want (it downloads as a jpg file [picture image] and should open easily on your computer).

Depending on the kind of St. Patrick's Day card or craft you are going to create, you can leave on the "Happy St. Patrick's Day" saying beneath the shamrock, or you can trim it off.

This is a fun craft, so just let the kids' imaginations (or your own) go wild!

For the card I decided to make, I opted to trim the shamrock, leaving on the Happy St. Patrick's Day saying.

Then I cut a piece of green construction paper, just slightly bigger than the shamrock.

Since this is a simple craft, and can easily be done by young kids, there is no need to be precise. Just give your kids some very basic instructions and them let them be creative!

I trimmed the piece of green construction paper so that it was just slightly bigger than the shamrock.

I used the glue stick to glue the shamrock to the green construction paper.

Next, rub the glue stick on the back of the green construction paper. Then glue it anywhere on the beige construction paper.

You can decorate the beige construction paper with as many shamrocks as you like! Remember, just be crafty and creative!

Step 5.

Here's the fun part for kids (and for us older kids, too!)...it's glitter time!

The glue stick makes glittering easy! First, put a piece of computer paper (or newspaper) under the beige construction paper (as shown here). Then rub the glue stick wherever you want the glitter. Sprinkle on the glitter and press down on the glitter with your fingertips.

This dries almost instantly so there's no long wait time (like there would be with liquid white glue). Lift up the beige construction paper, and tap the edge very lightly on the piece of paper underneath it. This will catch all the loose glitter. Then use the paper to form a funnel and pour the leftover glitter back into the glitter bottle.

At this point, you can continue with the card or craft however you like.

You can use a green marker to write in a saying, or just to sign it.

Glue on more shamrocks and glitter. Use stickers or hand-draw in rainbows and pots of gold!

I chose to make a card, so I folded it like an accordion (the top and bottom in toward the middle). That way it fits perfectly into a regular business envelope (#10).

Use the clipart to decorate the outside of the envelope, too!

It's fun and easy to make your own cards and hopefully these illustrations and instructions have given you some ideas for how to create your own---and have some fun while you are doing it!

END OF CRAFT

St. Patrick's Day Cards and Crafts

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Jan's Tutorials, also available on Jan's Tips, are easy-to-read-and-understand tutorials for using MS Word and MS Paint, as well as using other computer-based features and programs to create cards, gift tags, and labels.