Make a magical coffee filter rainbow craft for St. Patrick’s Day! Kids will love watching colors mix. Includes leprechaun hat template.
If you’re looking for a simple, magical St. Patrick’s Day craft, this Coffee Filter Rainbow Leprechaun Hat Craft is always a hit! Kids color their own rainbow onto a coffee filter, then use a spray bottle to watch the colors blend and spread like magic. Add a leprechaun hat template, glitter, and even cotton ball clouds for an adorable keepsake that’s perfect for March.
Thank you for visiting. This post may contain affiliate links to recommended products at no extra cost to you. Read our Disclosures and Terms of Use. Don't miss out again, become a Reader here <--it's FREE.
This craft combines art, color mixing, and a little science — which makes it just as educational as it is fun!
Why This Craft Is Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day
Rainbows and leprechaun hats are classic St. Patrick’s Day symbols, which makes this craft ideal for preschool, kindergarten, classroom parties, or at-home fun. The spray bottle technique adds an element of surprise that feels almost magical — just like finding a pot of gold!
It’s also a wonderful way to explore:
- Primary and secondary colors
- Color mixing
- Fine motor skills (cutting, coloring, gluing)
- Creativity and self-expression
Plus, it’s low-prep and uses inexpensive supplies you may already have at home.
A Little Color-Mixing Magic
My son had so much fun with this one. He carefully colored his rainbow with bold stripes, and then the real excitement started when we sprayed it with water. His eyes lit up as the colors began to move, blend, and swirl together.
He kept saying, “Look! It’s changing!” as the red and yellow turned into orange and the blue and yellow created green right before his eyes. It turned into such a natural learning moment. He even wanted to make another one just to try different color combinations and see what would happen. In the end we had loads of colorful coffee filters. It’s so fun watching kids experiment and discover through hands-on art.
How to Make a Coffee Filter Rainbow Leprechaun Hat
Supplies Needed
- White coffee filters (basket style works best)
- Washable markers (classic Crayola work great)
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Paper towels or tray (to catch excess water)
- Leprechaun hat template (printable available at the end of this post)
- White cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick or school glue
- Cotton balls (for clouds – optional)
- Glitter (optional)
- Black marker (optional, for adding a face)
Directions
Step 1: Cut the Rainbow Shape
Flatten a coffee filter and cut it into a rainbow arch shape by cutting it in half, then cutting a “u” shape in the middle to make a rainbow arch.
Step 2: Color the Coffee Filter
Use washable markers to draw rainbow stripes across the filter. Encourage kids to press firmly and fill in lots of white space for the best blending effect.
Step 3: Spray with Water
Place the colored filter on paper towels or a tray. Lightly spray with water until damp (not soaking). Watch the colors spread and mix together!
Allow the coffee filter to dry completely. This usually takes a few hours, or you can speed it up by placing it near a sunny window.
Step 4: Decorate the Leprechaun Hat
Print and cut out the leprechaun hat template. Let kids decorate it with markers, glitter, or even sequins.
Step 5: Assemble
Glue the leprechaun hat onto the top of the rainbow.
(Optional): Add Clouds or a Face: Glue cotton balls to the bottom corners for fluffy clouds. You can also draw a simple leprechaun face under the hat for extra personality.
Helpful Tips
- Don’t oversaturate the filter — too much water can cause colors to blend into brown.
- Use washable markers only (permanent markers won’t spread the same way).
- Place a baking sheet underneath for easy cleanup.
- If working with a group, label each child’s coffee filter before spraying.
- Let kids experiment with different color orders to explore new blends.
Learning Extension Ideas
Want to turn this into a mini science lesson?
- Create a full rainbow bulletin board display for the classroom.
- Ask: What do you think will happen when we spray it?
- Talk about primary colors and how they mix to make new colors.
- Try making one with only two colors and compare results.
Learning Extension Ideas
Want to turn this into a mini science lesson?
- Ask: What do you think will happen when we spray it?
- Talk about primary colors and how they mix to make new colors.
- Try making one with only two colors and compare results.
- Create a full rainbow bulletin board display for the classroom.
Perfect For:
- Preschool and Kindergarten
- St. Patrick’s Day classroom parties
- Homeschool art lessons
- Rainbow or weather units
- Fine motor skill practice
- March craft activities
Get the Leprechaun Hat Template
Print the Directions
Materials
- White coffee filters (basket style works best)
- Washable markers (classic Crayola work great)
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Paper towels or tray (to catch excess water)
- Leprechaun hat template (printable available at the end of this post)
- White cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick or school glue
- Cotton balls (for clouds – optional)
- Glitter (optional)
- Black marker (optional, for adding a face)
Instructions
Step 1: Cut the Rainbow Shape
Flatten a coffee filter and cut it into a rainbow arch shape by cutting it in half, then cutting a "u" shape in the middle to make a rainbow arch.Step 2: Color the Coffee Filter
Use washable markers to draw rainbow stripes across the filter. Encourage kids to press firmly and fill in lots of white space for the best blending effect.Step 3: Spray with Water
Place the colored filter on paper towels or a tray. Lightly spray with water until damp (not soaking). Watch the colors spread and mix together! Allow the coffee filter to dry completely. This usually takes a few hours, or you can speed it up by placing it near a sunny window.Step 4: Decorate the Leprechaun Hat
Print and cut out the leprechaun hat template. Let kids decorate it with markers, glitter, or even sequins.Step 5: Assemble
Glue the leprechaun hat onto the top of the rainbow.(Optional): Add Clouds or a Face: Glue cotton balls to the bottom corners for fluffy clouds. You can also draw a simple leprechaun face under the hat for extra personality.
Notes
Helpful Tips
- Don’t oversaturate the filter — too much water can cause colors to blend into brown.
- Use washable markers only (permanent markers won’t spread the same way).
- Place a baking sheet underneath for easy cleanup.
- If working with a group, label each child’s coffee filter before spraying.
- Let kids experiment with different color orders to explore new blends.