Shamrock Branches

I have a habit of holding on to random pieces of "stuff" with the high hopes that I can sit down for a few precious moments and turn it into a craft. This particular piece of gauzy, green paper was wrapped around flowers my husband brought home for me...over the summer. Before it could be tossed, I put my little craft worthy paper in a tote bag and hid it away. 

With St. Patrick's Day coming up, I was rooting through my craft tote and came across my long forgotten piece of paper. All I could think of was floaty little shamrocks. Which led me to this Shamrock Branch craft. 

Whenever I start to create a craft idea in my head, I try to think how I can have my children help me with it. If you have older children, they can help from start to finish. If you have younger ones, it is best that you have them start once the cutting is done.

Materials:
Green Paper (the thinner the better)
Mod Podge(R) Gloss
Foam roller brush
Tinfoil
Tree Branches
Craft Glue
Glitter (optional)

Step 1:
Draw basic shamrock shapes on your paper. Depending on your paper size, you may need a few sheets. Mine was about 36" x 36". I drew a variety of shamrocks sizes, ranging from 2 inches to 4 inches.


Step 2:
Cut shapes out and place on tinfoil. If you have young children, here is where you can involve them! Put Mod Podge(R) in a shallow dish. Help them roll the roller brush through the modge podge and then roll over the shamrocks. They should get damp with the glue, but not soaking wet.


Step 3:
Have the kids sprinkle glitter on the damp shamrocks. We used Martha Stewart Carerra Marble Glitter. I was thinking a little sparkle, instead of full on glitter and this worked perfectly. Allow to dry.


Step 4:
Go on a branch hunt with the kids. My daughter and I patiently looked around for long, wispy birch branches. My son took it upon himself to snap off entire rhododendron branches...nothing like some mid-winter pruning!


Step 5:
Help the kids glue the dry shamrocks onto their branches using white craft glue. Arrange and enjoy!


Thanks for Reading!
Daniele