Cut approximately 30 individual strings from the cotton mop head with scissors. Get them damp under running water, squeeze the excess water out, and place them in a large zipper bag.

Squeeze some orange paint into the bag of damp mop strings and zip it closed. Squish the paint into the cotton mop strings until they are all coated. Turn out the orange mop strings onto a garbage bag, and set them aside to dry.

To make the Leprechaun Gnome’s hat, line up five craft sticks on your work surface. Use scissors to trim additional sticks to the width of the hat and attach them with a glue gun and glue sticks towards the top and bottom of the five sticks to secure them in place. Flip the hat over and glue one craft stick to the hat base to create the brim. Trim one stick to the width of the hat to become the hat band. Set the hat band to one side.

Basecoat the entire hat with bright green paint. Leave to dry, and apply a second coat, if necessary. Basecoat the hat band with black acrylic craft paint. Leave to dry, and apply a second coat, if necessary.

Glue the black hat band to the hat. Download, print, and cut out the free printable Leprechaun Gnome Craft Pattern. Trace the buckle onto yellow craft foam with a pencil, cut it out using scissors (or a craft knife if you prefer), then attach it to the center of the hat band with a glue gun.

Flip the Leprechaun Gnome hat over to the reverse side and attach 15 of the dried painted mop strings along the bottom edge of the sticks. Glue 15 more strings on as a second layer. (Use the images below as a guide.)

Glue the wooden bead/ball to the top center of the Leprechaun Gnome’s beard.

Trace the shamrock pattern onto the green felt. Cut it out and stick a green button to the center of the shamrock, then glue the shamrock to the hat where desired. Tie the ribbon into a bow, cutting dovetails at each end if desired. Glue onto the hat buckle. Ensure all elements are dried before displaying the Leprechaun Gnome on your mantle!