This rainbow paper chain craft (with pot of gold) is an easy way to enjoy a fun activity with kids.
This simple, fun, and festive craft is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. You can use it for a cool and colorful decoration for your party or just because. With just two supplies—construction paper and glue—this craft is ideal for busy homeschool moms, teachers, grandparents, and librarians who need a mess-free, stress-free project for children.
I’m sharing tips on how to make. Plus, I’ve got ideas for tweaking for spring, brain breaks, and rainy day fun.
A Colorful Way to Brighten Your Celebration
Looking for a fun and frugal way to enjoy a creative activity with your kids? Need a special way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or spring?
Well, this simple rainbow paper chain craft (with pot of gold at the end) is super cute for all of those things and more!
My boys and I look forward to celebrating fun days and holidays in our homeschool. These happy celebrations have provided us with so many opportunities to be creative, use our imaginations, and make memories together.
Working with a small homeschool budget, I’ve always looked for affordable ways to boost these celebrations (and our learning adventures). Paper chains have been awesome for countdowns, motivation, and holidays – like St. Patrick’s Day with this rainbow delight!
Recommended Materials for This Rainbow Craft
Good news! This paper chain craft only uses two supplies – and you probably already have them.
You can easily tweak this paper chain craft to use for other occasions or just because. Some fun ideas to try would be to make paper chains with different colors for fun days and holidays (like 4th of July), birthdays, and boredom busters.
Here’s a list of the supplies that you’ll need for this craft:
- Construction Paper
- Glue or Glue Stick
- Scissors
- Optional: Stapler
Want to customize your rainbow paper chain with pot of gold? Consider adding these supplies:
- Glitter glue
- Washi tape (especially glitter)
- Stickers
- Cardstock – plain or decorative
How to Make This Rainbow Paper Chain Craft
01
Prepare gold coins
Cut out 5-6 small circles from the yellow paper.
02
Cut out black pot
Draw and cut out a cauldron shape from the black. Cut out a long rectangle from the black as well.
03
Prepare paper strips
Cut out one long strip each from red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, blue, and purple. If you’re making a longer rainbow, cut out more paper strips.
04
Add coins to pot
Glue the coins to the back of the cauldron, overlapping the top at first, then the other coins.
05
Add the handle to the pot
Glue the black strip behind the coins so that it forms a loop. Set aside to dry.
06
Make paper links
Glue the red strip into a loop shape. Then loop the orange through the red, and glue it.
Repeat for yellow, green, light blue, and blue, linking each to the color before it.
07
Attach pot of gold to rainbow paper chain
On the purple strip, link it through both the blue link and the black loop on the cauldron before gluing it into a loop shape.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Simple Paper Craft
This craft is perfect for toddlers and up! Younger kids can help with arranging the paper strips and gluing (or stapling) them together. Older children can cut the paper and add their own creative flair.
Yes! If you have scrapbook paper or colored cardstock, those types of paper would work great, too. Just make sure the paper is flexible enough for making the chain links.
As long as you want! Consider where you’ll be displaying your rainbow. Also, if you want to repeat rainbow colors (ROYGBIV – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet), you will have a longer paper chain.
Creative Ideas for Having More Rainbow Fun with Kids
If you’d like to make your paper chain and pot of gold more sturdy, use cardstock. Gold glitter cardstock is excellent the coins!
Display your rainbow paper chain in a doorway, on the wall, above a chalkboard or whiteboard, on windows, and in the hall. Oh, and bookcases look amazing with paper chain rainbows!
Keep your rainbow, St. Patrick’s Day, and spring fun going with these books and resources:
St. Patrick’s Day in the MorningThe Story of Saint Patrick’s DayThere Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the CrayonsSt. Patrick’s DayHow the Crayons Saved the Rainbow (1)Light Makes a Rainbow (Science Readers: Content and Literacy)
⭐ I’d love to hear about how you’ll make and enjoy this rainbow paper chain craft (with pot of gold) for kids? Also, let me know if you have any questions about the instructions. Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post!
