Leprechaun Large Hanging Wall Decoration

Hanging decoration for St. Patrick’s Day is composed 

of head/torso under which arms and legs can be attached 

(either permanently or with temp adhesive to facilitate 

disassembly and storage.) All components are assembled 

of multiple shapes that are glued together and pressed 

under flat weights for sturdy thickness then fit together. 

Accent shapes provide abundant details 

for features and clothing. 

Figure measures approx. 15.5” wide x 16.2” long 

when fully assembled. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the foundation shapes:

A torso/head main shape (4)

B torso/head "bottom" layer with post triangle cutouts

C torso/head underneath layers (with arm & leg insert areas)

D post triangles: 4 sets of 5 each

E & F right & left arm shapes (4 each)

G & H right & left leg shapes (4 each)

NOTE: the sample was created with layered beige solid

papers from more than one paper pad, where dye lots

were obviously slightly different; when layered and

glued up, only the outside layers are visible.

TIP: Paper selection for accent front layer for all other

components should probably follow here, but since

the layering and glue up requires possible "overnight"

multiple hours to be assembled and pressed for complete

drying, it is suggested that assembly SKIP to Step 6.

to complete those steps.

2. Select and cut the shapes for the torso/head:

vest with collar, face base, beard, eyes and brows,

nose, mustache, mouth (inner) and lower lip

not shown: pants waist/crotch semi-circle

3. Select and cut the shapes for the hat and bowtie:

shamrock base and top shaped layer,

hat crown, band, brim and buckle,

bowtie base, bow loops and knot. 

4. Select and cut the shapes for the arms/hands:

hand base (show-thru for hand contrast),

hand overlay, cuff with button, sleeve.

5. Select and cut the shapes for the legs and feet:

pants with buttons, hose/leg, bootie top, band with buckle,

bootie bottom, heel stack and show-thru underlay.

6. Layer the multiple shapes for leg and arms

and glue together, taking care to line up as precisely

as possible all cut edges and post cutout windows.

Once multiple shapes are stacked and glued, press each

stack under a flat, heavy object such as this thick book volume

(or several), wood planks, fabric-covered re-purposed free weight

 bars, etc. Leave under the weight until liquid adhesive is

completely and thoroughly dried to avoid or minimize

curling or warping that will otherwise occur.

The drying process may require several hours or over night.

NOTE: this pressing process is recommended for ALL steps

where large shapes are layered and glued together

with liquid adhesive, including stacks and accent assemblies.

7. Repeat the stacking and gluing process for the head/torso

shapes: A) back built up layers with cutout shaping to

accept arm ends and tops of legs;

B) main torso/head layers and . . . 

. . . bottom layer with triangle post position cutouts.

8. When the above A and B stacks are completed,

pressed and dried, position the back stack onto

the backside of the main torso/head stack

(on the post cutouts layer), attach in place

and press to allow for final thorough drying.

9. Prepare the triangle post stacks by layering and

gluing 5 triangle cutouts into each of 4 stacks, 

carefully lining up cut edges; press stacks until dry.

10. Position each stack and securely glue in place

in each of the four triangle cutouts on the torso/head

assembly, shown here in closeup, and . . . 

. . . here with broader view; press with weights

to help secure in place.

11. Assemble and glue together the torso/head

accent clusters:

A) position and attach beard on top of face base;

B) position lower lip shape under mouth opening,

centered, with corresponding edges aligned;

C) position and attach nose onto mustache base

then position and attach above mouth cutout;

D) position and attach collar along top edge of vest

E) position and attach eyebrows above eye cutouts

NOTE: some shapes will be saved to attach in place

once the assemblies are attached to built-up base:

eye circles; inner mouth, vest buttons

12. Assemble and glue together the hat and bowtie units:

A) layer shamrock shaped layer onto base;

B) layer hat crown with band on top aligned at

lower edge, brim aligned at lower edge over band,

buckle fit into place near center with lower edges

abutting brim;

C) bowtie base with loops shapes on top, knot

roundish shape over center where edges align.

13. Assemble the torso/head accent shapes onto

the built-up base:

A) position and attach pants semi-circle at bottom,

centered, with offset margin along curve edge;

B) position and attach vest/collar unit overlapping pants shape,

centered, with side edges of vest offset in from stack side

edges where the shaping matches; add vest buttons;

C) position and attach hat unit at top of stack,

with hang hole matched, even offset margins

around sides and top;

D) position and attach head/face unit centered, with top edge

snugly abutted under hat brim edge, beard overlapped

onto collar/vest unit;

E) position and attach bowtie unit;

F) position and attach eyes into socket cutouts,

inner mouth into mouth socket cutout;

G) position and attach shamrock onto hat.

14. Pre-assemble arms and hands units:

A) layer hands overlay over contrast base layers

(NOTE: the model cardstock base contrast layer

was hybrid-ed to conserve the contrast selected paper

by cutting a different [non-showing] cardstock and

joining the contrast with abutted ends; normally one piece)

B) position and attach cuffs snugly against hand overlay

straight edge, and add button;

C) position and attach sleeve snugly against cuff straight edge.

15. Complete the arm/hand units by centering

the unit from step 13 onto the layered arm base,

with post hole edges aligned, and even offset margin

 all around, and gluing in place.

16. Pre-assemble the bootie units by layering

onto the base show-thru shape the bootie bottom,

band, bootie top shape, snugly abutting and aligning

edges at each addition; add buckles.

17. Complete leg assembly by positioning and attaching

onto the built-up stacks:

A) pant leg with adjacent straight edges aligned exactly

with corresponding straight edges of built up stack,

triangle post opening aligned, and even offset margin

at inner and outer leg edges as shown; add buttons;

B) hose shape abutted snugly along pant lower edge

with offset margins at sides;

C) bootie assembly under hose shape with

shaped edges abutted snugly, offset margins

around bootie edges;

D) heel stack snugly abutted under bootie edge.

18. Prepare to assemble the figure by positioning

arms (thumbs up) behind torso edge . . . 

. . . with rounded inward end oriented to fit triangle opening

over post of torso. Other members fit similarly,

with leg straight edges snugly abutting the torso shaped

cutout edges and each other at centerline.

Legs and arms will probably NOT stay in place without

adhesive assistance. If storage of the large format is NOT

an issue, glue or permanently join the member in place.

If disassembly is desirable, use a "temp" tape adhesive

(NOT SHOWN) to keep legs and arms in place during display.

Here is the figure fully assembled.

If desired, attach a ribbon or string loop

through top hang hole, or simply insert over a wall nail.

St. Patrick's Day Greetings and Happy Hijinks!