Dyeing and crafting with pasta can be a creative learning experience for youngsters and caregivers alike. There are many ways to color pasta including using craft paint, natural dyes from fruits and veggies, or even spray paint. This classic method uses food coloring.
Things You'll Need
Dried pasta, various shapes and sizes
Hand sanitizer (or rubbing alcohol)
Re-sealable plastic bags
Liquid food coloring
Wax/freezer paper
Decorative tape (optional)
Yarn (optional)
Easy as Squirt, Pour, Shake and Wait
Step 1: Squirt
Open up a re-sealable plastic bag and add one to two squirts of hand sanitizer. This helps the dye evenly coat the pasta. You can use one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol instead, but hand sanitizer is less messy.
Video of the Day
Step 2: Pour
Add in 20 to 30 drops of liquid food coloring. The fewer drops used, the lighter the finished product will be.
Step 3: Shake
Video of the Day
Add a handful of each type of pasta to the bag and seal tightly before lightly shaking the bag to evenly distribute the color.
Tip
Make small batches in a variety of colors to maximize impact and artistic possibilities.
Step 4: Wait
Pour the dyed pasta out onto a piece of wax or freezer paper in an even layer and allow it to dry overnight.
Make a Necklace
With a piece of tape, yarn and dyed pasta beads, there's a necklace in the making.
Step 1:
Roll a small piece of tape onto the end of some yarn to make adding noodles easier for little fingers. The tape acts as an aglet.
Step 2:
String pasta onto the yarn. Alternate the colors and sizes of pasta beads according to preference.
Step 3:
Tie knots in between the larger noodles to hold them in place.
Step 4:
Cut off the excess yarn once the necklace is your desired length and roll a small piece of tape on the end to form a matching aglet. Tie a bow and wear the necklace proudly.
Tip
Dyed pasta can also be used for children's crafts to practice sorting, making patterns, or creating artwork of all kinds.