Dyed Macaroni Kid Necklaces

You can buy dyed macaroni for arts and crafts from educational supply stores that average about $9.00 per lb., or you can save the cash and dye your own for about $3.00 per lb.!  Colored pasta is great for multiple projects for toddlers. Moms that come in are amazed at how easy it is when I tell them. The stuff is excellent for sorting by shape and color, honing fine motor skills by stringing it up, or used as a cheery collage material. The chances are good that you already have everything you need to do this at home. We do lots of free events at MakeSpace ARTS, and dyed macaroni necklaces have been a go-to project because: everyone can do it, we can change the colors for holidays or special events, and it is a crowd pleaser!

What you need:

• Food coloring
• 1/4 Cup Rubbing alcohol (70% works best)
• Measuring cup
• 1 Gallon Ziplock bags
• Cookie sheets covered with paper towels.
• Rubber gloves if you have them.
• Pasta (different shapes and sizes- anything you can put on a string)

Directions:

1. Pour about 1/4 cup of alcohol and 10 drops, or 1/8 teaspoon (if using gel) of food coloring in a Ziplock bag and shake till mixed. You may need to massage the bag to make sure the color is evenly distributed. You can adjust the color saturation by adding more or less food color.
2. Add 2 cups of pasta to the plastic bag.  Make sure it is closed tightly and shake and tumble to mix thoroughly.
3. When the color looks like it is on the pasta evenly, spread out to drain on the paper towels.
4. Let the macaroni dry overnight.
5. Let your kiddo string up the noodles to make a colorful Macaroni Kid necklace.