How to Make Macaroni Beads

Making macaroni necklaces is a great way to teach children about patterns.

Making colored macaroni beads is the first step in stringing macaroni necklaces - an inexpensive and easy craft that kids of all ages will love. Use dry ziti, penne, rigatoni, or simple macaroni pasta, dye your pasta multiple colors using rubbing alcohol and food coloring, let dry and begin stringing. Dye your pasta as many colors as you'd like to ensure your new necklace will be as colorful as your personality.

Things You'll Need

• Dry pasta (10 to 30 pieces, depending on if you use ziti, penne, rigatoni or macaroni)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Food coloring
• Plastic bags
• Yarn or thin elastic cord (17 to 36 inches long)

Instructions

1. For each 10 or 12 pieces of pasta, pour about 2 or 3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol into a small dish and add a few drops of liquid food coloring. This will ensure the color stays on the dry pasta for as long as you will be wearing your necklace. Transfer the mixture to a plastic bag.

2. Place your uncooked (dry) noodles into the plastic bag, seal or tie the bag shut and shake for one minute. Remove the noodles and transfer to a paper plate or paper towel to dry.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have a good variety of colors for your necklace.

4. Cut the yarn or elastic cord to your desired length (leaving about 2 inches at the end for tying). Then wrap tape along the ends to make it easier to string the beads. Finally, string the necklace, alternating colors to create a pattern.

5. Tie the completed necklace closed once you are finished. Enjoy wearing your handmade necklace.

References

• AHC arts & crafts; Pasta Crafts for Kids: Ideas to make arts and crafts activities & projects with spaghetti & macaroni noodles for children, teens, and preschoolers
• Enchanted Learning; Macaroni Bead Necklace Craft