How to Color Noodles

Children love to make crafts. Bright colors entice their minds and excite their creativity. Being able to explore, and make a bit of a mess, can develop their sense of independence. Making crafts is a learning experience. Working with glue and colored noodles is an inexpensive way to allow small children to express themselves and create a one of a kind masterpiece. Craft supplies, however, can and be expensive. You can create your own craft pieces by coloring noodles in your kitchen. There are a variety of noodle shapes and sizes to work with in your grocery store.

Things You'll Need

• Raw noodles with interesting shapes
• Rubbing alcohol
• Food coloring
• Zip top plastic bag–one per color
• Paper towels
• Newspapers

Instructions

1. 

   Place a variety of noodles in a zip top plastic bag. Use one color per bag.

2. 

   Into the bag, drop one or two drops of food color, and then pour in about an ounce or so of rubbing alcohol. Seal the bag and move the color around so it saturates the noodles.

3. 

   Once you are satisfied with the color, pour the contents of the bag onto the paper towels, which are placed on top of the newspaper. These will absorb the extra colored liquid.

4. Allow the noodles to dry over night. They will be ready to use in the morning. The rubbing alcohol allows the liquid to dry faster and not expand the noodles.

Tips & Warnings

• The color will be lighter when the noodles are dry. The example shown will be lavender.

• Colored noodles don't have to be used just for craft making. They can be used for educational purposes too. Use them for counting and learning to add, or place them in a jar and shake to make music.

• Consider coating the noodles with a spray coating if you are going to use them for stringing jewelry because if the noodles get damp, the color can leach.