DealDash Kids Craft: Dying Pasta

Making dyed pasta for kid’s crafts such as jewelry and posters is easy, fun, and a great project to do with your kids or grandkids.

Everyone who has an elementary school kid has probably received a dyed pasta necklace at some point, whether it was for Mother’s Day, Easter, or just from art class at school. Why not have the same kind of fun at home with your kids by making dyed pasta for jewelry, posters, learning to count, etc.

Before you get started with the pasta dying experience, you should decide what projects you would like to do with the pasta so that you know what type of pasta to use. Then you can gather the macaroni, rotini, wagon wheel, penne or bow pastas and dye the exact ones that you need for your project. After you have decided what pasta shapes that you would like to dye, here’s how to make it happen:

Ingredients:

• Pasta
• Rubbing alcohol
• Food coloring

Directions:

1. Take out some solo cups or disposable bowls – 1 for each different color that you would like to dye your pasta. You can use non-disposable bowls, but be warned that the dye might stain your bowls.
2. Fill the solo cups or bowls about 1/2-3/4 the way full with the pastas that you would like to use. Depending on the pasta shape that might be a lot (macaroni) or a little (wagon wheels).
3. Fill the vessels almost to the top with (rubbing) alcohol. Be very careful if you are doing this project with kids that they don’t drink any!!
4. Add your food coloring to the cups. If you want darker colors use a lot, if you prefer lighter colors, then use a little. It’s your call!
5. Let the pasta soak overnight – or 8 hours if you are doing this in the morning.
6. Stir occasionally to ensure all of the sides are coated with coloring.
7. Strain the pasta, dumping all of the colored liquid out.
8. Let each color dry on separate paper towels. Be careful that the color isn’t leaking through and staining whatever is underneath. If need be, put a piece of cardboard underneath. Drying will take a couple of hours.
9. All done! Now you can feel free to let your imagination run wild and use up your freshly dyed pasta. These keep well in an airtight container or ziplock bag for a while, so don’t feel any pressure to use them all right away. Please don’t eat them after they have been dyed.

If you’re not into making your own dyed pasta jewelry and prefer the real thing, head on over to DealDash. DealDash has necklaces, bracelets, and earrings up for bid daily. Check out this link right here and it will take you to the jewelry on DealDash. Good luck and happy bidding everyone!