How to Make Macaroni Art

Macaroni can be used for more than mac and cheese or goulash. Macaroni can be used to create art. Macaroni art can entertain kids for hours on end.

Kids can make different types of pictures with macaroni. Macaroni can be used as purchased or died to make different colors for art projects. Kids can even help color their macaroni for their art projects.

There are several ways children can make macaroni art. The main ingredient needed for any type of macaroni art is the child's imagination. Once the imagination is unleashed, the art project will take on a life of its own.

Dying the Macaroni

Dying the macaroni is the messiest part of the whole project. The macaroni when purchased comes in a dry, hard form. Macaroni is actually very porous. The absorption rate will take a few minutes to a few hours depending on the amount being dyed. The drying time will take at least 24 hours.

Food Coloring Dye Instructions

2 Tablespoons of Rubbing Alcohol
4 drops of food coloring
1 Cup of uncooked macaroni
Ziploc Storage bags and containers
Paper towels
Baking Pan

Mix the rubbing alcohol and food coloring in a bowl; set aside.

Pour the cup of dried macaroni into the storage bag and add the food coloring and alcohol mixture. Mix well until the macaroni is cover in the wet mixture.

Line the baking pan with the paper towels. Pour the colored macaroni onto the lined baking sheet. Allow to dry approximately five minutes. Once the macaroni is dry, pour each color of macaroni into the storage containers.

Continue the process until you have the quantity of colors wanted or needed.

Other Items Needed

White Glue
Construction Paper
String cut into one to two foot lengths for jewelry or longer for necklaces. If you choose to make hanging style decorations, cut the string accordingly.
Large plastic sewing needle. Thread the string through the eye of the needle and tie one end off or tape down on a work surface to keep the macaroni on the string.

Once you have all the materials needed, find a place where the children can glue the colored macaroni onto construction paper to make pictures and designs of their choices.

For the macaroni jewelry, string the macaroni onto the thread and needle. The color combinations used are at the discretion of the maker.

Another way colored macaroni art can be used and created by your children, is to use it as part of the tinsel for your Christmas tree. Strung macaroni can also be used as part of a birthday party decoration.