Paint & Shake Pasta Necklace

Paint & Shake Pasta Necklace - A Fun & Easy Kids Craft

This is the completed craft made by the little Artist wearing it herself

This can be a very fun activity for a rainy day. In fact, it's raining pretty heavy here this morning and made me think of this craft that I always love to do with kids on a rainy day. Mainly because you can paint the pasta and cook the leftovers!

If you're looking for a colorful and creative activity for the kiddos? This paint & shake necklace is perfect for little hands. It combines painting, movement, and crafting into one fun little session. First, we painted the pasta with a fun shake method, then turned it into wearable art-necklaces!

Materials Needed

I am a big believer that you can use what you have available at your home, if you don't have the exact materials needed.

-Dry pasta (penne, ziti or rigatoni work great)

-Acrylic paint (we used washable kids crayola paint for this craft)

-Ziplock bags or a plastic container with lids

-String or yarn

-Scissors

-Paper towels or wax paper for drying

-Glitter (optional)

Step 1: Paint & Shake

Invite the kiddos to to help pour the pasta into a ziplock bag or a lidded container. Add is some paint, one color per bag. Unless you want to mix the colors and create your own colors for a fun unique look.

Seal it up and let the shaking begin! This part is a blast and is a great way to talk about colors, cause and effect, and to get those wiggles out!

In this bag, we added the paint first to see if it works the same. It sure does!

Step 2: Let It Dry

Once the pasta is fully coated, spread it out on parchment paper or wax paper to dry. I usually let it sit for at least an hour. Sometimes longer if there was a lot of paint on the pasta.

Jacqui's Note: Snack time or story time is perfect while the pasta dries.

Letting the painted pasta dry

Step 3: String it up!

When the pasta is dry, it's necklace making time. Cut the yarn or string to size. I usually add more string just in case (about 18-24 inches works well). Sometimes the yarn or string can come apart while threading it. Little tip for that is to add some tape around the edge of string and then thread.

Let the kids design their own pattern or go wild with color. Tie a knot when they are done and you have yourself a handmade paint & shake pasta necklace!

Why I love this project:

It's more than just cute jewelry. It builds fine motor skills, encourages decision making, and gives kids a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it's a low prep, low mess craft that makes every kid feel like an artist.

Hope you enjoyed making this with your littles!