Dry pasta is a cheap and versatile craft supply. Here are 25 macaroni art crafts to get you inspired to use more pasta in your play!
I know it doesn’t happen often, but this is one of those times you are going to tell your kids it is okay to play with their food! Dry pasta is a cheap craft supply you probably have in your pantry right now.
You won’t believe the kids’ arts and crafts (and even adults) can create using pasta. There are so many shapes and sizes and some of them even have holes for you to put yarn or pipe cleaners through.
How to Dye Pasta for Crafting
You can make the macaroni art crafts I’ve gathered here using plain dry pasta, but dyeing or painting it different colors will make it much more exciting.
Plus it will make the fun last longer as you dye it one day and then craft with it the next! You may be wondering how you get the various colors.
Here are the different ways you can create colored pasta for crafts:
Method #1: Food Coloring and Rubbing Alcohol
- Large sealable plastic storage bags (e.g. Ziploc bags)
- ±10 drops of liquid food coloring
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% Isopropyl Alcohol)
- 1-2 cups pasta
- Paper towels or newspaper
- Mix rubbing alcohol and food coloring in the sealable bag.
- Add pasta and seal the bag.
- Shake the pasta in the color mixture until it is all coated.
- Add more food coloring if needed.
- Let pasta sit in the bag and turn it over every 30 minutes to redistribute the liquid.
- The time you let it sit depends on what color you would like (the longer it sits, the darker the color will be).
- When pasta is the color you desire, drain liquid from the bag.
- Remove pasta and let it air dry on paper towels or newspaper. Drying times will vary.
Note1: Make sure that your rubbing alcohol is 70% not 90%. 90% may make your pasta sticky.
Note 2: If you are concerned with your child eating the pasta with rubbing alcohol, use method #2 for your macaroni art.
Method #2: Food Coloring and Vinegar
Use method #1 above but replace the rubbing alcohol with 2 teaspoons of vinegar. You may need to add more during the process to fully distribute the color to all of the pasta pieces.
Method #3: Paint
- Large sealable plastic storage bags (e.g. Ziploc bags)
- 1-2 cups pasta
- Acrylic paint
- Paper towels or newspaper
- Add pasta to a bag.
- Squirt some acrylic paint into the bag and seal.
- Shake the pasta until it is all coated in paint.
- Add more paint if needed.
- Remove pasta and let it air dry on paper towels or newspaper. Drying times will vary.
Now that you have your colored pasta, you can get to work on your crafts! Take a look at the 25 macaroni art crafts I’ve listed below and let me know which one you’d like to try first.
Macaroni Art
Dried pasta is an inexpensive craft supply that can be used in so many ways. Here are 25 macaroni art or pasta crafts to get you inspired to incorporate more pasta in your play!
Hair Bows
Painted bow tie pasta is super cute, don't you think? Affix them to hair clips and you have some unique DIY hair accessories.
Mr. Pasta Head
Forget the potato, Mr. Pasta Head is the new guy in town! Look how colorful and fun he can be. it's easy for kids to make their own sculptures of hair with macaroni.
Mother’s Day Cards
Didn't know that macaroni art could be pretty, did you? Honestly neither did I. Painted pasta can be the beginnings of a beautiful card for Mother's Day!
Rainbow Mobile
Rainbow crafts are always a hit with kids. Dyed penne pasta makes an really cool rainbow for this cloud mobile!
Sassy Sunflowers
Rotini noodles and pipe cleaners are used to make these adorable sunflowers. This is a great activity for summer or spring.
Macaroni Fish
Macaroni fish seems like it would be a delicious dish. However, this is a kid's craft, and a colorful one at that! Try making a variety of ocean creatures.
Pasta Patterns
Dye various types of pasta and create patterns on cardboard or paper. Use glue to keep everything where you want.
Stained Glass Pasta
Break flat lasagna noodles into pieces and dye them various colors. They make a great faux stained glass window!
Pasta Mosaic Art
You may be used to seeing mosaics made with glass, stone, or tile but why not colored pasta? This sensory macaroni art project is perfect for all ages!
Butterfly Decor
Potted plants and butterflies are great for spring decor. That makes this pasta project perfect for a spring activity!
Thanksgiving Turkey
Colorful macaroni helps create this Thanksgiving turkey. Look at how cute the wattle is! This one is a great preschool craft too.
Rigatoni Necklace
Use paint and paper napkins to dress up rigatoni and then add them along with beads to create a necklace. Great Mother's Day gift!
Crazy Pasta Sculptures
Pipe cleaners and painted dry pasta can make some really cool sculptures. This one looks a bit like people dancing, don't you think?
Pasta Easter Eggs
Use painted pasta and cardboard to create some beautiful Easter eggs for decoration. Just set out the supplies and let them get creative.
Building with Pasta
Kids love building with LEGOs. Building with pasta and playdough is just as fun and requires a little more thinking about how to get your structure to stand. It is engineering for kids!
Gingerbread Birdhouses
Don't forget to include the neighborhood birds this Christmas. Make them their very own faux gingerbread house for when they come back in warm weather.
Twig Name Plate
Use sticks and pasta to create a rustic name plate. Hang your creation on the bedroom door so everyone knows it is your room!
Colorful Reindeer
Who knew that reindeer had pipe cleaner bones and pasta fur? It surprised me too! Look how cute those lips are. Love it!
Cute Painted Pasta
Agus uses this cute bow tie pasta in her card making. She decorates the pasta with paint and glitter. Then you glue them to any surface!
Pasta Necklace
Add various shapes of dyed pasta to a piece of yarn to create cute necklaces for kids. You can make these in any size, and layering is definitely recommended.
Pasta Frames
Leslie and her son used Rotelle pasta to make these cute frames. Add a favorite photo or drawing to complete!
Pasta Pumpkins
Celebrate the start of fall with a dyed and glittered pumpkin craft for kids. I'd make a collection of pumpkins in big and small sizes.
Pasta Christmas Ornaments
Check out this twist on the classic pasta Christmas ornaments. Turn your macaroni into a wreath or a Christmas tree. You just need a few supplies to make this craft!
If you liked these macaroni art project ideas, let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other fun kids craft collections with various supplies and themes:
4th of July • Animals • Apples • Boredom Busters • Candy Cane • Clay • Coffee Filters • Construction Paper • Cotton Balls • Earth Day • Easter • Fall • Flowers • Frozen • Ghost • Hearts • Love Bugs • Mickey Mouse • Minions • Moon • Mummies • Mushrooms • Nature • Paper Bag • Paper Cups • Pine Cones • Pista Shells • Pokemon • Popsicle Sticks • President’s Day • Santa • Snowflakes • Snowmen • St. Patrick’s Day • Stars • Straws • Super Mario • Thanksgiving • Valentine’s Day