When’s the last time you made macaroni necklaces? It can be so much fun, for kids and adults – just paint or dye the noodles in fun colors and get making! I even cut up colorful straws to mix in with the noodles for brighter colors.

If you’re looking for a simple, fun, and creative activity, why not host a DIY pasta necklace party? The bead prep is so simple that you’ll definitely have time to make these giant pasta noodles to decorate for the event. Use paper, felt, and paint to make these huge colorful noodles for wall decoration above the bead station. You could even string them together to make a pasta garland!

• Card stock (various colors)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Batting
• Hot glue gun
• Ruler
• Felt
• Double-sided tape
• Toilet paper rolls/tubes

1. For ravioli: cut two 8-in. by 8-in. squares with zig zag edges. Cut a 5-in. by 5-in. square of batting and place in the center of one piece of felt. Attach long pieces of double-sided tape around the batting and then place the second piece of felt on top, pressing down to adhere the tape.
2. For penne/canneroni: Use empty toilet paper rolls for canneroni and cut down wrapping paper rolls for penne. Paint a solid color and add vertical stripes as ridges. Let dry.
3. For farfalle: Accordion fold a piece of card stock (about 12-in. long) and cut triangle snips into the ends as shown. Use a hot glue gun to attach the folds together at the center, forming a bow tie.
4. For rotelle: Start by cutting strips of card stock that are 2-in. wide. Use a strip to form a circle with a diameter of about 1 1/2-in. – glue in place and trim extra paper away. Then cut a strip into six pieces that are 2 1/2-in. long. On each piece, fold a 1/4-in. flap on both ends. Glue one flap onto the circle as shown, spacing evenly – these are the spokes.
5. (Rotelle continued) Use another 2-in. strip (you may have to glue two pieces together) to wrap around the spokes. Glue the flaps onto the outer strip as you go, and glue the circle closed, cutting off any excess.

Happy crafting!