We are always looking for ways to occupy the kiddos (that don’t involve TV and an iPad!), and especially now! This project has the potential to entertain them for hours – yep…HOURS! It begins with a fun, kid-friendly craft, and ends with a pretend play session of “Sweet Shop”. It can’t get much better than that! There is a little bit of prep work for an adult, but the kids can easily do the majority of the project. I have to admit that making these sweet candies had me daydreaming about childhood and wishing my teenager still wanted to play things like candy shop!

The older kids may not participate in the pretend play, but they may be interested in helping the younger ones paint pasta noodles, and set up shop. Fun for the whole family! Grab some expired pasta noodles from your pantry or craft stash (so a run to the store won’t be necessary) and get creative. If you have some bowtie pasta, it makes the best candy wrappers!

For some other pasta project ideas, check out this painted pasta chess set, these Father’s Day pasta planters, pasta plants, this adorable little mermaid pasta wreath, and these pasta noodle calla lilies. Here is a play clay sweet shop that may interest you as well!

• Pasta noodles (bow ties, mini farfalle, wheels, and rigatoni…or whatever you can find in your stash!)
• Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint (white and a variety of candy colors)
• Paint palette
• Paint brush
• Sponge brush
• Wax paper
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Toothpick

Step 1
For the adult part of the craft, the uncooked bow tie and mini farfalle pasta will need to be cut in half with a knife.

Step 2
Place a large sheet of wax paper out for each participant. We placed paint in a palette and dipped the pasta (wheels, rigatoni, and some of the bow ties and mini farfalle) in all of the different colors, for a marbled effect. This is so fun, but really messy if little ones are helping. Children may want to paint the uncooked noodles using a paintbrush. Set the painted noodles on another sheet of wax paper to dry.

TIP: If you attempt the dipped method, you will want to allow the paint to drip off as much as possible before setting it on wax paper to dry. We even used a toothpick to poke through the holes in the wheels to keep the paint from clumping. Check on the pasta as it dries, because if you notice any puddling, you will want to move the pasta to a dry spot on the wax paper.

Step 3
Paint the bow tie and mini farfalle halves white, using a sponge brush. You may paint some of the rigatoni white as well. Allow to dry.

Step 4
Once the white rigatoni noodles dry, use a small paintbrush to paint every other line in the color of your choice. (The rigatoni noodles have nice ridges, so it is pretty easy to figure out where to add paint. It is not even necessary to make your lines perfect…they look adorable with flaws!) Allow to dry.

Step 5
Once all of your pasta is dry, an adult will have to use a glue gun to attach mini farfalle halves to each side of the wheels, and bow tie halves to each end of the rigatoni. Allow the glue to cool.

Now, your pasta candy sweet shop is ready for business!

Happy crafting!