How To Make Glitter Dyed Pasta

I’m showing you how to make glitter dyed pasta in partnership with Elmer’s and their Let’s Bond initiative.

Parenting is a balancing act in every regard.  I can’t define my parenting style other than to say it’s a constant work in progress.   After coming back from a week long trip to New York where I nearly lost it when airline delays meant I wouldn’t make it home to my family for yet another day I truly yearned for some time with Kayla.  Alone.  Doing our thing.  Our thing almost always involves scissors and glue.  Today it involves glitter and FROZEN.  Cue the virtual glitter canons and six year old girls declaring that the cold never bothered them anyway!

I always have a couple reserve bags of pasta in our pantry.  It has saved me when I’ve completely forgotten to plan dinner (oops) and making dyed pasta is one of Kayla’s favorite things to do because “I get to shake the bag like CRAZY.”  More on that below.  Kayla’s obsession with FROZEN has prompted a few different projects over the last year including an ice palace fort, princess popcorn, an Olaf onesie and wreath.

Incorporating something she is interested in into our special bonding time together gives her a sense of empowerment and seems to inspire her already very creative brain.  This time we decided to make some FROZEN inspired glitter dyed pasta.  It’s got an Elsa blue hue to it and the glitter is very reminiscent of Kayla’s favorite costume.  Here’s how to make it…

You’ll need:

• 1 package of pasta.  I recommend choosing a shape that can be strung.
• Food coloring.  I love using gel food coloring and this sky blue color is perfect.
• Clear glue.  Elmer’s Clear School Glue has always been my preferred glue for this.
• Glitter.  I used an icy white color for this pasta.  Any color will do!
• Rubbing alcohol or vinegar.  I prefer the rubbing alcohol for making the color stay.
• Non stick foil
• Paper towels
• Reclosable plastic bags
• A cup or bowl and a fork.
• Smiles.  This is supposed to be fun.  Don’t worry about it being perfect, just enjoy your time with your child. Sometimes even I forget this.

First, dump your pasta into a reclosable plastic bag.  Then double bag it.  Trust me. Pasta tends to have sharp edges and when you mix it up you won’t want blue dye all over the place.

Next, mix the rubbing alcohol and gel food coloring together.  There is no perfect proportion for this.  Feel it out.  You can try starting with 2-3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and scoop a bit of gel food coloring onto your fork tines. Mix it up as best you can.  I make this the “grown up part” since it can get messy and stain if left to little hands.

Once you’ve sealed both bags you can hand it over to your child and let them do the fun part.  They get to shake it up and go crazy.  Put on some music and dance together.  If you’re anything like me, your dated dance moves will be enough to send them into fits of giggles.

Check your pasta and if you’re not happy with the color you can always add a bit more food coloring. I would keep the rubbing alcohol or vinegar to a minimum because you don’t want the pasta to get too wet.

Once you have reached your desired color, simply line a baking sheet with some paper towels and empty your pasta on it to dry.  Once the pasta seems dry, grab a new reclosable plastic bag and put your pasta inside of it. You don’t have to double bag it this time.

Squeeze a generous amount of clear glue into the bag, seal it up and mix it around. Then open the bag, and add some glitter.  Close it and mix it around again.  If your child wants super glittery pasta you can add more glitter.  I love open ended projects that leave lots of room for preference and error.  Depending on your child’s age they can do some or all of these things while you guide them.  This is an excellent time to remind your child that adding food coloring, glue and glitter means that this pasta is not to be eaten!

When you’ve added enough glitter and mixed the pasta around to distribute it, you’ll want to empty your pasta out on to some non-stick foil.  I usually use the same baking sheet I had the paper towels in, throw the towels away and line it with the non-stick foil.  When you empty the pasta on to the foil you can try to move it around a bit to space it out but don’t stress over separating the pieces.

I have always used Elmer’s Clear School Glue for making glitter dyed pasta because of how it dries.  The glue is clear so you don’t see it AND it’s the perfect amount if hold so that you can easily break up any pieces of pasta that were sitting together while it dries, but the glitter sticks really well. You’ll be left with a tray of gorgeous glittery noodles.

There are a ton of potential uses for your glitter dyed pasta.  Kayla and I have used it for counters, created pictures with it, used tweezers to pick the noodles up and practice fine motor skills, etc.  Of course our favorite use is making some seriously swanky designer pasta jewelry.  Your child won’t realize that stringing those noodles is actually working their own noodle.

If you have a child who loves FROZEN you can make a FROZEN inspired necklace using this glitter dyed pasta.  Having a FROZEN party?  It makes a great party favor. Check out my Do You Wanna Build A Necklace FROZEN party favor!

If you’re looking for even more crafts you can do with your child whether it’s for saving your sanity during a school break, as a sensory activity to stimulate their spongey brain or just because you need a little extra bonding time together Elmer’s Parents Club has a ton of resources available to you.  I love their focus on spending quality time with your child while practicing important cognitive skills through art.  I don’t think you can pack more wins into an activity…