Homemade Macaroni Jewelry Craft

Make a ring-atoni that doesn't cost a penne! (Ba-da-ching!)

Submitted by
Andrey Ragozin

Help your kid craft a collection of jewelry worthy of Tiffany's ... or at least Ragu. Maybe if she's got some baubles of her own, she'll keep her sticky fingers out of your jewelry box.

Jewelry maker:
Your child.
Macaroni and radiatore noodles:
Never heard of radiatore? It's a radiator-shaped pasta similar to rotini.
Silver and gold spray paint
Newspaper
Stretchy elastic cording:
Find it at your local craft store.
Large bowl
Scissors
Beads

To begin, lay down some newspaper outside and spread half of the noodles over it. With your kid standing far away (preferably in the house!) spray paint the noodles on one side, allow them to dry, flip them and spray the other side.
Repeat the process with the other half of the noodles and the other color of paint, so you end up with a batch of gold pasta and a batch of silver pasta.
When the noodles have dried on both sides, have your child collect them in a large bowl, and bring them inside to her jewelry shop (a.k.a., your dining room table).
Have her design the layout of her jewelry on the table before stringing it. It'll save her the headache of starting over if her piece isn't to her liking.
Help your child cut the stretchy cord. It should be approximately one and a half to two inches longer than needed, leaving extra length for the knot. In other words, if your child is making a bracelet for herself, have her wrap the word around her wrist, add two inches and cut.
Let her string the noodles onto the elastic cording to make cool rings, bracelets and choker necklaces. Try stringing beads in between the noodles for flashier designs.
Knot the end to secure and tie the two ends together to finish! If she makes a macaroni necklace for you, be sure to wear it to work to make your kid proud and your coworkers pesto-green with envy.