Colored Pasta and Clay Craft Idea for Kids

Today we are crafting with our blog friends for another kids craft star challenge – pasta! The kids and I made colored pasta and clay crafts over the weekend. It was nice because we were using two materials that we normally don’t craft with. We made clay necklaces, pretend candy, butterflies, and other random clay items.

Colored Pasta and Clay Craft Instructions

This can be made with store-bought clay or homemade. We used oven-bake clay; air-dry clay would be a better option if we ever do this project again.

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Supplies Used: 

• Sculpey III Polymer Clay, 2oz
• colored pasta/rice/lentils (food coloring + dry pasta + rubbing alcohol or vinegar)
• wax paper
• baking sheet
• playdough cutters; optional
• glitter glue; optional
• an item with a somewhat small, thin point

We used our colored pasta and rice that we made with the leftover Easter egg dye. Here’s a great tutorial for making colored pasta (they made pasta art/clay sculptures so do check it out even if you don’t need the tutorial).

Grab out the clay and individual pieces of wax paper. I also lined our baking sheet with wax paper.

Play with the clay a little to soften it and then shape it. You can do this with or without the use of playdough cutters/cookie cutters.

Once you get the shape, it’s time to decorate! Press the colored pasta, lentils, and rice into the clay making fun designs. We made our projects pretty thin. Just keep in mind that thicker pieces are trickier to bake and run the risk of turning brown in spots (along with dried out pasta color).

Clay Butterfly Craft

We had a mini butterfly playdough cutter which easily helped shaped our clay. The spiral and shell-shaped pasta made the bodies and then we decorated the wings with broken pasta pieces, colored rice, and lentils. The pipe cleaner antennae were added on after they were baked and cooled.

DIY Medals and Clay Necklaces

Big brother made 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals for when he uses his stuffed animals for a pretend Wipeout and American Ninja Warrior game. You can also make indentations and textured patterns by pressing the pasta into the clay and then taking it off. Big Brother did this with his 3rd place medal.

Little Sister made a heart with wings pendant. Just remember to poke small holes in in them before baking so you can thread string through. The kids made patterns with beads and then I tied the ends together in a knot. (pony beads and plastic lacing cord)

Pretend Clay Candy

For these, the bowtie pasta was broken in half and placed on each side of the oval shape to resemble candy wrappers. Little Sister is obsessed with Shopkins (she loves her Shopkins Candy Collection), so we made a face on one. She also made a blue version of Kooky Cookie.

→ See our Pretend Candy Rocks Tutorial

More Clay Pasta Crafts

Little Sister attempted to make the Shopkin named Strawberry Kiss, but then decided it was just a purple strawberry… LOL! She made so many different (cute!) things but then changed her mind, smushed it, and started over again. She made the cutest ladybug too that I was kind of sad she didn’t keep.

One of her most creative creations is the one that is the same size as the snail – a pirate! I didn’t get it at first but once she placed on rice eyes and a mouth, I thought it was clever. The shell pasta is the pirate’s hat with a rolled up ball of clay for the head.

The other projects we made were a spiral pasta sun, hanging star, shell pasta snail, and mini clay mandalas.

Baking Instructions:

Most polymer or oven-based clays will harden after they are cooked at 265 °F (129 °C) to 275 °F (135 °C) for 15 minutes per 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) of thickness. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and place it on a heat-resistant surface. Allow the clay items to cool at room temperature before removing. Source

Kids Craft Stars Pasta Challenge

• Pasta Fish Craft | I Heart Crafty Things
• Pasta Noodle Lion Craft | Crafty Morning
• Pasta Peacock Craft | I Heart Arts n Crafts
• Mr. Pasta Head Kids Art Project | hello, Wonderful
• Hello Kitty Pasta Bookmarks | Artsy Craftsy Mom

Amanda

Artsy Momma

Amanda is an ‘artsy momma’ to 2 kids who love making crafts just as much as she does. Follow their creative journey over on the blog titled Artsy Momma. Besides crafts, they share fun food ideas, hands-on learning activities, mommy DIY, + lots more! If you love handprint art, head over to their Fun Handprint Art blog where you will find hundreds of their projects all made with little hands and feet.