This Mardi Gras necklace is fun to make for all ages, but especially younger kids. Depending on how patient your kids are, you might want to prepare the "beads" in advance!
You will need:
An assortment of pasta shapes, with holes, which can be "strung" like beads.
Purple and green poster or acrylic paints
Gold acrylic or spray paint.
Shoelaces, yarn or string.
Instructions:
Sort the pasta into three roughly equal groups and paint each group with one of the traditional Mardi Gras colours. If you have very young kids involved, expect them to get very messy but have a great time!
For the gold "beads" it is easiest to use a gold spray paint. Either delegate this to an older child (supervised) or do it yourself, using plenty of newspaper, and in a well-ventilated room or outdoors. Spray one side of the pasta, wait for it to dry, then spray the other side.
When the pasta is dry you can assemble your necklaces. Tape one end of your string to the table to make it easier.
Take the opportunity for some patterning practice, or try counting the different coloured beads.
Please make sure that the pasta is completely dry before you let the kids put their necklaces on!