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Home » Fun and Easy Kids Crafts » Mixed Media » Cute Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids

Cute Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids

By Jennifer Tammy 7 Comments

Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links; as an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.

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A photo of a cute and colorful Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids featuring a half of a paper plate covered in white cotton balls to look like a cloud with strings hanging down that are threaded with dyed pasta.
Disclosure: This blog post, contributed by Jennifer of Sugar, Spice, and Glitter, contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.

Rainbow crafts are always a hit, but there’s something about Spring that makes them even more exciting and fresh. The kids and I recently did this Rainbow Mobile craft…

A Colorful Mobile Craft for Perfect for Spring!

A photo of a cute and colorful Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids featuring a half of a paper plate covered in white cotton balls to look like a cloud with strings hanging down that are threaded with dyed pasta.

Rainbow Mobile Craft Supplies

You probably have everything you need for this cute craft right around the house. You’ll simply need:

  • a heavy-duty paper plate
  • cotton balls
  • a single hole punch
  • scissors
  • string (or yarn or pipe cleaners)
  • and dyed penne pasta
A photo of the supplies needed for a rainbow mobile craft for kids, including a paper plate cut in half, cotton balls, dry pasta, food coloring for dying the pasta, string, and school glue.

Now, you can purchase pre-dyed pasta made especially for kids craft project or sensory play. Or, you can dye pasta yourself. It’s really easy! For dyed pasta, all you will need is:

  • dry penne pasta
  • rubbing alcohol
  • food coloring
  • a zip-top gallon freezer bag

How to Dye Pasta for Your Rainbow Mobile

If you’re dying your own pasta, you’ll want to do it the night before so it’s fully dry in time for your kids’ crafting. But, you could make a large amount and store it after it’s dry to use with another rainbow craft activity or other fun crafts.

All you have to do is add about 1/2 cup of dry pasta, a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of food coloring to a zip-top plastic food storage bag. Then, seal the bag and shake until the color is distributed evenly throughout the pasta. Finally, spread the dyed pasta out onto a baking sheet or tray and allow to dry overnight (or however long it takes to dry completely).

A photo of dyed pasta drying in preparation for a rainbow craft for kids.

That’s it! Just repeat for all of the colors of the rainbow. And you can even reuse the same plastic freezer bag by rinsing it out in between colors.


Rainbow Mobile Craft Instructions

After you have dyed the penne pasta, you can get started on the cute rainbow craft.

A photo of a young child punching holes while making a mobile craft.

First, cut a paper plate in half. Then, punch one hole in the center of its rounded edge and six holes, evenly spaced, along its straight edge. You can punch the holes with a common single hole punch. Or, have little ones punch them using a press-style hole punch for some great fine motor skills work.

Next, have your preschooler glue cotton balls all over one side of the paper plate half to make a cloud. Just make sure they leave the punched holes uncovered.

A photo of a preschooler threading dyes pasta onto string for a rainbow mobile craft.

Then, while the glue is drying, have your child start threading dyed pasta onto string. Any kind of string works, but I highly recommend using pipe cleaners if you’re doing this rainbow craft with toddlers or children with less hand-eye coordination.

While we stuck to one color per string (or pipe cleaner), you could also let your child get creative with how they would like to thread their pasta. The final rainbow mobile crafts will look adorable either way. And their pride in their creativity and independent work is more important than doing the craft perfectly anyway.

photo of a preschool child's hands tying strings onto a rainbow mobile.

Tie the strings of rainbow pasta onto the holes along the straight edge of the plate half, in rainbow order, if desired. Then, add an extra loop of string to the top hole for hanging!


A Fun Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids

We did this craft over a few days, when we were stuck inside on a rainy day and when a couple of the kids were up from nap time early. Since there are a few components to the craft, it’s perfect for this approach. But, it can be done over one long stretch if you have kids with longer attention spans, too.

A collage of 4 photos of the steps to make a cute and colorful Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids featuring a half of a paper plate covered in white cotton balls to look like a cloud with strings hanging down that are threaded with dyed pasta.

Do your children love all things rainbow, too? Where could you see these gorgeous rainbow mobile craft hanging in your home? Share with us in the comments below!


Full Rainbow Mobile Craft Instructions:

A photo of a cute and colorful Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids featuring a half of a paper plate covered in white cotton balls to look like a cloud with strings hanging down that are threaded with dyed pasta.

Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids

Try this cute and colorful Rainbow Mobile Craft for kids — perfect for practicing fine motor skills and learning colors too!
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Prep Time15 minutes minutes
Activity Time30 minutes minutes
Total Time45 minutes minutes

Tools

  • zip-top gallon food storage freezer bag
  • sheet pan
  • scissors
  • single hole punch

Materials

For Dyed Pasta:

  • 3-6 cups penne pasta (uncooked)
  • 6 teaspoons rubbing alcohol
  • food coloring

For Rainbow Mobile Craft:

  • 1 heavy-duty paper plate
  • washable school glue
  • cotton balls
  • dyed penne pasta (prepared, or purchased)
  • string (or yarn or pipe cleaners)

Steps

To Prepare Dyed Pasta:

  • Add 1/2 cup 3-6 cups penne pasta, 1 teaspoon6 teaspoons rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of food coloring to a zip-top gallon food storage freezer bag.
  • Seal bag and shake until pasta is thoroughly coated.
  • Spread dyed pasta out onto a sheet pan and allow to dry overnight or until completely dry.
    A photo of dyed pasta drying in preparation for a rainbow craft for kids.
  • Repeat for each color of the rainbow. (To re-use the same bag, just rinse it out in between colors.

To Make Rainbow Mobile Craft:

  • Cut 1 heavy-duty paper plate in half.
  • Use a single hole punch to punch 1 hole in the center of the rounded edge of one plate half, then punch 6 evenly-spaced holes along the straight edge.
    A photo of a young child punching holes while making a mobile craft.
  • Use washable school glue to glue cotton balls onto one side of the paper plate half, leaving holes uncovered.
    A photo of a preschooler gluing cotton balls onto a half of a paper plate while making a rainbow mobile craft.
  • While glue is drying, thread dyed penne pasta onto string Consider threading one string of each color of the rainbow. Or, allow children to be creative and choose colors.
    A photo of a preschooler threading dyes pasta onto string for a rainbow mobile craft.
  • Tie strings of rainbow pasta onto the holes along the straight edge of the plate half.
    photo of a preschool child's hands tying strings onto a rainbow mobile.
  • Tie a loop of string onto the hole in the curved edge of the plate half for hanging.
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Project Type: Arts and Crafts
Category: Kid-Friendly

Rainbow Mobile Craft Supplies on Amazon:

Get everything you need to make your own rainbow mobile craft right here…

Roylco Colored Assorted Noodles, 1 Lb. BoxRoylco Colored Assorted Noodles, 1 Lb. BoxZiploc Freezer BagsZiploc Freezer BagsBarilla Penne Rigate PastaBarilla Penne Rigate PastaAnn Clark Professional-Grade Food Coloring GelAnn Clark Professional-Grade Food Coloring GelSolimo 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol First Aid AntisepticSolimo 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol First Aid AntisepticFiskars SoftGrip Titanium ScissorsFiskars SoftGrip Titanium Scissors100% Compostable 9 Inch Heavy-Duty Paper Plates100% Compostable 9 Inch Heavy-Duty Paper PlatesMROCO Single Hole PunchMROCO Single Hole PunchElmer's Washable No Run School GlueElmer’s Washable No Run School GlueCliganic Super Jumbo Cotton BallsCliganic Super Jumbo Cotton Balls1312 Feet Jute Twine1312 Feet Jute Twine

 

And check out all of our favorite arts and craft supplies in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Awesome Kids Art and Craft Supplies


Like this Rainbow Mobile Craft? Save It & Share It!

A photo of a cute and colorful Rainbow Mobile Craft for Kids featuring a half of a paper plate covered in white cotton balls to look like a cloud with strings hanging down that are threaded with dyed pasta.

Don’t forget to save this cute mobile craft for kids. And share it with friends! Simply use the buttons at the top or bottom of this post. Or, click here: Share on Facebook | Tweet It | Pin It | Email to a Friend


More Rainbow Crafts for Kids from Sugar, Spice, & Glitter:

  • Rainbow Paper Plate Wind Spinner Craft
  • How to Make Rainbow Yarn Art with a Paper Plate Loom

More Kids Crafts from B-Inspired Mama

  • 14 Colorful Rainbow Crafts for Kids
  • Fun Finds for Kids Rainbow Play and Learning
  • 21 Suncatcher Craft Ideas for Kids to Bring Sunshine to a Rainy Day

Disclosure: This blog post, contributed by Jennifer of Sugar, Spice, and Glitter, contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy for more information.

Sharing is caring!

69.4K shares
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Filed Under: Fun and Easy Kids Crafts, Holidays, Mixed Media, Seasons, Spring, St. Patrick's Day Tagged With: Clouds, Kids Crafts, Mobile, Paper Plates, Rainbows, Spring, St. Patrick's Day

Previous Post: « 24 Fun Three Billy Goats Gruff Activities for Kids
Next Post: Giant Chalk Town & Roads · Sidewalk Chalk Art for Kids Car Play »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debbie says

    March 7, 2019 at 9:42 AM

    I’m looking forward to doing this with my seniors! Great idea.

    Reply
  2. Gabrielle says

    March 9, 2018 at 4:56 AM

    About how many rainbows does this make?

    Reply
    • Krissy of B-Inspired Mama says

      March 12, 2018 at 1:36 PM

      Great question! If you dye that much dried pasta, it will probably make around 4-5 rainbow crafts.

      Reply
  3. Sharleen says

    January 15, 2017 at 9:43 PM

    How did you tie off the string so that the pasta didn’t fall off the bottom?

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      January 17, 2017 at 9:57 AM

      Hi, Sharleen. This was a contributor’s post. But it looks like she put the string through the hole in the pasta and then tied the string to itself. Does that make sense?

      Reply
  4. Ana says

    April 9, 2016 at 4:01 PM

    Very cute, but do we really have to use food for art? Wouldn’t it be better to buy the pasta and give it to a local food pantry and use some other craft material? It is very sad to realize that food is over abundant and cheap for us that we would waste it on a craft.

    Reply
    • Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama says

      April 11, 2016 at 9:44 AM

      I appreciate you sharing your opinion. I have heard this viewpoint on using food for art and play before. If it’s something that makes you or others uncomfortable, you could definitely limit it to expired food or use colorful beads from the store instead. However, consider also that purchasing beads and other craft supplies from a store opens up the issue of consumerism, too. It seems like we can’t win!

      Reply

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