articles

New Year's Eve Crafts - Noise Maker & Confetti Launcher

By Marie Folmar, Macaroni Kid Broomfield Publisher December 31, 2013

New Year's Eve is a great time to have a party! Include kids in the fun as they create these crafts that will help you welcome the New Year!

Noise maker

Supplies:
  • Paper plate
  • Yarn
  • Beads or macaroni (*see directions below on how to color macaroni*)
  • Markers, crayons, colored pencils, glitter glue, stickers, or other items to decorate the plate
  • Duct tape
Directions:
  1. Decorate the paper plate as desired.
  2. Tape one end of the yarn to the front edge of the paper plate.
  3. String beads or macaroni onto the yarn until they reach the other side of the plate (yarn should be loosely draped on the plate, not taut).
  4. Cut the yarn after the last bead and then tape the cut end to the opposite side as the previous end of the yarn.
  5. Get ready to SHAKE as the clock strikes midnight!

*How to Color Macaroni* 

Supplies:
  • Small, sealable bag
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Food coloring
  • Macaroni
  • Wax paper covered surface
Directions:
  1. Place a few drops of hand sanitizer and food coloring into the bag. Seal and squeeze the hand sanitizer and food coloring to combine.
  2. Open bag and place a handful of macaroni into the bag. Seal the bag and move the macaroni around until it is coated.
  3. Open bag and empty macaroni into a single layer on the waxed paper. Allow to dry for several minutes. If bottoms are still wet, turn macaroni over to allow the bottom to dry.

Confetti Launcher

Supplies:
  • Cardboard tube from wrapping paper - cut into 3 inch pieces
  • Balloon
  • Tape - clear and duct
  • Paper
  • Markers, crayons, colored pencils, glitter glue, stickers, or other items to decorate the paper
  • Confetti (tissue paper cut into tiny pieces works great for this)
Directions:
  1. Cut paper to fit around tube. Decorate as desired.
  2. Cut the rounded part of the balloon off...discard.
  3. Stretch the remainder of the balloon around the end of the tube. Secure balloon to tube with duct tape.
  4. Tie end of balloon.
  5. Wrap decorated paper around tube. Use clear tape to secure the seam of the paper and to tape the paper to the end of the tube that has the balloon.
  6. Place confetti into open end of tube. 
  7. At midnight, pull back on the tied end of the balloon and release. Repeat until all the confetti has been launched.