Celebrate African-American heritage by wearing a necklace made with traditional holiday colors -- black to symbolize the people of Africa, red to recall struggles for freedom and green for growth.
| Prep Time: Under 1 hour | |
| What you need: | |
| Pasta shells
Glue Acrylic paint and brushes Black beading cord Black crow beads, optional | |
| Seasons: Kwanzaa | |
| Materials: food items, paints | |
| Instructions: | |
| 1. | Begin by making pasta beads that resemble cowrie shells, symbols of good fortune in many parts of Africa. Make each bead by nestling together two pasta shells: hold a single pasta shell with the inside facing you and the more curled flap at the top. Then, apply a spot of glue to the inner edge of the open flap.Hold a second pasta shell as if it were a miniature bowl and slide its open flap behind the curled flap of the first shell. |
| 2. | Once the glue sets, paint an equal number of beads with black, red, and green acrylics and let them dry thoroughly. |
| 3. | Next, cut a length of black beading cord that will fit easily over your child's head when tied. String the painted beads in alternating colors. For a fancier design, add a shiny black crow bead (available at craft stores) between the pasta beads. |
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