How to Make Rainbow Rice for Decoration and Fun!
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Here's a fun craft idea that was inspired by this Over the Rainbow- 2nd Birthday on Catch My Party. Rainbow rice is a perfect decoration for a St. Patrick's Day party, a rainbow birthday, or just as a fun, inexpensive craft for kids.
What you'll need
- Liquid food coloring
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice, for each color
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (or white vinegar), for each color
- Bowls for mixing each color
- Spoon for each color
- Drying trays
Depending on how much water you use, you can try using your colored liquids -- leftover from coloring Easter Eggs -- to make Rainbow Rice, too!
How to make it
Measure 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (or white vinegar) in a bowl for each color. I've tried it with rubbing alcohol, and with white vinegar; both work just as well, but the rubbing alcohol evaporates more quickly (and doesn't make the rice smell like vinegar).
Add 4 drops food coloring to each bowl. Stir to blend the color well.
Add 1/2 cup rice to each bowl. If you want more than 1/2 cup, just remember: 1 part fluid to 2 parts rice.
Stir rice to coat well. Then stir some more. And a bit more. The more you stir, the more completely coated the rice will be, and the richer the colors.
If you need more food coloring to make the colors more vibrant, feel free to add as many drops as you need (we usually end up with 8 drops).
Spread the colored rice on trays (one for each color) and let dry in a warm place, or sunny window. (Remember, though, that the alcohol is flammable, so the oven is not a good idea.)
When the rice is dry, arrange in a clear glass vase in layers, and stick lollipops, flowers, or other decorative items in the rice.
Rainbow rice can also be used as a colored "sand" for your kids to play with. Pouring the colors from one container to another is a fantastic way for toddlers to spend an afternoon (and learn their colors at the same time).
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