How does one dye corn kernals?

Question

I've put rubbing alcohol in a jar, added lots of food colouring, added kernals of corn off of a cob and let the mixture sit. Nothing happened! I would like my students to make a corn necklace in the fall.

Answer 1

How about popped corn necklaces?

Answer 2

I've never heard of anyone dyeing kernels. We used to grow "Indian corn". The seeds were available at any garden store. Always had lots of ornamental ears.

You don't have enough time to grow corn this year, I'd suggest paint.Spray paint or even acrylics. Good luck

Answer 3

How are you going to string the kernels? Getting a big needle through one of them might be too dangerous for kids. You could always spray paint them, but then the kids would eat the paint. I feel like soaking the kernels would just make them mushy and gross.

Try multi-colored pastas instead, maybe. You can string them on yarn easily and if they eat them it's ok.

To make necklaces more "woodsy" you could have a 2-4" square piece of dogwood bark with two holes punched in it. They could then glue corn and drawn on the bark, and string that on the necklace as a center bead. I remember doing this in primary school but I don't know where exactly the bark came from (someone's backyard or a craft store??).

I hope this helps!