Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Our Nine Favorite Homemade Holiday Gifts
These nine projects make for wonderful holiday gifts, whether you make them for friends and family (with the help of children!) or you create them for the members of your own dear home.
Sparkle Craft: 20-Minute Kid-Sized Bobble Blanket Scarves
Use this fun DIY tutorial to learn to make a 20-Minute Kid-Sized Bobble Blanket Scarf.
Sparkle Kitchen: “Small Batch” Gingerbread Cookies
Do you like gingerbread cookies? Here's a handy, time-saving recipe for making small batch gingerbread cookies (by freezing the dough ahead of time!). This way, you can enjoy the yummy treats, just like Martin & Sylvia do in Day 6 of Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar, without having to brave the grand, sticky process.
FIFTY Study Page: Rhode Island— "The Cohan Family Mirth Makers"
This story from the FIFTY collection focuses on the history of Rhode Island by exploring vaudeville, the backstory of American Theater, and the biography of George M Cohen.
Storybox Playlist: Our Best Stories for Advent
Advent is upon us! We in Sparkle Land are big fans of the Advent season.
Sparkle Weekly Wanderings: Happy Thanksgiving
As America launches into the season of gift giving and getting (and do consider the gift of stories this year - see below for big sale), we’d like to take a breath and talk about gratitude.
Friday's Kind Words: Words and Tools
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for the wonderful stories... I love the ability to have that time be part of my six-year-old's social-emotional curriculum... ~Natasha
Sparkle Kitchen: Fromage Forte
Fromage forte (“strong cheese”) is a French cheese spread that is made from odd bits and pieces of cheese. (Odd bits and pieces of any cheese, like, whatever you have in your fridge right this second.) The cheese is broken up and mixed in a food processor with chicken stock until it's a spreadable consistency.
Sparkle Craft: Martin & Sylvia's Colorable Ornaments for Advent
For this year's calendar, our lovely Sparkle Stories artists have made a beautiful set of printable ornaments.
FIFTY Study Page: Massachusetts — "The Power of Thanksgiving"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the Native American history of the many tribes of New England and their interactions.
Storybox Playlist: Serving Up Gratitude
Thanksgiving has its primary function in its name: Thanks Giving. It's all about thanks for what we have. Here are some stories that focus on giving thanks.
This Year, Give the Gift of Sparkle Stories
This holiday season, why not fill hearts and imaginations instead of toy boxes and shelves? A gift of Sparkle Stories offers hours of engaging entertainment plus so much more!
A Tastier Thanksgiving: Serve Up Your Family Stories
. Who did you celebrate Thanksgiving with in the past? What were your favorite dishes? These stories are pure gold and are guaranteed to create the kind of holidays your children will cherish and look forward to year after year.
Friday's Kind Words: Space for Our Imaginations to Run Free
Over the years, you have come into our home (and car) on a daily basis, giving us rest, inspiration, valuable lessons, and space for our imaginations to roam free. ~Gwendolyn
Sparkle Kitchen: Gluten-Free Quoll (Monkey) Bread
This week's recipe takes the concept of sharing one step further. In a nod to the story we're calling it “Quoll Bread,” but it's essentially Monkey Bread made with gluten-free flour. And because it's gluten-free, you can share it with that many more friends!
FIFTY Study Page: Oklahoma— "Migrant Mother"
This story from the FIFTY collection is historical fiction that explores the History of the Dust bowl and the official "Indian Territory" of Oklahoma. The characters can be useful as reference points and inspirations. Read about our suggested topics for investigation!
Storybox Playlist: Serving Up Gratitude for Thanksgiving
Feeling overwhelmed? Frustrated? Cynical? Resentful? Well there is a cure-all for this sort of thing - and in my experience, it works every time. Better than coffee, better than wine, better than a tropical beach and even better than sea salt and almond dark chocolate. It is gratitude. Here are some stories to help you on your way.
Parent Cheat Sheet: Martin & Sylvia's Daily Advent Activities
As you are planning and preparing for your own Advent season, we thought you might enjoy a little "cheat sheet" for what’s ahead with Martin and Sylvia. You can let the ideas from the stories inspire your own daily activities.
Friday's Kind Words: These Stories are Wonderful
We travel a lot and for long plane, train, and automobile rides these stories are wonderful. ~ Deanna
Sparkle Craft: Sock Bunny
This week's craft is a good example of making do and mending. It uses something you might throw away — an old pair of socks — and makes it into a new toy for a child.
