Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Sparkle Craft: Octopus Dog Toy
This Dog Toy craft is fun and inexpensive —all you need is tennis ball and an old shirt. Plus it's no-sew, which makes it a great project for kids to do themselves.
Grandma Mary's Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes)
This story happily reminded me of the peanut butter balls my Grandma Mary used to make every Christmas. While everyone in the family enjoyed them, I was definitely the biggest fan. Grandma Mary knew how dearly I loved them, and she would always tuck a dozen into an old coffee can and hide them in the back of her refrigerator just for me.
FIFTY Study Page: Kansas— "The Rivalry"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the history of the Kansas/Missouri conflict over Kansas becoming a state and its relationship to the Civil War.
Storybox Playlist: Merry Christmas
So why is this "the most wonderful time of the year?" Perhaps these stories will help us understand. Merry Christmas everyone!
Sparkle Weekly Wonderings: The Light in the Darkness: Sparkle Solstice
Candlelight in the dining room. A lighthouse shimmering from the open sea. The first star in the evening sky. These all carry the magical mood of Winter Solstice.
Sparkle Craft: Woodblock Menorah
This week's craft is a woodblock child's menorah that can be made with a few simple materials from your local craft and hardware stores.
Solstice Bonfire S'mores
Prepare yourself for a classic s'more with a holiday twist. I've subbed the traditional graham crackers for gingerbread cookies and the usual plain chocolate for seasonal peppermint bark. When the warm gingerbread spices and the cool peppermint chocolate combine with the marshmallows, it tastes like Christmas is exploding in your mouth.
FIFTY Study Page: Maryland — "The Test Oath"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the impact of religion on U.S. history, particularly in Maryland.
Storybox Playlist: The Light in the Darkness — Sparkle Solstice
Light and dark — the most basic duality. Within day and night and winter and summer are so many possibilities of stories. In the northern hemisphere, we stand in the darkness and bring our gift of light. In the southern hemisphere, we offer our gratitude to the light and make ready for the darkness. Here are a few stories about light and darkness.
Friday's Kind Words: Awesome Words
I have always been a story reader, not a teller, until you guys assured me through your awesome words that I could do it too. ~Jana
Sparkle Craft: Vintage Christmas Songbook
Made from a vintage book and my pile of old Christmas cards, this kid-friendly holiday craft is meant to be added to and cherished year after year.
FIFTY Study Page: Montana— "The Marriage Bar"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the History of Montana Territory and State, and the history of women’s rights in the American West.
Tips for a December Day of Rest
It’s no small thing to create space for rest in the busy month of December. But consider taking a page out of Martin and Sylvia’s book and imagine a few ways to restructure, reframe, or re-evaluate your activities so that you can take just one day for a few hours of restoration.
Storybox Playlist: A Whole World Season of Lights
Here are some stories that look at Christmas from different perspectives.
Friday's Kind Words: Can we Sparkle?
My daughter, age 7, has become a Sparkle story addict. My favorite part is that she uses Sparkle as a verb, as in - "Can we Sparkle tonight?". ~ Cortney
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.
