Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Sparkle Kitchen: Latkes
Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of holy oil that should have only lasted for a day, lasting for eight days—enough time for more oil to be properly made. As such, many of the foods traditionally served at Hanukkah are fried in oil. The most famous of these is potato latkes.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: Snow That Made Sticks
Use this printable project page (and the help of an adult!) to make your own snow out of paper.
Sparkle Craft: Stitched Snowflakes and Cranberry Garlands
Craft your own handmade cranberry garland using berries and wheat-O's. And with some simple materials – a bit of yarn, some recycled cardboard – you can make your own snowflakes that stick around even if there’s none out your door.
Sparkle Kitchen: Struffoli
Like Daddy, I love all of the seasonal stories that families tell as the calendar is bombarded with holidays of light and love at the end of the year. One of my newly discovered favorites is the tale of Old Befana.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: The Let Go Approach
What does your yard look like in the late fall? Is there frost? Snow? Is it covered in leaves or early morning dew? This printable project page shows different patterns you can make in your yard with your feet, some string, or maybe even a piece of chalk!
Sparkle Craft: Magical Marbled Paper
When you make marbled paper, you simply can’t be perfect. The nature of the craft means that you’ll be pleasantly surprised in the end every time!
Sparkle Kitchen: Mexican Hot Chocolate
Since we’ve already covered regular hot chocolate in this space, this week I give you its even warmer, spicier cousin — Mexican hot chocolate.
Create Your Own Inside Fairy Doors
If the weather is turning where you are, to a time when there is more indoors than out, why not invite the fairies in for the winter? Make a fairy door, or several, to welcome them into your home for the winter months so they can weather the season with you in warmth.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: Fairy Houses
You can easily build fairy houses with things you find in your own yard. Color these, design your own, or go out and get to building! Use this printable project page for inspiration.
Sparkle Kitchen: Rock Candy
This rock candy recipe will make about three small pieces of rock candy—depending on the size of the jars you use—and is a fun science experiment for a frosty day.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: Around the World
In “Around the World,” the children get to do a special project about different countries around the world. They learn about the flag, the map and the food of their country of choice. Choose a country you’d like to discover, and use this printable project page to share what you’ve learned.
Sparkle Craft: Family Flag
Make a flag that represents your shared family culture, inspired by the Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays! story, “Around the World."
Sparkle Kitchen: Homemade Butter
Like Martin and Sylvia’s family, our family has experimented with making holiday meals from ingredients closer to home. Increased interest in local eating means that it’s easier than ever to make local meals.
Sparkle Crafts: Sunny Leaf Art
No matter what autumn looks like near you, you can do this project! If your trees are bare, you’ll need to hunt a little harder. If there’s still a lot of greenery around, it’ll be no problem finding interesting nature bits and bobs to use for your sun prints.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: The Tree Key
Use this printable project page to identify different trees without using their leaves.
Sparkle Kitchen: Roasted Chickpeas
Chana sundal, a simple roasted chickpea dish, is often sold as street food, but don’t dismiss it. With a thick curry smell and just a little heat from red pepper, it also makes a delicious dinner side.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: A Hunting Morning
In “A Hunting Morning,” Martin, Sylvia, and Laura go on a treasure hunt in the Brown’s orchard and hayfield. They are encouraged to use their noses like foxhounds - and you can too!
Sparkle Craft: Your Own Sewn Treasure Bag
Made with a burlap fabric, this treasure bag is easier for little fingers to sew and the open-weave means that the dirt and sand that might be stuck to treasures found outdoors will fall right through as your little ones carry their new-found bounty home.
Sparkle Kitchen: Homemade Sauerkraut
Pickled cabbage — which most of you probably know as sauerkraut — is one of my favorites, too. It’s amazing with spicy bratwursts, adds a nice tang to grilled cheese, and even makes a tasty side dish on its own.
Martin & Sylvia's: Saturdays! Printable Project Page: Dog Masks
You can make a dog or cat mask out of a paper plate! Use this printable project page to get started.
