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Joanne's Movie Reviews:
"Thomas
& the Magic Railroad"
by Joanne Spataro
Charlotte Observer Movie Critic
 movie review
 "Thomas and the Magic Railroad," based
on the popular children’s television show, is generously sprinkled with trainloads of
fun. The movie stars that lovable steam engine, Thomas, and his friends Gordon, Percy,
Henry, and James. Kids will love it, and parents will like it, too. The movie will keep
kids’ happy in many ways. It has lots of fun musical numbers, and keeps the talking
trains chugging along. The scenery is bright and cheery, as was Alec Baldwin’s
performance. So come "all aboard" and see more about Thomas & his friends.
Charlene's New Vintage Egg Nog
   Charlene says,
"This recipe is an adaptation from old one. My hobby is collecting old, vintage
cookbooks and I like to take some of those recipes and adapt them to my own. I tried it
out on some friends last year and we all gave it two thumbs up." This includes
recipes for both non-alcoholic and frozen alcoholic versions to satisfy all of your
guests!!
Candy Rose
  Candy Rose is a simple and beautiful
(not to mention tasty) gift. If you make 6 or more you have created a candy
bouquet. Make the roses, gather them up, using floral tape wrap around the roses and
a big red bow and you'll have a full, candy bouquet! This craft/gift is perfect for
children 5 years old and older.
Video Movie Review:
"A
Christmas Story" (1984)
by Joanne Spataro
Movie Critic, the Charlotte Observer
movie review
  Based on
the book by Jean Shepard titled ‘In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash’.
Coincidentally, the movie’s narrator is the author himself, voicing an adult Ralphie
Parker reflecting on a memorable Christmas. The story stars Ralph Parker (Peter
Billingsley), a 9 year old boy excited about Christmas. It’s such an entertaining
movie that can easily be watched hundreds of times. So, if you want to get into the
Christmas spirit, rent (or buy) A Christmas Story, which is sure to keep you laughing
throughout this holiday season.Find out more about this Christmas classic.
Great Gift & Fundraising Idea
Snowman Soup
 This holiday gift idea is brought to us by Veronica who got the idea
from Paulette who says, ""I did the JPEG because several people on my list can
actually print this out and use it this way....the "topper" folds over and gets
stapled to the bag with the ingredients in."
Recycled Christmas Cards
 This
craft is brought to us by Scarlett from our online craft group. This is a fabulous idea
for your Christmas cards. How many of us get them, but don’t know what to do with
them after the holidays ? This idea allows us to make our cards into keepsakes. What a
terrific idea!
Angel Ornaments or Pins
 This craft is a wonderful project to do with children ages 6 and
older. It is simple and looks great! The supplies are easy to find in any craft store.
These pins/ornaments would make a welcomed gift. Happy Holidays!
Carla's Candles
 is brought to us by Carla Strunk. She has a great way to make
beautiful candles. Here are Carla's ideas: "I am making candle with my boys. It is a
great way to get them involved in preparing for power outages that we expect to happen on
occasion in the winter. We will also make some for Grandma's and Aunt Debbies Christmas
gifts." Find out more.
Christmas Poems
Here are
some very nice Christmas poems we have received over the years. Do you have a poem or a
story in you? Tell us and become of our growing writers' support group.
Photo Frame
 This week's Craft of the Week
features a great gift for Dad on Christmas.
These Photo Frames will keep the kids close to Dad even when he is at work. This is a
unique and fun gift for the kids to make for Dad.
Cone Table Santa
This
craft is brought to us by popular craft expert and author Kathy Ross. Cone Table Santa can
be found in Kathy's wonderful book Christmas Decorations Kids can Make.This
craft makes an excellent centerpiece for any table. Children who are 4 years
old and older will have a good time making their own Santas.
Christmas Tree Craft
 This craft is brought to you by a
good friend and member of our Mom-to-Mom community Martha Wisniewski She shares with
us a Christmas tree craft for the whole family. It uses simple wrapping paper, a poster
board and construction paper to make to make a fully decorated tree. It's great for parties too! Thanks Martha!
Apple Ornaments
This wonderful combination reveals a
spicy holiday scent and provides a beautiful ornament for your Christmas tree. Pat was
generous enough to provide us with this fabulously easy and fun craft. Pat says, "My
son loved doing them. They turn out really nice, you can't make a mistake pouring glitter
onto a glue shape and the kids feel very successful. And, of course, the smell is
great."
My Special Cloth Book
Put some special
memories in a book you can give.
 This craft
is brought to us by Roberta Ross-Fisher and she says, "All children enjoy having
ownership in their work, and they especially like to complete projects which focus on
themselves. Bookmaking can be a fun and easy way to help children at various ages and
ability levels to communicate through writing."
Rock Paperweight & Handprints
These projects would make great gifts and a special
rememberance for mom, dad or
someone special as a holiday gift or keepsake. These two crafts include a way to transform a
simple rock and also how to make a special handprint craft. One of our crafters, even did
a variation on this craft to make a hanging
tree ornament. You can add a little
poem to the craft too which we received from one of our crafters.
Jingle Bell Napkin Rings
This week's Christmas craft is brought to us
by craft author and expert Kathy Ross the author of many great craft books including Christmas
Decorations Kids Can Make. These charming Jingle Bell Napkin Rings are simple to do
and make any holiday table a little more merry.
World's Greatest Dad Tee Shirt
Here's a handmade gift that dad is sure to love. He can wear it all year long and be
reminded of how much he is loved! It is a great gift for Christmas, Father's Day,
or when you just want to make that special keepsake
treasure that you know dad will use.
Kathy's Christmas Wreath
 How do you decorate a small space?
Craft author Kathy Ross says, "My parents are in their late 80s and have
moved from a large house to a small bungalow in a managed care facility. They could take
only a small number of their many lovely things, so Christmas ornaments was not a high
priority. Here's a great way to make a gift and bring back the memories of our many
decades of Christmases as a family, without crowding their limited living space.
Bosco's Holiday
Coloring Pages
"Peace on earth" &
"Snowman"
  We have great coloring pages that
you can print out and color. See our latest holiday coloring pages and so much more.
Better yet, print them out twice and color them along with your kids. Send them into us
and we will put it up the website and you can share with everyone!!
Children's Christmas Stockings
This craft is for all ages and can be
personalized even further with a little imagination. You can draw a simple stocking on
paper that can function as a pattern. You can use felt in any color you desire. Just check
your fabric store for the most complete selection of felt. It's never too early for
Christmas!
Kathy's Bottle Cap Ornaments
  This week's Craft of the Week is brought to us
from Kathy Ross the popular craft book author and craft expert. Kathy's Bottle Cap
Ornaments are charming and gives us a creative way to use all those bottle caps from soft
drinks and other products. Bottle Cap Ornaments are featured in her book More Christmas
Ornaments Kids Can Make along with almost 3 dozen other wonderful crafts. Each craft comes
complete with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step- pictures of the crafts.
Eva's Holiday Window Hangers
 Easy-to-make window hangers bought to you by
Evamare Spataro which features a snowman, a tree and a wreath.
Christmas Treasure Jars
This week's Craft of the Week is
generously brought to us, by stay at home mom, Sharleen Spahiu. For family members and
close friends for Christmas, these can make a pencil holders/anything holders using
collected jam jars through the year.
Great Gift & Fundraising Idea
Brownies in a Jar Gift
  Everyone loves
brownies. Brownies are the perfect gift and you'll love our Brownies in a Jar. All
you need is a one quart jar that you can pick up at your local craft store. Just
take the ingredients for the Double Fudge Brownie Mix and fill the jar. You can make
the jar festive by using a colorful ribbon to tie on the recipe instructions along with a
note from you. Using a small piece of material you can also cover the lid of the jar
add the ribbon and you have "wrapped" your gift!
Reindeer Gift Tags
This fun craft idea is brought to us by Pam
Lester. These easy-to-make ideas make a great gift tag that you will remember along with
the wonderful gift to which it is attached.
 Joanne's
Movie Reviews:
"102 Dalmatians"
hosted by Joanne
Spataro
Charlotte Observer Movie Critic
 "102 Dalmatians" is a double
dose of family fun! A sequel to "101 Dalmatians," this new Disney flick will
have parents and children howling with laughter. Glenn Close returns as the deliciously
evil Cruella De Vil. "102" starts where the last movie left off. This is the
perfect movie for the whole family. It has enough excitement and humor for adults and
children to enjoy alike.
See more about this film along with
pictures and other fun ideas & gifts for the kids.
Lacey Candles
This week's Craft of the Week features homemade Lacey Candles.
These are easy to do and can be done with children age 8 and older. For a spring
look choose pastel colored paraffin or if that isn't available color your paraffin after
it completely melts. These candles look awesome because of the lacey patterns
which remain after peeling away the juice carton.
Lace/Ribbon Angels
 This week's Craft of
the Week features Lace Ribbon Angels from our crafting friend Jerry Gleason of Dodge City,
Kansas. She says, "I truly appreciate being able to share some of my craftwork. I
have worked as a paraeducator/paraprofessional in special education classrooms at our
local high school for over nine years. Therefore, have always had the need for simple,
inexpensive craft projects for the classroom. I love crafting and spend a lot of time
looking for new ideas. They truly are easy to make."
A Child's Footprint
This craft features a great gift
for Dad on Father's day
or Mom on Mother's Day or a wonderful Christmas gift. This Footprint Craft includes both
the child's footprint, a nice momento, and a wonderful, touching poem. Write the
poem in the shape of a large footprint using waterproof marker. Using watercolors or
watered down tempera paints paint the child's foot and print it over the written poem a
couple of time. After all is dried laminate the piece of paper and attach string on the
back for hanging.
Felt Cut-out Christmas Tree Decorations
Felt is a wonderful and versatile
fabric to work with. It is so simple to use in many craft projects. I love the fact that
the edges of felt are always finished and don't require hemming. Pinking shears make nice
scalloped edges. These felt ornaments make beautiful holiday gifts and can be
personalized.
Creation Wheel
 This week is brought to us from the
noted craft author Kathy Ross and her new book Crafts from your favorite Bible stories.
Kathy has created a wonderful collection of crafts that will help children learn about the
Bible stories and their underlying messages. This craft tells the story of creation
in a wheel going through the seven days.
Squash Candles
This week's Craft of the Week features Squash
Candles. All you need is a beautiful acorn squash and some paraffin to make a
beautiful centerpiece for Thanksgiving or a lovely gift.
Cut Tube Christmas Ornaments
a Kathy Ross craft
 This week's Craft of
the Week is brought to us by author and crafter Kathy Ross. Her new book More Christmas
Ornaments Kids Can Make is gives us more fun ideas and great ornaments to make our
Christmas festive and bright. Her Cut Tube Decoration is very simple to create and kids
from 4 years old and older can make this pretty craft.
Holiday Bean Soup Gift
 The best gifts are the ones which come
from the heart; the ones that warm the heart. Holiday Bean Soup is a wonderful homemade
gift that will be loved. This is perfect for your children's teachers, your
post person, your friends at work. It's also a great gift to make for any community
service project- for scouting groups and church groups that want to give during the
holiday season Bean Soup is an easy, simple and appreciated gift. It is
terrific as a way to raise funds for schools and other organizations.
Decorative Candles
How many times have you looked at decorative
candles and were astonished at the price tag? It never seemed to be worth the extra money
for the candle with the sparkles or colored swirls. Now you can make your own decorative
candle without spending a fortune.
 Potpourri Molds
These crafts are very simple and can be completed using household items. You can also use
the dough like clay and make a sculpture. This is a fun way to make beautiful and great
smelling pieces of art!
Cookie
Gift Jar
 This Gift Jar is the perfect way to say Happy Holidays in a warm and fun
way. What an exciting way to share cookies without all the fuss. Want to
send cookies, but no time to make them? Well, all you have to do is assemble these
simple ingredients in an inexpensive wide mouth quart jar and presto you are sending
cookies!
Homemade Shell Candles
This is a
terrific project for all those shells you have been collecting this summer. Try to use
large and deep shells to make the candles- they will work best to hold the paraffin most
effectively.These candles are excellent to accessorize your house and make fun gifts- it's
never too early to start for Christmas!
Holiday
Candle
Here's a festive craft for your little elf.
It's a holiday candle made from a used toilet tissue roll.
Holiday Playdough
From: Dave Pickett, "For the
festive season I add glitter to make the playdough sparkle."
Making
Your Own Stickers
This is a super idea to create your
personalized messages as decorations or as a way to tell your kids "Well Done"!
These stickers are a fabulous, not to mention inexpensive way, to brighten your children's
day. They are also great as an arts and crafts project. They can be made to adorn
homemade greeting cards and other novelties ( including notebooks).
Making Felt
This week's Craft of the Week is brought to us
by Janelle Hardy a homeschooling mom from Australia. She has shared with us
her technique to make felt- that wonderfully versatile and easy to use
material. This is perfect for Christmas and holiday ornaments and gifts.
Making felt or felting, as it is called, is a great group activity. This can be done
in the classroom or in your neighborhood. The kids will love it!!
Lollipop Plants
At Christmas time you can use candy canes
instead of lollipops and attach The Story of the Candy Cane! It's very simple and you
don't even need dirt. This is great as a festive decoration and you can use any kind of
lollipops- Blow Pops, Tootsie Roll Pops or the traditional non filled pops.
Squash
Candles
For this craft, all you need is a beautiful
acorn squash and some paraffin to make a beautiful centerpiece for Thanksgiving or a
lovely gift.
Millenium Scrapbook
Welcome the millenium with a scrapbook! This
is a child's year scrapbook. New Year's is a great time to start a scrapbook for the
impending year.
Paper Mache Glue
Need the glue recipe to make a great Christmas
craft. This is the recipe for Paper Mache. We have received many requests for a good paper
mache recipe and I believe this is the one!!
Potato
Prints
This is a great way for you to use a
simple potato to make an stamp for almost any holiday.
Apple Votive
This is sure to liven up any dinner table.
They can also be placed in a large pot of water and set out on the porch; the apples will
float- lights dancing in the night.
 see new
Christmas ideas
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