| Beth's Best Homemade Stuffing Ever!
  This
recipe is brought to us by Beth which will make a great addition to your Thanksgiving and Christmas table. Beth says, "I stumbled onto
this recipe when I used to work for a bakery , yes its good, my son who up until this
recipe would only eat stovetop, loves it you need loaf wheat bread, the gritty grainy type
(I use a 7 grain type) not wonder bread type loaf rye bread, the dark pumpernickel is
great."
 Thanksgiving Recipes
Theresa's Paper Turkeys
 This craft is from our friend Theresa Wagar. It is a fun and festive
activity especially for Thanksgiving. Theresa is always full of good ideas and willing to
share them with everyone. Theresa says, "We just had a few extra kids over for the
weekend so we did some Thanksgiving projects . . .the most exciting was making turkeys. We
did this with two 4 year olds and they loved it!"
Cat Party Favors
  This
week's Craft of the Week is brought to us from the popular activity book by Willie Ripple
author of Halloween School Parties. Willie's book not only has hundreds of Halloween
crafts but also includes ideas for foods, games, and other activities to celebrate
Halloween. Cat Favors can easily be made by children who are 4 and older. They make
terrific bookmarks and are a great activity for the kids.
Paper Mache Glue Recipe
 This method of working with paper and paste allows you to mold and
work with the material much as you would clay. It is ideal for making jewelry such as pins
and earrings, and the pulp can be shaped easily to make small ornaments, decorations, and
figures. Also included are extra recipes from our members on our craft support group.
Handprint Magnets
  This is brought to you by our good
friend and craft guru Kathy Ross, author of kids' craft and activity books. Her
craft this week, Handprint Magnets comes from her book called Crafts to Make in the
Fall. This craft requires very little supplies, is perfect for the individual child,
or a group setting. These magnets make wonderful homemade presents and are sure to
liven up any refrigerator!
Bookworm
  This bookworm is designed to encourage the littlest reader in your
house to keep on reading! After making this new reading buddy your child can tell stories
with him. They can be as personalized as you like. Go wild with your and your child's
imagination!
Paper Mache Hot Air Balloon
from: "Class
Winning 3-Dimensional Valentine Boxes"
by Debbie Barnhill
  Debbie
Barnhill finds treasure in empty cardboard boxes, oatmeal and coffee containers, carpet
tubes, newspapers, paper-towel rolls and other household items and it is amazing how you
can convert trash into treasure. As an elementary school teacher she has seen the
valentine box evolve over the years. Debbie's book features step-by-step instructions with
beautiful illustrations and we are featuring one of the crafts in the book called Paper
Mache Hot Air Balloon.
Knitting: A New Trend
by Joanne Spataro
  Many people think only old, frumpy grannies enjoy knitting. They
imagine their own white-haired grandmothers creating sweaters and scarves in their rocking
chairs. However, grandma was actually setting future trends. Today, the lost art of
knitting has turned into one of the hottest hobbies that is sweeping the nation. How can
you get started knitting? Read more about it and then join our craft discussion
group, ask your questions and share your treasures.
Killer, Mango, Bashy & Candi !
  Killer, Mango and Bashy & Candi
Are they a law firm you need to hire to sue that annoying neighbor or are they something
totally different.
- Bashy has a penchant for dressing differently for the
holidays.
- Mango and Killer have been known to sleep in other people's
beds.
- And Candi is just as sweet as she can be.
Still don't know!
Here's a hint - I bet they know the menu at Taco Bell by heart!
Bagged Reindeer Oatmeal Food
 Bagged Reindeer Oatmeal
Food is a wonderful way to add excitement and fun to your holiday season. Eat the reindeer
oatmeal on Christmas Eve, but save some to sprinkle on your lawn for Rudolph and his
friends! You can make the special reindeer bag to hold your special reindeer treat. The
"Reindeer Food" is also perfect for people too!
All-Purpose Natural Pesticide Powder
excerpted from
"Better Basics for the Home"
by Anne Berthold-Bond
  Anne's book Better
Basics for the Home is a survival guide full of over 800 "recipes" for
cleaning the house, washing clothes and even making hand lotions and creams. These
are recipes that let you use natural peppermint leaves, citrus leaves, garlic and a few
other simple and natural ingredients to make an insecticide that is safe for your pets and
children. Also featured is a recipe that uses essential oils to fight infestations.
Maria's Christmas Hand Ornaments
  This is a great idea that comes from
Maria who is a member of our craft group from California, She says, I have a craft idea
for Christmas
that you may wish to list. My three children and I made them last year for my in-laws
Christmas tree. It's very simple, but they make a sweet keepsake.
Potpourri Gel Jars
 This week's Craft of the Week
features a wonderful gift that children of any age can make. Gel Jars are beautifully
decorated, scented gifts. They are sure to liven up any room with their fragrance.
You'll want to choose scents which your mom likes. You can substitute potpourri oil for
the essential oils in this craft.
Cat Party Favors
This
week's Craft of the Week is brought to us from the popular activity book by Willie Ripple
author of Halloween School Parties. Willie's book not only has hundreds of Halloween
crafts but also includes ideas for foods, games, and other activities to celebrate
Halloween. Cat Favors can easily be made by children who are 4 and older. They make
terrific bookmarks and are a great activity for the kids.
Sit-A-Pon
 a
gift for the gardening mom
The Sit-A-Pon is created by using very simple household materials; old plastic
tablecloth, magazines, and yarn. I first made a Sit-A-Pon when I was a Girl Scout. I
still remember that pink and white soft square that protected my knees while gardening as
a small girl. The Sit-A-Pon can be personalized just for your mom. You can use water
proof magic markers to write her name and her favorite colored yarn to sew the edging.
Wooden Spoons Bunny Pin
  This
week's Craft of the Week is brought to us by the popular craft expert and author Kathy
Ross. She has written numerous craft books for every holiday and event. This week's craft
Wooden Spoons Bunny Pin is from her book Crafts for Spring. This bunny pin would make a
nice gift for tour mom or a friend. Maybe you should make more than one.
Pinecone Bird Feeder
 A great way to help our feathered
friends, during these rough winter days, is to make them a bird feeder. All you need are a
couple of pinecones, a bit of creativity, and you'll have a special gift for the birds in
your neighborhood.
Mosaic Flower Pots
  Mosaic pots are just
right for creating that springtime feeling ! They are so simple to do and beautiful. This
project can be done by kids who are 3 years old and older. To give the pot a genuine
mosaic look at least half of the area on the pot should be covered by the broken tile
pieces. The addition of "gems" gives the pots a glorious, sparkling look. You
can use other materials to decorate your pot such as shells, smooth stones, and dried
beans. These are super for any gardener as a Mother's day or Easter gift.
Sunflowers
by Evamarie Spataro
  I
love taking pictures.
Recently I started taking pictures with a digital camera. I can take as many pictures as I
want and don't have to worry about film. What I really like about my camera is that you
can store the pictures on regular floppy disks. My dad had a lot of extra disks he doesn't
use anymore, so I can take as many pictures as I want. I took some pictures in the garden
of the sunflowers in my garden. Also, you can learn how to make a sunflower seed necklace,
too!
Making Salt Dough Keepsakes
This is a
great way to make simple salt dough and use it to make a wonderful keepsake. Nothing melts
the heart more than a child hand, especially when it is immortalized in salt dough. Find
out to make the dough and look at some of the wonderful poems we have that you can add to
your treasure!! Makes a great gift for grandma & grandpa!!
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!
10 Tips for Finding Perfect Childcare
by Emily Rachelle
Bridges
  Perfect childcare does exist, though you couldn’t have
convinced me of that when I surrendered my career as a pediatric nurse to stay home with
my children. I soon realized that I wasn’t alone and opened the doors to my own
family home daycare. Let me tell you the ten tips for finding perfect childcare, along
with my "safety checklist" to help you be sure that your child is safe. Print it
out and take a copy with you to the next daycare you visit!!
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.
Pomanders
These are these wonderfully fragrant,
naturally made room and closet fresheners. They are perfect to make as gifts and a lovely
way to spruce up your closets during the winter months.
Kathy's Paper Plate Stain Glass Window
This is a simple idea that comes from Kathy Fogarty in San Diego. It is an easy craft that is perfect
for little hands
and can be adapted for holiday crafts. She
says, "I have used this idea with my three year old daughter and it went really well.
The paper plate (stained glass) craft came from a sample someone had made."
Spring & Fall Nifty Socks
Along with the sneaks, fancy, colorful socks
celebrate the warm and beauty of spring or lift our spirits in the shortening days of fall or even for the lengthening days of spring. Nifty socks are a wonderful craft for kids
of all ages. This is a terrific way to decorate socks and have fun ! Remember to pre-wash
the socks before decorating.
Patriotic Pot
  This week's Craft of the Week
features Patriotic Pots - perfect for the Fourth of July and Memorial Day! Patriotic Pots
liven up any house and make a terrific centerpiece to remember the birth of our country
and the brave people who have defended her. This craft can easily be done by children age
four and older.
Paper Mache Basset
& the History of
Papier Mache
by Jackie Hall
  Jackie
Hall loves Papier Mache and she caught our eye with her life sized papier mache Basset
hound modeled after her Basset named Bunty. So we loved the papier mache version of her
Basset so much that she mailed us a picture of the "original" Bunty, the
inspiration for her artwork. She says, "I have loads of toy Bassets plus ornaments as
I get given them for presents, along with Basset cards! My papier mache Basset has been to
quite a few exhibitions and I often get teased when I am out walking the "real"
one as to which one I am with!" Come see if you can tell the difference and learn
more about the history of Papier Mache!!
Hidden Pictures
This crafts is super fun for all kids who are 4 years old and older
: ) ! It is a good opportunity to talk about geometric shapes as the colors are put onto
the paper. Triangles, rectangles, and circles are a great way to lay out the collage of
hues. Hidden Pictures is a magical experience with our everyday crayons that everyone will
enjoy. It is certain to keep even the most active kids busy happy.
 
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