Hosted by Sean, Sprout's co-host of The Sunny Side Up Show and master artist, Noodle and Doodle features arts, crafts and healthy recipes inspired by real preschoolers' experiences. With his new friends Noodle, a loveable puppet who likes to help in the kitchen, and Doodle, a virtual, electronic friend who lives in a tablet style device, Sean leads real preschoolers and viewers at home to make all kinds of kid-friendly creations. Sprout viewers will discover healthy recipes and clever crafts that families can create together using materials from around the home, as well as recycled elements from the items used in the actual recipes. All of the cooking and crafting takes place inside a whimsical double-decker bus where Sean and his helpers demonstrate step-by-step "how to" creations in an engaging, simple way that families can recreate at home.

Also along for the ride is Sean's dog Doggity, an adorable beagle with the special ability to take viewers into his imaginary, animated world where culinary canines use teamwork to solve problems and cook up treats in their own kitchen. This segment on Noodle and Doodle is called Doggity's and was created in conjunction with series creator John McCoy working with the design and animation team of Ka-chew!, a division of Klasky Csupo, the production company behind smash hits like the Rugrats and Wild Thornberrys.

"Noodle and Doodle is the perfect addition to weekends on Sprout as we expand The Sunny Side Up Show - our top performing original program for viewer engagement - to seven days a week," said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president, programming at Sprout. "Since the live block launched in September 2007, Sprout has collected over one million viewer submissions, and we anticipate even more viewer interaction now with the launch of Noodle and Doodle."

He continued: "We are so excited to be debuting this first-ever, long-form original series. This is also the first time that Sprout is making an original program available for international licensing."

A companion website with sharing galleries, how-to videos, games and more will be available at SproutOnline.com after September 25. For additional information on Sprout programs or schedules, or to play games, download free coloring pages or find great activities for kids, visit SproutOnline.com. To find out where Sprout is available in your area, call 1.8.SPROUT.411 or go to SproutPlease.com.

You need:

• Tank Top
• Rick Rack or Other Trim
• 1 Yard of Cord
• Appliqués
• Fabric Glue
  
• Small Scissors
• Safety Pin

Instructions:

Using a small, pointed scissors, open up about 1" of the hem of the tank top. Attach safety pin to the end of the cord and push the pin with the cord through the opening into the hem. Work the pin and cord around the entire bottom until you reach the hem opening again. You should have both ends of the cord sticking out of the hem opening. Remove safety pin.

Pull cord end gathering up the bottom of the tank top as tight as possible. Tie ends together, double knotting. Trim ends. Push the  knot up inside the hem. Glue a large appliqué over the opening on the bottom on the bag. Decorate edges with rick rack and appliqués.

We all like to stylize our homes with most recent gizmos and electronic gadgets which add to the general ambiance and feel of our rooms. Plasma and LCD Television sets can be excellent equipment to spruce up your home. We obtain furniture for so many reasons and your TV furthermore calls for furniture like TV stands, which is fashionable, manageable and can also maintain your highly-priced TV set securely.

Acquiring a TV stand, particularly designed for plasma and LCD, really needs to be broad and powerful to be able to prevent avoidable deterioration to the TV set. The plasma stands are also a wonderful means to aesthetically combine to your home entertainment setup based upon the layout you opt for which subsequently will depend on the existing room's interiors. You can find countless possibilities readily available in the market to make a preference. However, before you decide to spend your hard earned money on a full entertainment center, there are few essential points to be kept in mind about plasma stands and LCD TV stands.

Many plasmas and LCD TVs require wide TV stands which are obtainable in different types and thus you need to be sure you are opting for the one that best fits your necessities. The primary stage of creating the perfect entertainment center is to consider the space or room available. Calculate the area of living room or bedroom where you would like the plasma stand to be positioned. This will help you estimate how wide the stand needs to be, staying away from the chance of purchasing Plasma stands or LCD stands of more than or below size.

Another thing you want to take notice of is the dimension of the LCD TV or plasma TV you have. You undoubtedly don't need to purchase a wide TV stand just centered on the measurement of the room's area.

Once you are crystal clear about the measurement of the TV screens and space, think of the type of wide TV stands or consoles you will require. Know what you want and decide on it. There are stands which provide easy flat surface where the LCD and Plasma can be attached with ease. In case that you want a storage area underneath the surface to fit in your DVD player, cable boxes, tape collections, home theater system, etc, there are stands which come along with spare cabinets under the surface.

These TV stands are additionally readily available in different colors made from numerous resources. They likewise also come in wood in order to match them up with your room interiors like the ones in Greentea Design, making your room look elegant and stylish. So, decide what you want and enjoy the process of completing your own home entertainment center.

The history of Highlights as a children's publishing powerhouse is the foundation for this new licensing effort. Generations have grown up reading its flagship title, Highlights, currently the best-read children's magazine in North America. The special connection Highlights holds with parents and children is behind the success of its magazines and book club titles such as Puzzlemania, which reaches more than three million families each year. Translating acclaimed Highlights puzzles, imagery and children's activities into educational and fun toys and products is an exciting step in the company's 64-year history.

"We're proud to have partnered with companies whose focus is the same as ours - providing engaging high-quality, creative products for families," says Highlights VP of Licensing, Robin Sayetta. "Crafts, activities, games and puzzles have always been a part of our magazines. Now, with our first partners, we will bring these activities from the pages of our magazines to store shelves."

Horizon Group USA and Highlights have signed a multi-year agreement to create a collection of Highlights "make your own" craft and activity kits. Horizon will adapt existing and new Highlights puzzle, game and activity content to 3D formats that expand and enhance these time-tested experiences for children. A combination of tried-and-true components like stickers, markers and crayons, and new color and paper technologies, will add fun and creativity to the line. The collection will debut at specialty and mass retailers beginning in fall 2010.

Discovery Bay Games and Highlights share a commitment to families, education and fun. The game maker's mission is to bring friends of all ages and families together to play, interact and laugh together. The product line will launch in 2011 with three original games that will take inspiration from Highlights content as well as its philosophies about children and play.

Trends International, LLC, the leading publisher and manufacturer of licensed posters, calendars and creative fun, has signed on to create 2012 calendars that will leverage Highlights' diverse games and activities. The calendars are planned to debut in the summer of 2011.

Ravensburger USA, Inc, a division of the European-based leading, family-owned company for meticulously-made and beautifully designed puzzles, games and arts, and crafts products will produce a variety of puzzles featuring Highlights unique imagery and content. The new Highlights puzzles from Ravensburger will perfectly capture Highlights play activities and illustrations with products that encourage togetherness and inspire learning and creativity, including traditional flat puzzles and innovative 3D puzzleballs. The premiere collection will debut at Fall Toy Preview in October 2010.

The workshops start Saturday, June 5, and will take place on weekends and weeknights leading up to Father's Day so moms can bring in the kids to make creative gifts for Dad.

• Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Kids can capture favorite memories of Dad with their own build-a-book from Klutz. Ages 3 and up welcome. FREE while supplies last.
• Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Kids can create a camo-style frame for Dad's favorite Father's Day photo. Ages 3 and up welcome. FREE with purchase of $1 wooden frame.
• Sunday, June 13, 1 - 3 p.m.: Kids can personalize an ordinary coffee mug to create a unique Father's Day gift for Dad. Ages 3 and up welcome. FREE with purchase of $1.99 mug kit.
• Tuesday, June 15, 6 - 8 p.m.: Dads can keep their drinks super cool this summer with a one-of-a-kind, hand painted can hug. Ages 3 and up welcome. FREE with purchase of $1 can hug.
• Thursday, June 17, 6 - 8 p.m.: Kids and dads love versatile Duck Tape, and Michaels will show kids how to make Dad a colorful tape wallet that's durable, creative and flat-out cool. Ages 6-12 welcome. FREE while supplies last.
• Friday, June 18, 6 - 8 p.m.: Kids can give Dad the gift of creativity with a handcrafted T-shirt. Ages 3 and up welcome. FREE with purchase of a $2.50 T-shirt.
• Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Kids can express their feelings for Dad with a handcrafted, heartfelt Father's Day card. Ages 3 and up welcome. FREE while supplies last.

"Kids will have as much fun making gifts as the dads will have receiving them - especially the Duck Tape wallets, which are so popular right now," said Michaels Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Paula Puleo. "Michaels has lots of ideas for kids of all ages to make memorable, personalized gifts that show Dad how much they care."

Other creative Father's Day gift ideas include a Duck Tape tie, a personalized BBQ apron, a desk organizer or a wooden tool caddy. Michaels has ideas and instructions for more personalized and affordable Father's Day gifts at www.michaels.com/fathersday.

For nearly 20 years, Martha Stewart and her team of experts have been inspiring crafters of all ages and levels to create beautiful things. Now, beginning immediately, Beaches Resorts will exclusively offer five unique Martha Stewart Crafts Studio™ classes using Martha Stewarts Crafts™ tools to glitter, stencil, paint and more, in which Beaches Resorts guests will come away with a handcrafted, personal souvenir of their stay.  Postcard, Punch and Stencil Fashion and Glitter classes are recommended for family members 6 and up with Scrapbooking and Stencil Fashion classes recommended for ages 9 and up, but younger kids are welcome if accompanied by an adult. All classes cost $10 each with the exception of the Postcard Class, which is $8.

Starting August 22nd, Beaches Resorts, in celebration of their continued partnership through 2015 with Sesame Workshop - the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, will welcome Big Bird to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa and Beaches Negril Resort & Spa.  Big Bird joins Sesame Street friends Elmo, Zoe, Grover, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, The Count and Bert & Ernie for the exclusive Beaches Resorts' Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street.

According to Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International, Beaches Resorts' parent company, providing exclusive opportunities for guests with companies that share Beaches' core values of service and quality has helped the resort company differentiate itself in a marketplace where value matters.  "Martha Stewart and Sesame Workshop are two highly recognizable and trusted consumer brands," said Stewart.  "We are proud to call them our partners and even more so, to delight guests of all ages with these exclusively unique and enriching experiences - from Baking with Cookie Monster for toddlers to Scrapbooking for teens and tweens."  

Demandware, Inc., today announced that Michaels Stores, Inc., North America's largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, has selected the Demandware® eCommerce Platform to re-platform its website and deliver the seamless integration of content and community to its customers. The initial focus will be a site redesign with emphasis on branding, improved search and navigation, customer reviews and enhanced social networking capabilities.  

Michaels Stores, Inc. is North America's largest specialty retailer of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall decor and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself enthusiast. Michaels Stores owns and operates more than 1,020 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada, and over 140 Aaron Brothers stores.

"Michaels.com will become an online destination that fosters creativity and informs purchasing decisions, which will drive online visitors back to our physical stores," said John Rowe, general manager of strategic marketing, Michaels Stores, Inc. "Demandware provides out-of-box functionality that is scalable to our growing brand and future ecommerce needs, and will help inspire our customers with a seamless cross-channel experience.'"

Michaels Stores will re-launch Michaels.com using Demandware, and will focus on providing a distinctive and social experience to its visitors. New features on the site will include enhanced customer ratings and product reviews, as well as rich media. Michaels.com will also feature a hosted social community, contests and user-generated content that will help to inspire and educate online customers.

"Michaels Stores, as a leading craft retailer, has a unique customer base that thrives in a collaborative community setting, and Demandware can provide the necessary foundation to bring that setting online," said Jamus Driscoll, vice president of marketing at Demandware. "Working with existing Michaels vendors and partners, we look forward to helping Michaels Stores expand its online presence and become a true multi-channel retailer."

Michaels, North America's largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, announces it will host a series of Mother's Day gift-making events throughout the first week of May so that families can make personalized gifts for under $3 that Mom will treasure for years to come.

The workshops, to be held in all 1000+ U.S. and Canada stores, will each feature a free or low-cost gift project for kids of all ages:

• Saturday, May 1 (1 - 3 p.m.): Kids can create gem earrings or a glass bead bracelet to keep Mom stylish. Cost: FREE
• Sunday, May 2 (1 - 3 p.m.): Kids can personalize an ordinary coffee mug with paint markers. Cost: FREE decorating supplies with purchase of a $1.99 mug kit
• Monday, May 3 (6 - 8 p.m.): Kids can make Mom a flower corsage to complement a favorite outfit using silk flowers. Cost: FREE corsage supplies with purchase of silk flowers, $1 and up
• Tuesday, May 4 (6 - 8 p.m.): Give Mom a spa day with a home spa package wrapped in a painted clay pot. Cost: FREE painting supplies (does not include spa stuffers, $1 and up)
• Thursday, May 6 (6 - 8 p.m.): Kids can decorate a Mother's Day t-shirt with fun designs made from handprints. Cost: FREE workshop with purchase of $2.50 t-shirt
• Friday, May 7 (6 - 8 p.m.): Kids can personalize and decorate a wooden picture frame to hold a favorite memory of Mom. Cost: FREE decorating supplies with purchase of $1 frame
• Saturday, May 8 (10 a.m. - Noon): Kids can make a personalized card to wish Mom a Happy Mother's Day. Cost: FREE
• Saturday, May 8 (Noon - 1 p.m.): Kids can decorate a sweet treat at the Wilton cookie decorating event. Cost: FREE

"Our workshops are a convenient and inexpensive way for the entire family to make Mother's Day special," said Michaels' Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Paula Puleo. "Moms especially love to receive thoughtful, handmade gifts from their children."

More homemade Mother's Day gift ideas, with instructions and materials lists, can be found at www.michaels.com/mothersday. Gift cards are also available for purchase online or in stores and make great Mother's Day gifts.

For Moms who love crafting, Michaels launches its new Facebook fan page with "The Search For America's Most Creative Mom" contest starting April 27th through May 11th. Fans can nominate the special moms in their lives and share stories and photos of her creations for a chance to win a $1,000 Michaels gift card. No purchase necessary to enter or win the contest, see rules for complete details. Michaels' Facebook page will also feature heartwarming Mother's Day e-cards, quick and easy handmade gift ideas for Mother's Day, plus much more at www.facebook.com/michaels.

Beginning on Earth Day, teachers across the country will begin recycling the millions of glue bottles and glue sticks their classrooms have collected since the beginning of the school year. This recycling effort is part of the Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program, which was created three years ago to help teachers educate children about recycling and environmental stewardship and prevent millions of glue bottles and glue sticks from going into our landfills.

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Elmer's is inviting parents to get involved in the Elmer's Glue Crew program through the "40 Days of Earth-Friendly Living." The campaign kicks-off on Earth Day and offers an eco-friendly tip or idea every day through the end of May. The tips are designed to allow parents and children to participate together and to give teachers more ideas for expanding their Earth Day curriculum. To participate, parents and teachers can download the "40 Days" calendar at www.ElmersGlueCrew.com or sign up to receive tips on Twitter or Facebook. The tips include:

Day 17: Walk instead of drive

Leave the car at home and walk to the store or a friend's house

Day 26: Don't run the water

When you brush your teeth, turn off the water when you're not using it

"Through Elmer's Glue Crew, we've been able to provide teachers with recycling information, student contests and curriculum ideas. The 40 Days of Earth-Friendly Living is a way for us to involve parents and help teachers extend their education into the home," said Mary Beth Cowardin, senior marketing manager for Elmer's Products. "Our goal with this program has always been to develop a mindset at an early age for being environmentally conscious."

Last year, nearly 1.2 million school-age children participated in Elmer's Glue Crew to recycle 2 million glue bottles and glue sticks. Beginning on Earth Day, classrooms will start recycling their collections by submitting the empties to Walmart or TerraCycle.  To recognize their efforts, Elmer's honors one classroom that has gone above and beyond to incorporate environmental stewardship and recycling into their daily activities with the Elmer's Glue Crew Grand Prize.

Elmer's® Products, Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, has been a trusted brand and industry leader for more than 60 years. Elmer's produces a variety of well-known adhesives, arts and crafts, educational and office products developed to provide project solutions and inspire people to create, build and learn for life.  Elmer's also markets the number one instant adhesive in the U.S., Instant Krazy Glue®, and X-ACTO®, a leader in innovative cutting blades, knives, and office supplies. For more information, visit www.elmers.com.

Valpak, one of the leading direct marketing companies in North America, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia today announced a new sweepstakes which will be tied to upcoming episodes of "The Martha Stewart Show" (distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution/check local listings).  Viewers will be rewarded simply for watching the show each weekday, with the chance to win a VIP trip to see Martha live in-person during the New York taping of the "The Martha Stewart Show."

The sweepstakes will run from February 22 through April 9.  To enter, viewers must watch "The Martha Stewart Show" each weekday and then go to marthastewart.com/viptrip to enter the name of the guest that appeared on the show that on that day.  

During the sweepstakes promotion, more than 40 million households will receive a Martha Stewart-branded Valpak signature Blue Envelope® in the mail.  Each envelope will feature a large black and white "M" symbol printed on the right side of the Valpak envelope that accesses an augmented reality instant win message.  Recipients with webcams are instructed to visit the official sweepstakes web page at marthastewart.com/viptrip and hold the black and white "M" symbol up to their webcam to find out if it is recognized by the sweepstakes web page as one of the 150 instant winners of Martha Stewart's new book titled Everyday Food:  Fresh Flavor Fast.  

After finding out if they have been selected as an instant winner, all recipients will be able to preview what is coming up on "The Martha Stewart Show" and will then be thanked for taking part in the sweepstakes by Martha Stewart herself through augmented videos.  Recipients of an envelope without a webcam can still play the Instant Win game by clicking on the "No webcam" button on the sweepstakes web page.  This instant-win contest represents a first in Augmented Reality technology use in this space.

"The interactive sweepstakes is a fun opportunity for "The Martha Stewart Show" to use Valpak's iconic Blue Envelope® to help Martha effectively reach her fans on several levels," said Deanna Willsey, director of corporate communications for Valpak.  "With multi-dimensional sweepstakes such as these, Valpak continues to establish its position as forward thinking in the digital space and as a leader in the direct marketing industry."

The Sweepstake Official Rules may be obtained at www.valpak.com or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Valpak's "Win A VIP Trip to The Martha Stewart Show" Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 13428, St. Petersburg, Florida 33733, Attn: Promotions Department.  The sweepstakes are open to all persons who are age 18 and over, and are legal U.S. residents to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province of residence at time of entry. The sweepstakes are void where prohibited or restricted.

For more information about "The Martha Stewart Show" visit www.marthastewart.com.  For more information about advertising in the Valpak Blue Envelope or for printable coupons for restaurants, groceries, auto care and more visit www.Valpak.com.

End your search for masterful objects or art for the home at this juried showcase--all exclusively one-of-a-kind or limited edition pieces. Many of the artists' works are found in museums and private collections across the country.

March 5, 6, 7, 2010