SwitchCraft HowTo

There’s a new (really new!) trend in crafting—techno crafting, and Paige is hooking us up with Alison Lewis, creator of www.iheartswitch.com, to show us how fun and easy it can be. Alison is an instructor at Parson’s school of design and has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show. Her fun and innovative projects combine technology and crafting to make super cool and unique items, like a lighted purse or “gadget gloves” that let you use your iphone without taking off your gloves. Yum! Check out her blog and book for easy, clear step by step instructions for making your own projects…like a light up snowflake ornament! Also watch a special HowTo video right here on MommyCast.com and learn how to make those neat light-up present boxes! Who doesn’t want that?

Gretchen had the pleasure of interviewing Billy Ray Cyrus about his support for the Best Foods Sandwich Swap and Share to benefit Feeding America. Now Paige gets to introduce three music videos from his new album Back to Tennessee. Enjoy some great country music with Real Gone, Thrill Billy, and the title track Back to Tennessee! The album is available on itunes here.

“Talking with superstar actor and musician Billy Ray Cyrus was ah-mazing,” Gretchen says. Not to mention the cred she got with her country music loving husband! Billy Ray joined Mommycast to tell families how they can support Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, by logging onto facebook at www.facebook.com/hellmanns and making a virtual sandwich. Easy peasy, right? For each sandwich you make, Hellman’s and Best Foods will donate seven lunches to Feeding America!

Billy Ray is on tour right now for his new album, “Back to Tennessee,” and fans can also enter to win tickets and a chance to meet him at one of his concerts by bidding at the online auction on ebay.

When the creative minds at Playhouse Disney go to work on a new show they really pull out all the stops to make sure their preschool audience is engaged, entertained, and educated! Paige and Gretchen visited with Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President of Playhouse Disney Worldwide, to talk about The Imagination Movers and what drew Playhouse Disney to them. She shared how Playhouse Disney connected with the Movers, and what (and who) it takes to make such a great show.

Paige and Gretchen have had a lot of fun visiting the set and meeting the stars of Playhouse Disney’s great new show for preschoolers, the Imagination Movers.  It turns out there’s a ton of talent behind the scenes too.  In this interview the mommies meet everyone from Skot Bright and Sascha Penn, the executive producers, to Donita Sather, the hair and make-up stylist.  Check it out to get a glimpse into what it takes to make such a fun show!

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, three members of Playhouse Disney’s new show, “The Imagination Movers,” lost their homes.  Paige and Gretchen talked with Movers Smitty and Dave about how the group rallied around their project and in the midst of devastation made their dreams come true!  Their commitment to children and their community is pretty inspirational.