Make December memorable and creative for your kids by spending time crafting, decorating, creating and just having fun while they use their imaginations. One idea for their creative skills is to make a festive “Ugly Christmas Sweater,” which has become a symbol of holiday cheer. The “ugly sweater” trend began in the 1950s when Christmas-themed pullovers called “Jingle Bell Sweaters,” were decorated with traditional symbols such as Santas, snowmen and other whimsical decorations.

This resulted in a comical mismatched look. However, the term “ugly” is used humorously, as ugly sweaters are meant to be cheerful and fun.

To begin, all you need is a plain pullover sweater that you may already own or perhaps you can find a sweater at a thrift shop. You only need minimal sewing skills such as the running stitch as most of the sweater suggestions below have no-sew directions and the use of fabric glue.

Mitten Sweater

Draw around your fingers and thumb on a piece of paper to create mitten shape templates. Make small mittens and large mittens. Then, cut out the mitten templates and pin them onto colourful fabrics such as red, green or bright pink. Cut out all the mittens and decorate each mitten with trims, lace and whatever you can find in your sewing box. With a needle and thread, sew each mitten randomly onto your sweater with a running stitch or use fabric glue. Now, bling it out! This is the fun part! Add small sparkly pom-poms, buttons, jingle bells, beads and glitter… use whatever you’ve got!

Snowflake Sweater

Put a mug upside down on top of a piece of white fabric. Then draw lightly around the mug with a pencil. Using a pair of scissors, cut out the circle you have drawn. Then, fold the circle in half, then fold it in half again. Cut triangles of different sizes from each edge of the folded shape. Open out the circle to reveal your snowflake. Make as many snowflakes in different sizes as you like. Glue sequins onto the snowflakes and hand sew the snowflakes onto the front of your sweater. Make different sized snowflakes. Add glitter glue for further decoration.

Colourful Sweater

This is a fast sweater to make. Gather any Christmas decoration you can think of: bows, bells, ornaments, garland, ribbon and place it on a sweater. Then, begin stitching the items onto your sweater with a needle and thread. For further bling, sew on colourful beads and sequins.

Snowman Sweater

Make the snowman by cutting out three round circles onto white fabric. Use a dinner plate for the large circle, a soup bowl for the middle circle and a mug for the snowman’s head. Place each circle onto your sweater and stitch in place using the running stitch to form the snowman. To make the “carrot”nose, cut out a piece of orange felt fabric and stitch in place. For the eyes, cut two circles of black felt and glue into place. Customize your snowman with a colourful scarf, black top hat or even small jingle bell buttons.

Then head to that Ugly Christmas Sweater party to show off your creation!

Halloween is just around the corner and kids are thinking about their costumes. This is a wonderful time to channel their energy with easy projects and encourage their creative expression.

Here are four craft ideas to help guide their decisions. These fun projects can be accomplished with little effort and with basic supplies from around the house or a trip to a craft or dollar store.

Spooky Painted Blue Jeans

Add some flair and spooky colours to a pair of old blue jeans or jean skirt with splashes of paint. All you need is orange, black and white fabric paint and paintbrushes. This is a messy project, so be sure to protect any furniture or flooring with old sheets. Begin with white strokes of paint all over the jeans. Then, brush on orange and black in long, curving strokes. Try flicking or spattering the paint too. To finish off, sprinkle with glitter glue. Be creative and flexible! Add your own touches. Let the jeans dry before wearing them to school to show your friends.

Pumpkin Brooches

These brooches or pins are fun to wear in October. Make several and give them to your friends to wear at Halloween parties or while trick-or-treating. Cut two orange felt pumpkin shapes about two inches around. Glue them together with fabric glue. Decorate the pumpkin face with googly eyes, a black felt triangle nose and black felt mouth. Glue on a one-inch green pipe cleaner stem. Next, cut a piece of stiff cardboard the same size as the pumpkin and glue it to the back of the pumpkin. Tape a safety pin to the back and then pin it onto your costume. Try other designs such as a black cat, bat or ghost.

Orange & Black Pom-Pom Necklace

Make several of these fun necklaces and give them to your friends. To make the pom-poms, wrap orange and black yarn around two fingers (for small pom-poms) or four fingers (for larger pom-poms). Keep wrapping the yarn around your fingers many times until you’ve created a large ball around them. Then, carefully slide the yarn off your fingers and tie a piece of yarn around the center in a tight knot. Cut through the loops on both sides of the pom-pom, shake and trim. Create as many pom-poms as needed for the necklace. Thread a needle with a long length of yarn and then push the needle through the centre of each pom-pom and space them on the yarn to create the necklace.

Jack-o-Lantern Pockets

Add pizzazz to your pants or jeans back pockets! Using a piece of white chalk or an erasable marker, draw a large pumpkin shape on the back pockets of your pants. Using orange embroidery floss and a needle, stitch around the outer edge of the pumpkin using a chain stitch. (Google how to chain stitch on YouTube). Stitch the eyes and mouth with black embroidery thread and the stem with green thread. Let your needle be your pencil!

The Health in Space exhibit at the Sidney Museum from now until November 30 explores how astronauts stay healthy in orbit and what that means for healthcare on Earth. Created by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, this interactive display is fun and educational for all ages.

sidneymuseum.ca

Until September 2, Parks Canada is offering free admission and discounted overnight stays at most locations across the country, including national parks, historic sites and marine areas. It’s a fantastic way to connect with nature and history this summer, while keeping your money in your wallet.

parks.canada.ca

It’s the grand finale of Campbell River’s live street series on August 27. Music in the Night will feature the energetic pop duo Velavox followed by the beloved West Coast band Hey Ocean! This family-friendly event takes over Shoppers Row from 6:30 to 10pm and is free, so come out for dancing, community and a lot of fun! campbellriver.ca

With expanded midway space, more demos and a few other updates, the 2025 Saanich Fair promises to be the best one yet! From August 30 to September 1, bring the whole family to the Saanich Fairgrounds for more fun rides than ever before, good food, contests and tons of entertainment for everyone to enjoy. saanichfair.ca

Join Nanaimo Science’s outreach educators on September 20 from 11am to 2pm at Anders and Dorrit’s Community Park in Nanaimo for some exciting tree science! This free, all ages, parent participation event includes a nature walk, tree identification, examining tree samples under microscopes and doing leaf rubbings. rdn.bc.ca

Celebrate harvest season at the 157th Cowichan Exhibition’s Fall Fair, hosted at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds from September 11 to 14. This family-friendly event features livestock shows, 4H displays, carnival rides, logger sports, agricultural exhibits, crafts, food vendors and a variety of exciting live entertainment. cowex.ca