Whenever my brother-and-sister-in-law host a Christmas party, itβs always a hoot. They go out of their way to make it interesting with games and competitions β for the little kids and big ones (aka the adults) alike. This year, my B-I-L and S-I-L introduced an βugly Christmas socks contestβ to the festivities β a twist on ugly Christmas sweaters. How they ever came up with the idea I donβt know, but Iβm always up to a fun challenge so was eager to get started.
I ended up making matching ugly socks for both me and Hubs. Start with some festive Β toe socks and an empty lip balm container (the one I actually used was shorter than the one shown below).
Supplies for Ugly Christmas Socks
* [If youβre looking for some of the things we used, weβve got you covered (disclosure): Clicking on the affiliate links below means we may receive a commission. But donβt worry, you donβt pay a cent more and it helps us make more unique DIYs to share with you! Thanks for helping to support our blog!]
- Toe socks. Try to find ones that have the festive design on the bottom so it doesnβt clash with the elements that are being added.
- Red pen (tip only)
- Old lipstick or lip balm tubes and/or lipstick pen
- Sew on Velcro or Velcro coins (I prefer stitch on varieties vs. adhesive so itβs more secure)
- Glitter / metallic paper, foam, vinyl or gift wrap
- Vinyl letters/numbers (optional)
- Elastic cord
- Double-faced tape
- Sewing needle and thread
- Glue (super glue gel or all purpose)
Raid Your Junk Drawers
The list above is only a guide. You can literally use whatever you happen to have lying around to get the same effect; use whatever works.
I used the empty lip balm container combined with the top of a pen sporting a red tip and fastened them together with double-faced tape (donβt use glue if you want the pen back afterwards!).
Likewise for my sock, I used a pen shaped as a lipstick, red tip and all, (like the one shown below) to fashion two rocket-like objects (one for each of us).
In retrospect, the lipstick pen would make a great stocking stuffer β but I chose to use it βoutside of the stockingβ!
SOURCE of Lipstick Shaped Ball Point Pen: Amazon
Assemble
I sewed a piece of velcro below the first toe on the sock. This is my sock below; the velcro is on the left foot. For Hubs, I attached the velcro to his right sock.
I wrapped the lip balm container with adhesive glitter vinyl (you can use whatever metallic substrate you have β even tin foil, but youβll have to glue it). I didnβt bother to wrap the lipstick pen used for the other rocket because it was already made of metal. To make it even more rocket-like, I also fashioned the burning fuel flare out of more glitter vinyl. I positioned it coming out the bottom end and glued it on.
Then I added a random ID number onto the body using old leftover Letraset from years gone by (SN-2 for Hubs and CN-5 for me).
Hereβs a close up of the βrocketsβ:
Flip the rockets over to the back side and glue another piece of velcro onto the underside of the rocket flare. Youβll be using the hook side that corresponds with the fuzzy piece previous sewn beneath the toe.
Knot a piece of thin elastic cord into a circle and glue it just above the velcro (this will help stabliize the rocket once itβs on the sock).
Wrap the elastic thatβs now glued onto the rocket around the big toe. Here, itβs shown from the back.
Velcro Parts Together
Flip the rocket around and bring the two pieces of velcro together to connect them.
Here it is once attached.Β
A left foot for me and a right foot for Hubs is shown below:
I got the smaller rocket because, as Hubs always jokes, my feet are like stumps (my toes donβt even fill the socks!). Hubs, on the other hand, (er β I mean foot) has piano toes so he can sport the bigger one π
Confused? Have you guessed where Iβm going with this? If not, all will be clear when you see the reveal right after this additional accessory!
To accompany my ugly socks I upcycled some old leg warmers. Remember those? Unbelievably, I still had some tucked away. The pug graphic was something I knit myself using scraps of black, red and white cotton yarn. βBah Humpugβ seemed a fitting addition to my ugly socks.
Getting back to the ugly toe socks, here they are as modeled by me and Hubs.Β If you havenβt already figured it out, itβs βmissile toeβ! Get it? Itβs a play on βMistletoeβ.
I got a lot of traction out of this project when my husbandβs family hosted this first ugly sock contest at our pre-Christmas get-together. Everyone appreciated the silly humour π.Β Donβt tell (shhh), but Iβve turned it into this yearβs Christmas card!
If you found this project amusing, please pin and share!
A Bit About Mistletoe
Did you know the tradition of hanging Mistletoe goes back to the times of the ancient Druids and is supposed to bring good luck to the household? Unfortunately βMissile toeβ didnβt bring us luck in the contest. We came in just a foot or two behind the winner.
The grand winner was our hostessβ father who cut off the toes of his socks and bared his naked toes (it was a consensus that nobody could top that for ugly). This wasnβt a humour contest, but if it was Iβm still not sure if we would have won hands down (or should I say feet down?). Those ugly toes peering through the socks for all the world to gaze upon were pretty funny too. Unbelievably, I guess I must have been having too much fun at the Christmas party because unfortunately I didnβt photograph the winner and other contenders π
Take the Concept One Step Further
Be adventurous! Why not take the ugly Christmas sock concept one step further: make ugly Christmas stockings to adorn the mantle! Personalize them for each family member and see if everyone can guess which one is theirs! Or have the kids make them for each other if you really want to get everyone in on the fun!
Would you ever host an ugly sock contest? It might just knock your socks off!
If you enjoyed this wacky post and are curious to see what comes next, you can follow us right here on Birdz of a Feather. You can also follow us onΒ Pinterest,Β Facebook,Β YouTube andΒ Instagram.
Check out a few other seasonal ideas:
BYOB Upcycled Gift Bag:
Plastic Clamshell Shrink Art:
This one could be adapted for Christmas; you could hang one on the tree for each family member!
Β
Β
That looks like a fun tradition, Sara. I like the variation on the theme (socks instead of sweaters). And those little rockets. You re so clever!
Sara, hands down those are the funniest socks Iβve ever seen. π
Thanks Alys!
Bwahahahahahahaha, missile toe, thatβs classic Sara. Love your unique take on projects. So clever
Glad you got a laugh out of it Michelle! My work is done π