Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Christmas Crafts, Recipes, Activities

The Shays, who cofounded the marketing agency Shay Design, have graciously prepared a “field guide” to all things ugly before Christmas: sweaters, drinks, games, accoutrements, etc. The creative couple throw their annual party to raise funds for a family in need, but such parties can merely raise fun, too. The gala starts, of course, with the ugly sweater; for those who don’t have one, they offer ways to uglify apparel from the closet or thrift store—glued garlands for humans and pom poms for pups. They start with the menu to whet your appetite for throwing this party of marked hideosity. The food, including an ugly sweater cake, can be washed down with spiked drinks, such as grinch punch. The “hideous projects” look easy, but the cozies require real work, including crocheting, knitting, and hot-gluing. Except for the sewing projects, the directions are rarely explicit: buy a box cake, “crank up funky music,” arrange items in a pyramid. The games promote seasonal silliness. Toni Albrecht’s photos properly elevate the endeavor to tacky and fun. [em](Aug.) [/em]