So the kids got a boatload of new socks this Christmas and you're wondering what to do with the old, ratty pairs they've been scurrying around in since last year. Start making puppets, of course -- although if you really want to put a fun spin on the old sock monkey, try hunting down John Murphy's Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks. The book's been around for a while (you can even probably find it at a well-stocked library), and its weird, wiggly creations are a great cure for the winter doldrums.
$10.36 (normally $12.95) from Amazon.
