by Emily Smith | Handmade gifts are always my favourites over the holidays, which doesn’t necessarily mean salving over projects for all of your friends. Try something simple, like adding a mustache to a mug with this Mustache Mug Tutorial.

Or, if you’re feeling really artistic, try painting some driftwood and call it art!

Feeling like that scarf you’ve been knitting for your grandma is never-ending? Try out something smaller, and check out Mochimochi Land for ideas and information on how to make little creatures that are often no larger than an inch or so (and jam-packed with cuteness).

Want a unique twist on some Christmas cards, and want to test out your typography skills? Try making a stamp. A great resource for this is BC Stampworks. If you bring in an illustrator file, they can make your artwork into a stamp.

This Thursday night, check out Art with Energy, a one-night exhibition of artists who employ energy in their works. There will be a giant mechanical snake (see the video above), a log that can play electronic music, and other ambient works of brilliance. See a full list of the participating artists here.

Looking for a new podcast to listen to? Radiolab is one of my favourites right now. It blurs the lines between science, philosophy, and the human experience, exploring broad, always interesting topics like Symmetry, Loops, and Famous Tumors. If all those Christmas carols are starting to get to you, I highly recommend a listen.

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Emily Smith is a graphic designer, crafter, technical writer, life-hacker, and bicycle lover. She is passionate about DIY, open-source geekery, and facilitating collaborative and creative workspaces. She is an active member of the Vancouver Hack Space (VHS) and enjoys foraging for unlikely materials and increasing bicycle safety. In her off time you can catch her spinning on a drop spindle, dyeing with found materials or knitting half a day away.