Help me with stocking stuffers

[cheap traveler]

Every year I have the same problem at Christmas. I have no problem choosing gifts for my girls (almost 9 and 6 this year), but the stockings stump me. I don't want to stick to the usual toothbrushes, socks, candy etc...

Anyone have any creative ideas I can borrow? Last year the most creative thing in there was a chocolate frog (I went to Universal without them in October).

So far this year I have:
- first name initial charms from Disney
- Disney pins they didn't get before running out of money this summer
- 1 mini lego friends set each

That's it!
Please help!

 

[libinatorsmom]

I love doing stocking stuffers... My DD is 8 - My plans are... Nail Polish, Small American Girl Things (Shoes & Accessories), Socks, Gift Card for Amazon (for her Kindle Fire), Might do a Subway or McDonalds GIft Card, Headbands (She wears a headband everyday), and some other things I do some of the basics but like you like to have fun too

 

[LynnTH]

I usually end up putting so much stuff in my kids stocking they have an overflow spot on floor...

Let's see some of the items I have put in DD11 Stocking in the past:

1. Nailpolish/Stickers
2. Lotion/Shower Gel/Body Spray from Bath & Body
3. Jewelry
4. DVD's
5. CD's
6. Gift Cards - Itunes, Subway etc.
7. Candy of course - always have to have the Lifesaver Books
8. Stretchy Gloves (Fun ones)
9. Books
10. Gel Pens (she likes art stuff)
11. Ponytail Holders/Headbands
12. Mini Etch a Sketch's


I'm sure there is more but that is what I can think of now. For the 6 year old you could put a My Little Pony in there or some other small toy.

 

[pixiewings71]

lip gloss, nail polish, nail files, gift cards (for small amounts, I do $5) for the fro yo place and Cold Stone, hair bands, barrettes, this year I'm going to try to find some small makeup brushes for DD16. I always do new toothbrushes and a new hairbrush is always a good one as well. Candy, I always put some type of candy in their stocking, I have done beef jerky and small bags of popcorn or individual hot chocolates as well.

 

[sydneysmom]

I was in ULTA on Sunday, and they have a huge section of 5 for $5.00 items....bath gel / pedicure stuff / holiday handcream / nail polish / holiday lip gloss....all the packaging is SO cute and is all holiday-ish!

You can go on their website to print off coupons to use. The one they had on Sunday was take $3.50 off a $10 sale. So I wound up getting 15 items and it came to $11.50. (before tax) All the items on that table are normally $3.00 each.

 

[la79al]

That I know of so far, specifically for stockings-pistachios, bath fizzies, grow a crystal kit (from the $tree), paintbrushes. I still need a lot of ideas for DSD 11, though I'm thinking I'm sticking a pomegranate in hers.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I like getting little things from Cracker Barrel like brain teasers, figits, "old fashioned" candy, other little toys that you don't see everywhere.

If you have an arcade you to go regularly (like Chuck E. Cheese) you could put tokens in there.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I forgot to mention, my DD loves to color her hair so I got hair chalk for hers this year. In previous years I have picked up little packets of colored hair gel from the salon (I can't remember which one, Cost Cutters maybe).

 

[amylevan]

I used to love new school supplies, and by this time of the school year they would be useful, so I would love when Santa left me new pens, pencils, crayons, erasers, etc.

Other suggestions:
chapsticks/flavored lip balms
nail files
stickers
brain teaser puzzles
travel games
anything in trial size from bath & body works
craft supplies (stamps, punches, decorative scissors)

 

[Schmoodle]

So far I have for my DD13 lots of candy, knee high riding socks, ear warmer band, pocket hand warmers (she works at a horse farm and gets really cold in the winter), lip gloss, bath gel, face lotion, and a hairbrush.

I always end up with a ton of stuff for her and her sister, but no ideas for DS16. For him all I've got so far is candy, an ear band and hand warmers (he works at the farm too), a razor and shaving cream. Any ideas for teenage boys?

 

[AndreaDM]

In addition to some other things DD9 will be getting some perfume from Justice, but the roller kind, I don't want her spraying that stuff everywhere!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Scratch off lotto tickets!

 

[Promomx2]

I love to put a magazine in, they take up alot of space.

 

[MrEVILdrPorkchop2u]

I always end up with a ton of stuff for her and her sister, but no ideas for DS16. For him all I've got so far is candy, an ear band and hand warmers (he works at the farm too), a razor and shaving cream. Any ideas for teenage boys?[/QUOTE]

We always give beef jerky and Slim Jims in the can. Son loves Hollister body wash and the spray. This year we are adding University of AL pens and pencils since he is planning on attending this fall and thought this could be fun. We have also bought the cheap movies and put those in there. We scored the 1.98 movies at Walmart on Sunday that were leftover from their BF sale.

 

[Colleen27]

We mostly put special toiletries in the kids' stockings, the sort of things I don't buy every day. Character bubble bath and soap crayons for DD4, nail polish/cosmetics and perfume for DD11, Axe bodywash and shampoo for DS14. Other than that we just toss in a holiday-themed scratch-off, a candy or two from the old-fashioned candy shop in town, and other little treats.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

For the 16 y/o boy, if shes' driving, you could get him a gas gift card, movie tickets, or air freshener for his car,

 

[KayTom]

My DBF and I are doing stockings for eachother, but only cheapish stuff. I've got him sweets, a pair of earphones, star wars themed playing cards, razor blades and a new cover for his phone. I'll probably get a scratch card, some travel games since we're going away, maybe a book or dvd.

Once i get some ideas i check out prices on ebay and amazon and have a look in pound shops for some little extra's xx

 

[cheap traveler]

Thank you for all the great ideas!

I didn't think about novelties from Cracker Barrel - their food mainly stinks up here in NY, but I might have to make a special trip if I get a day they are away. Lottery tickets are always fun. I can't put their itunes gift cards in their stockings, because it might give away the big gift (ipod touches!).

My DD8 isn't into perfume yet (thank goodness!), but I'm wondering if it's the right age to start deoderant?

Nail stickers!! How could I have forgotten these??

I don't do a lot of candy, usually just one special thing they haven't had in a while (Willy Wonka bars last year.) I have a pizza place/deli near work that sells candy from my childhood - I'll have to stop by there one day.

Small pack of nuts may give me a few quiet minutes on Christmas morning before they start begging for breakfast, I'll have to pick some up this weekend.

School supplies are a good idea. We have a supply that could last us 3 more years, so it's not something my girls need but I'm sure other people could use the suggestion. (Plus, our school discourages "fancy" supplies in favor of sturdy ones)

Maybe I'll look into some sort of food gift card. They never go anywhere without an adult who pays, but they loved to be the decision makers 2 years ago in NYC - they had Subway cards so they chose where to have lunch.

For a teenage boy: my mother always gave my brother mints/gum, winter gloves (work gloves now that he is older), mini cologne to keep in his gym bag/car (plastic bottle only), lottery tickets... If he drives I find ice scrapers tend to go missing over the summer.

Thank you everyone for the great ideas, keep them coming!

 

[dismom301930]

My DDs are 12, 11 and 8. They are getting:

Colorful/patterned duct tape (amazing what they can make with this!)
Mini hand sanitizers from B&BW
Nail polish
lip gloss
items from the $1 sale at Ulta (PP mentioned this as well)
hair ties/hair bands
and they always get one of those plastic containers shaped like a candy cane that is filled with candy (M&M's, Hershey's kisses, etc.)

 

[HappyHaunts999]

I always gave DD(now 22) Christmas earrings. By the time she was in HS she wore a different pair everyday to school and people couldn't wait to see what she wore net. Her favorites were flashing Christmas bulbs.
Small accessories from Build a Bear
gift cards to favorite stores
special snack item that they dont normally have
surprise packages that have random figures like leggo's, angry birds,
craft supplies

For DS 16
Food
gift cards
My son likes geek stuff which I order from thinkgeek.com.
They have a great section of stocking stuffers that include Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, Science and video game, and a lot of bacon theme stuff. Very cool site for teens.