Stocking Stuffer Ideas

The most exciting and most cherished part of Christmas morning was opening our stockings.  We would wait in our beds, patiently, until our mother went to bed(usually sometime between 3-4 a.m.).  Then we would stealthily tip toe down the stairs and rush to our stockings, dump them out and gorge on sugar free candy and fruit(and didn't even regret it after our bowels exploded, later).  We would show our precious trinkets to each other and marvel at how lucky we were.  After we had re-stuffed our stockings(lacking the some goodies, and looking far less perfect), we would stuff our mom's stocking.  Our mother who was always doing for us, we got the special chance to pick out little special things meant just for her.  It was so exciting and the light of the Christmas tree and the warmth from our home made everything perfect.  We'd go back to bed until a reasonable hour(around 6) and get up again, start making pop-overs.  Then we would gather up our stockings, along with our mom's, march upstairs and show her what Santa had brought for us and for her.  It was always a magical morning for all of us and because of that, stockings are still my favorite part of Christmas.  Now I get to make that magic for my sweet husband and sweet boys.


Because I have such a love for them, I thought I would share some ideas for stocking stuffers for everyone on your list, so that it can be that magical for you, too.  I'm sure I could think of twice this many, but for one nap time a week before Christmas, here are my ideas(please forgive any duplicates or errors):

Men
-watch
-cuff links
-cologne
-tie
-tie clip or pin
-after shave
-shaving cream
-tools(hammer, measuring tape, etc)
-swiss army knife
-handkerchiefs(dressy or otherwise)


Women
-jewelry
-lipstick(or any other makeup, like eyeliner, mascara, blush, etc)
-perfume
-lotion
-hair products
-shaving cream
-bath salts and spa items(masks, soaps, etc)
-bobby pins and other hair items(elastics, clips, etc.)
-sewing, knitting, crocheting kit(or sewing items, thread, floss, scissors, etc.)
-craft kit(or small craft items, blank cards, pens, markers, etc.) 
-hand mirror or compact
-nail polish(or other nail items, stickers, etc.)
-sachet-makeup bag
-tights or leggings



Kids
-night light
-play dough
-flash cards
-silly putty
-finger paint
-finger puppets
-wood kits(build and paint a train, etc)
-shaped crayons or crayon puzzles(dino's, cars, etc)
-top
-musical instruments(egg shaker, maracas, clackers, kazoo, harmonica, triangle, etc, etc.)
-stickers
-slinky
-coloring book
-action figures/barbies/polly pockets
-littlest pet shop
-squinkies
-other small toys
-yo-yo
-car(matchbox, wind-up, etc.)
-jewelry making kit
-rattle
-kaleidoscope
-piggy bank
-kite
-puzzle
-sidewalk chalk
-fun band-aids
-dominoes
-swim goggles
-glow sticks
-mini magna doodle
-reading light
-plastic animals
-bubbles
-glow in the dark stars or animals
-mini tape measure(or other tools)
-lego sets
-hex bug
-stick on earrings
-doll clothes
-treasure box
-dress up clothes(masks, tutus, wand, crown, costumes, etc)
-play kitchen food or utensils
-jewelry kit
-bean bags or hacky sack
-small stuffed animal
-tooth fairy pillows
-gak/flarp
-water guns
-jump rope
-bath toys
-bibs
-goldfish(or animal crackers, etc, etc.)

-gyroscope
-teether
-baby rings
-pez dispensers
-silly bandz
-bubble bath
-webkinz
-headbands, bows, etc
-bow ties, ties, suspenders
-jacks
-balloons
-paper dolls
-kid safe scissors
-character dishes
-nerf gun or bullets


For Anyone
-fancy pen or pencils
-sd card
-chapstick
-candy
-pop rocks
-gum
-mints
-gift card
-nail clippers(or scissors, etc)
-address/date book
-camera memory card
-candles
-card games
-cell phone or accessories
-chocolates
-cookies
-DVDs
-iPod case
-jewelry
-kitchen items(specialties like egg slicer, garlic press, etc.)
-magazine subscription
-ornaments
-picture frame
-scarves and gloves
-snow globes
-socks/slippers
-stationery or note cards
-tickets to a concert, movie or sports event
-two-dollar bill
-bottle opener
-key chain
-wallet, money clip
-coasters
-temporary tattoos
-stencils
-toothpaste
-floss
-toothbrush
-hand warmers
-bike bell or horn
-chop sticks
-origami book or paper
-small calendar
-luggage tag
-fruit(apples, oranges, banana, etc) and specialty fruit(star fruit, pomegranate, etc.)
-comb
-brush
-shoe laces
-bookmark
-book
-stamps
-air freshener
-mug
-tire guage
-any sort of ball(golf, tennis, baseball, etc)
-pot pourri
-shoe laces(novelty)
-batteries
-coupons for some service(massage, chores, etc)
-underwear(racy, gag, character or regular)
-seeds
-fishing lures
-incense
-post-it notes
-water bottle
-weights(or other exercise stuff) 
-snow globe
-tripod
-straws
-calculator
-walkie-talkies
-magnets
-paper weight
-usb drive
-screen cloth
-ear buds/phones/etc
-magnetic poetry set
-rubix cube
-first aid kit
-cookie cutters
-gardening tools/gloves/seeds
-unusual buttons
-sketch book
-any art supplies(paint, paint brush, etc)
-flashlight
-binoculars
-compass
-belt
-tissue holder
-specialty foods(cheese, crackers, olive oils, teas, etc)
-cd
-mp3 player
-guitar strings(picks, tuner, etc)
-other specific instrument needs(drum sticks, reeds, etc, etc)
-hot chocolate or cider mixes
-jerky
-loofa
-cooking extracts(vanilla, almond, mint, orange, etc.)
-fishing lures
-pumice stones
-pedometer
-small kitchen scale
-lint roller
-kindle
-note from santa
-tire pressure guage
-nuts

-activity pads
-membership to local museums, etc
-whoopie cushion
-silly string
-vitamins
-magnifying glass
-whistle
-travel games
-chocolate oranges
-sunglasses
-hair products


Be creative!  You can make a lot of these on your own, if you are on a budget, and you can personalize a lot of them with monograms, etc.  Have fun!!

Merry Christmas!!!