jbtaz36 wrote:
Judy,
I never could understand Santa putting oranges in our stockings when I was a child. We had five orange trees and could have an orange any time we wanted! Now I understand, that's what Santa did for kids then! (With seven children, what else could my parents do?) Thanks for bringing back some nice memories for me.

For the quilters on your stocking list, make a pin cushion. I've been using selvages to make some and they're so cute! I put a large metal washer inside on the bottom so the pin cushion sits flat. I hope that makes sense. I've stuffed them with Polyfil and they work quite well. Make sure that they're stuffed well so you can stick pins in them easily.

JoAnne in southern California

Our stockings have always been things like the toothbrushes and various other small toiletries such as perfume/cologne, deoderant, hand creams, lip balms/glosses, nail polish, etc. For the kids we include kid friendly versions of all the above, some sort of little travel game or card games, candy, and usually a book. Seeing this thread makes me think - I had better get on the ball cause it is right around the corner!!!

It depends on who is going to receive the stocking. But some of the stock items toothbrushes (everyone can use a new one during the cold and flu season), hand lotions (purse size), mints, gum, lottery tickets, movie tickets, hot chocolate mix (single packs), an ornament, and some type of chocolate or favorite candy.

For quilters...thread, needles, fqs of fabric, lotion, chocolate, marking pens, and emery board for finger nails, chocolate, a handmade ornament.

I try to buy things in bulk...because doing stockings can be expensive. So when I see toothbrushes on sale and I have coupons...I buy them. The hand lotions I do the travel size.
The ornament...many times it is hand made...or I buy when stuff goes on sale after Christmas.
I try to shop all year long for the holidays. I use every coupon I can get my hands on...for major stores. We have changed our buying to useful things and few frivolous things.

FW

Hey Kathy B, can I be a member of your family? I would love M&M's is a stocking. My DH & I don't do stockings any more and we do not have any kids. Maybe it is something I should surprise him with. Bobbi

Thanks, Lynn, I didn't know that.
I used to get gummi bears to put in the stockings when my kids were little. My DH would get toiletries and Toberlone (Swiss Chocolate). He also remembers getting an orange in his stocking, a once a year treat.

LOVE Stocking Stuffers! Everyone in my family gets a pound bag of M&M's to fill out the toe nicely.

Son (15) and Dad still love small windup toys (the kind that walk around), nice pens, and any small electronic or mechanical gadget.

Daughter (13) loves cosmetics, a small journal/nice pen, fancy bookmarks, and new earbuds for the IPod.

Tragically, I usually help fill my own stocking. I put in a few quilty items, of course!

Also popular with all: IPod gift cards, small electronic games (20Q is a fun one), tiny checkers sets. Pier One and Cracker Barrel usually have some cute old-timey games.

Kathy B.

I must have missed that thread. What about Fray Check on buttons? Judy in AZ

When Margo said "stocking stuffers" to my note about using FrayCheck on shirt buttons (which somebody mentioned on here 'somewhere'') I thought, "Now that's a good topic for sharing!"

"If you put FrayCheck on the thread for buttons when the shirt is new, the shirt will wear out before you ever loose a button!"

As we get closer to Christmas we will all be looking for unusual useable items besides apples and oranges and cheap crap!

My grown money-conscientious kids are getting FrayCheck in THEIR stockings.

What ideas do YOU have for stocking stuffers if you do that sort of thing?

Lynn