Christmas Stocking Stuffers

December 3, 2011 Anne Walker Stockings and Stuffers 0

What is the next common thing, after Christmas trees, which you are likely to find in a home, where Christmas is being celebrated? That is right, Christmas stockings. In many homes, Christmas stockings are hung from the fire place or other strategic locations. Hardly any of these Christmas stockings are empty; they are filled with many fun things, called the Christmas stocking stuffers.

Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas:

Your creativity will be challenged, when it comes to stuffing these Christmas stockings. A good way to start is while you shop for Christmas stocking stuffers, think about the person’s likes and dislikes, for whom you are preparing the stocking for.

There is really no end to the things you can put in a stocking. From candies to chocolates, to gift certificates, magazine subscriptions, event tickets, decorations and ornaments—the list is endless.

To make things a bit easier for you, following are some great Christmas stocking ideas which will help you, this festive season, to put together that great Christmas stocking, perfect for your dear and near ones.

Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men:

Christmas stockings are one of the nicest holiday gift traditions. They are neither too expensive, nor too cheap, but they cost you just the right amount of money and can be a great in letting your dear and near ones know, exactly how much you care for them.
If you are preparing a Christmas stocking for a male friend, or for your brother, father, husband, boyfriend, son etc There are a number of interesting things you can put in it. One great idea for stuffing a Christmas stocking for men is to use things which are of practical use to them. Like ties and handkerchiefs. Individually, they make boring gifts, but when put in a stocking with a number of other things, they can go pretty well. Try going for a bold color or pattern in a tie or handkerchief to make things look more festive.

Other interesting things you can put in a Christmas stocking for a man are coffee sample from exotic places, body sprays, colognes, soaps and aftershave, beef or wild meat jerky sticks, bags of nuts, favorite candy bar, tickets to a sporting event, a car magazine subscription etc

For the younger lot, like teenage boys, you can put more fun things in a Christmas stocking like a cool pair of sunglasses, a toboggan which is a knitted hat to keep the head warm, concert or movie tickets, their favorite video game etc. Remember to keep things hip and happening as you are stuffing a stocking for a teenage boy, not an old man.

Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Women:

There is an array of items that can go into a lady’s stocking depending on availability; jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings made of metals or unique materials like stones, beads, fabric etc), specialty teas or coffees from far off lands, samples of hair products and accessories.

 

For those females who loves make up, you can use nail polish packs in cool colors, lipsticks and lip liners, eyeliners and mascara, lip balms etc as Christmas stocking stuffers.
For teenage girls, you can use make up, too. Go for lighter colors, preferably in pink, like pink lipstick, pink lip glosses, they are youthful and perfect for teenage girls. You can also put funky vanity mirrors in the stockings.

Chocolates or a pack of mints can also be used.Scarves, cute socks, a pair of trendy gloves, a fancy pen, sticky pads in bright neon colors are also good options.

 

Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Kids:

Kids like sugar! And Christmas is almost synonymous with chocolate and candies. If you are preparing a Christmas stocking for a kid, put packets of jelly beans and candies. And of course, candy canes! You may also put sticker sheets in them, kids love stickers.

Gingerbread man cookies are also a fun option, as kids love them. You can bake a batch of your own and stuff them in Christmas stockings. You may even put small toys, if you can find them, like Dora the Explorer or Spongebob Square Pants or even a small stuffed bear.

Cheap Stocking Stuffers:

Most shops, during Christmas, have sales and offer discounts on a number of things. So prepare a list of the things you want, which you will later be using for stuffing the Christmas stockings. Another great option is to visit dollar stores, if you have them in your region, most of them do. You can find many fun things for not more than just a dollar or two.

You can also make a number of stuffers at home, like for example, if you wish to use jewelry as a stuffer for one of the stockings, then why not make a bracelet on your own? Beads and strings etc can be easily found in arts and crafts shops. You can buy a good amount of funky beads and charms, and make your own bracelets.

Fun Stocking Stuffers:

If you are looking for fun things to put in your stockings then there are a number of really funny items you can put in them like the ‘sling shot flying frog’, you use the sling to shoot the frog and it makes a croaking sound, every time it is shot.

You can also put fake lottery tickets, too, which come with a big surprise when the scratcher find that they have won big. Surely a fun Christmas stuffing option!

Unique Stocking Stuffers:

Stocking stuffers can be unique in nature, too. It all depends on your creativity or if you are shopping, then it depends on your finding skills. You can put unique things like card games, puzzle boxes etc anything which you feel, fits the description of ‘unique’.

Handmade Christmas Stockings:

Enough about Christmas stocking stuffers let us talk about the Christmas stockings themselves! What will you do with all the really neat items you have bought, if you do not have any Christmas stocking to put them in?

They are easily available in markets, especially around Christmas time, but if you do not want to buy them, you can make your own! Handmade Christmas stockings look really cute and you can customize them in whatever way you like, using your own fabric, decorating it with your own gems and stones etc. And they are not at all very hard to make.

Personalized Christmas Stockings:

Whether you have made your own stockings or bought them from a shop, somewhere, you can easily personalize Christmas stockings, too. The techniques used for this process may be simple or a little complicated.

A simpler option could be to put name tags on Christmas stockings, especially if you are making quite a few of them, so you do not mix them up.

A more fancy personalizing approach could be using pictures on stockings. Cut out pictures in various shapes and sizes of the recipients of the stockings and paste or sew or even get them printed on the stockings.

Velvet Christmas Stockings:

Velvet Christmas stockings are excellent options for Christmas weddings. They are perfect for the event because velvet has a fancier look to it. Christmas weddings are a lot of fun, and preparing Christmas stockings for weddings can be a lot of fun, too.

If you are preparing Christmas stockings for a Christmas wedding, you may consider using boxes of scented candles, chocolates, small bottles of perfumes or colognes as stocking stuffers.

Embroidered Christmas Stockings:

If velvet does not suit your taste, but you would still like to give your Christmas stockings a more fancy touch, then you can get the embroidered Christmas stockings. They are simple, yet fancy.

If you know how to do embroidery yourself that is even better, you can make small Christmas trees, or a snow flake.

DIY Christmas Stocking Ideas:

Sites like Pinterest are filled with exciting DIY projects for making your own Christmas stockings, which you could have a look at. They are super easy to follow and all you would need is some supplies and some time.

Cheap Christmas Stockings:

Preparing for Christmas can be expensive because there is just so much to do. Food, decorations, ornaments, gifts, parties etc. Everybody tries to look out for small, easy ways which would help them save up a few extra bucks , while not having to compromise on anything.

Like mentioned in the beginning of this article, many shops, stores etc have their Christmas special sales and discounts and things like Santa hats, Christmas stockings etc are more than likely to be present there. Try buying Christmas stockings as a bundle, preferably from a wholesale market. They are the cheapest.

More Christmas Stocking Gift Ideas:

Still looking for ideas for your Christmas stocking? There are a number of things you can put in a Christmas stocking. Put in crossword puzzles, Sudoku, small bottles of your friend’s favorite beverage, a box of hot cocoa, a packet of marshmallows, a box of cookies etc

You can even put gadgets in your Christmas stockings like small alarm clocks and calculators or a small torch.

There are people who like compasses and pocket watches, too, especially the vintage sorts, so you can incorporate those too in your stockings.

Remember to keep your budget in mind, while preparing a Christmas stocking. Do not forget to have fun this festive season. You can also decorate your stockings with flowers and mistletoe, candy canes etc.