marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jul 16, 2013 6:12:11 GMT -5
My school age grandkids are starting to get too old for my usual stocking stuffers (8 1/2, 5 2/3). Been doing crayons, colored pencils, bubbles, bubble bath, markers, playdough………I usualy fill a shoe box size container. They do get a real gift so I like to keep the cost(s) WAAAY down on these but have 5 to do in total. Any ideas ?? I know I am starting early BUT this way it is just $1-2 here & there.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jul 16, 2013 6:41:06 GMT -5
Silly string is always fun. But, it is used and gone but they enjoy it. Maybe an art project you could do together like paint by numbers or something.
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mrsdutt
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Post by mrsdutt on Jul 16, 2013 6:47:01 GMT -5
Boys or girls?
Bright and colorful nail polish for play dress up with costume 'jewels' from garage sales for girls. Boys love matchbox cars. Five of those in a stocking with a huge orange and favorite candy bar would fill a stocking to the rim. 'Fancy' $$ store pencils are a favorite too. Stickers are always fun with a sticker book from the same store. For some reason my grands love sugarless gum. (In packs kind)
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jul 16, 2013 6:48:39 GMT -5
I actually quit doing stocking stuffers for my kids cuz that gets pretty expensive! But, it is fun when they are little.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jul 16, 2013 6:49:39 GMT -5
One thing that could be fun is a Gift Hunt. You could put a map or clues in the stocking. Then, hide some gifts around the house. They might really enjoy that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 7:11:53 GMT -5
Ear buds. Pens. Little Legos. Slinkies.
What do they like to do? My daughter will get things like fancy cupcake liners, icing tips, def the nail polish... Son is liable to get a whole package of batteries individually wrapped as he has less 'little stuff' interest and his big likes are bigger.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 7:48:00 GMT -5
We do stockings. Yes, they get expensive.
We were at Cracker Barrel the other day, which is one of the places we look for stocking stuffers. They have little activity books for $1.50. One had mustache tattoos, which my grandsons will love. One had stickers. One was filled with mazes. One had a fact and page to color for each state. We bought several of these. DH spent $40 on stocking stuffers there, but we are buying for six. Next year it will be eight.
Also, check out the Spot section at Target. A lot of stuff was 70% off a couple of weeks ago. So I got ponytail holders and butterfly clips for the girls. I got 25-piece puzzles and soft balls to squeeze and throw for the boys. They were each 30 cents.
It is getting harder now that the oldest is 9. He will be 10 by Christmas. I did find him a couple of paperback books so far. You might look at garage sales for those.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 7:50:49 GMT -5
Yes Dover little activity books are great, and usually 3 for 4 on Amazon, so 4 for 3-4.50$.
I also second glow sticks and silly string.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Jul 16, 2013 7:54:21 GMT -5
A few years ago I found little wooden figures..i.e snowflakes etc. They needed to be colored and decorated with marker pens. Granddaughter loved them and I found them @ Dollar Tree store where everything actually IS $1.
I agree with nail polish, silly string, batteries, we've even added small fireworks like sparklers or punks to light them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 9:32:24 GMT -5
I base all of MY gifts on payback. Something that produces loud noises is top of the list. Does it stain, that's up there too. Over the years my wife has over ruled me every now & then but I still try to slip something in. Yes, I'm a sick person but I get a lot of enjoyment from giving that way.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jul 16, 2013 9:46:19 GMT -5
DS is 9. For the past couple of years, we do baseball/football cards for stocking stuffers. He also still likes fancy soaps related to his interests. Other smallish things include bookmarks, and GC to a beloved store or online game for a month. Do you have a used book seller? Sometimes I've been able to snag brand new books for a couple of bucks. He also likes the legos minis characters. Also, think things like notepads, pencils with a favorite sports theme or theme, etc. My DS missed the matchbox car gene. My baby girl plays with his cars than he did.
DD is 5. Besides nailpolish, we do things for the lips, and bath things. I knit, and I usually make her a washcloth. Total cost is under a $1, and she absolutely loves the darned things. (I made a Mario washcloth for my son, and she also claimed that sucker, too.) She's totally into artsy things so stickers are still popular. She's also starting to get into lotions. And, I heart the dollar spot at target. The $1 princess socks are now also a must.
You aren't starting way early. We do stockings for St. Nicks, and I'm about half way done with the older two already. But, I start early moreso because of time constraints...
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jul 16, 2013 9:48:41 GMT -5
I base all of MY gifts on payback. Something that produces loud noises is top of the list. Does it stain, that's up there too. Over the years my wife has over ruled me every now & then but I still try to slip something in. Yes, I'm a sick person but I get a lot of enjoyment from giving that way. Drum sets for both.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 9:48:47 GMT -5
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milee
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Post by milee on Jul 16, 2013 9:54:45 GMT -5
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jul 16, 2013 10:01:20 GMT -5
Duck tape is expensive. Some of the licensed themes are like $8/roll. If you have a craft store, purchase these with 50% off coupons. They have small 9x11 sheets of duct tape for $2. <Guess I bought this last weekend?>
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milee
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Post by milee on Jul 16, 2013 10:04:07 GMT -5
$8 a roll?!? Where are you buying this golden stuff? I buy all mine at Walmart (and a few at Target, but their selection isn't as good) and usually pay $3 - $4 a roll. I guess once I paid $5, but that was Hello Kitty imprint (licensed.)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 10:06:08 GMT -5
I base all of MY gifts on payback. Something that produces loud noises is top of the list. Does it stain, that's up there too. Over the years my wife has over ruled me every now & then but I still try to slip something in. Yes, I'm a sick person but I get a lot of enjoyment from giving that way. Drum sets for both. Did that for the oldest grandkid 3 or 4 years ago. The next year she got a keyboard (with amplifier). The younger grandkid (the boy), well I lucked out there. Anything I can give him can be used to do damage. I think that I could pull the straws out of a broom & give them to him & if nobody was watching he could destroy a house with them within a hour. (He's going to be my favorite until a worse one comes along).
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Tennesseer
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Need Ideas
Jul 16, 2013 10:07:37 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Tennesseer on Jul 16, 2013 10:07:37 GMT -5
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jul 16, 2013 10:12:44 GMT -5
$8 a roll?!? Where are you buying this golden stuff? I buy all mine at Walmart (and a few at Target, but their selection isn't as good) and usually pay $3 - $4 a roll. I guess once I paid $5, but that was Hello Kitty imprint (licensed.) The Hello Kitty licensed stuff is 8 at Joanne's. But, they had a big coupon thing this week. So, I got 50% off duck tape. The plainer colors are 4/roll, and a coupon will bring that down to a bit over $2.00. I don't like shopping at our Walmart. I go once a year only if I can't find things anywhere else or a sale is that good.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Jul 16, 2013 10:35:20 GMT -5
My school age grandkids are starting to get too old for my usual stocking stuffers (8 1/2, 5 2/3). Been doing crayons, colored pencils, bubbles, bubble bath, markers, playdough………I usualy fill a shoe box size container. They do get a real gift so I like to keep the cost(s) WAAAY down on these but have 5 to do in total. Any ideas ?? I know I am starting early BUT this way it is just $1-2 here & there. If you like school supplies my kids need to have a flash drive and ear buds for school, although they never seem to not lose them at least once a year.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Jul 16, 2013 10:40:46 GMT -5
Mad Libs.
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milee
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Post by milee on Jul 16, 2013 10:44:42 GMT -5
I love Mad Libs. And so do my boys. But we have very different ideas on how it's played and what makes it funny. When they're asked to fill in the words, their list goes something like this: butt, fart, dirt, butt, farting, farted, Mr. Butt, slime
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jul 16, 2013 12:44:57 GMT -5
My kids are teens, but once they hit school and started playing youth sports, I found I could fill a fair amount of stocking space rather cheaply with a pair of cool sports socks, some sweatbands, a roll of sports tape, a new baseball or lacrosse ball -- even a cool sports t-shirt I found on awesome clearance one year.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 14:10:30 GMT -5
Insta snow powder. You can get it cheap at learning stores.
Real horns/bells for bicycles - I've seen these for a few dollars at places like Home Goods.
Blinky Christmas necklaces/noses at the dollar store.
whoopee cushions.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jul 17, 2013 5:53:17 GMT -5
Lynn I have both boys ( 4 & 5) and girls (1 month, 4 & 8).
Shooby Gift hunt does not work as we celebrate at DD2’s.
I cannot do Christmas theme stuff as some family is Jewish.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Jul 17, 2013 7:15:26 GMT -5
OK. But, you could still do one at your house just for fun. The kids do enjoy that.
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