What is your one UNUSUAL stocking filler that others maybe haven't thought of?

[NorbertDentressangle]

Inspired by the stocking filler thread I noticed that we all tend to put the same old crap gifts in but occasionally you come across something that no-one else seems to have thought of.

My tip is (and this is very popular with my DD and some friends DC): pieces of rough cut gems/crystals/quartz or polished gemstones.

A lot of places sell them from about £1 each upwards, you can also fill a little gift bag for a set price. It appeals to the sciencey types and the magpie-types that just like sparkly things

Whats your tip?

[cupsoftea]

thanks an interesting idea nd

[yomellamoHelly]

Dh has had a variety pack of cereal (£1.39 I think) since he was small (his parents were broke and needed something big to fill it up for not a lot of cash). He's had one ever since, and now ds1 is getting them too. (Ds2 needs to do a bit of growing.) Is great because usally we stick to healthy cereals for breakfast so there are some real treats in there - coco pops, frosties, ice krispies.

[jollyoldstnickschick]

thats fab idea yomellamohelly

[Buckets]

Great idea Norbert, I carried about a pillbox full of tumbled semi-precious stones for a whole summer once (aged about 10!) They all had personalities of their own.

This is all gold dust guys cheers, keep em coming (goes off to find a pen).

[anorak]

A packet of cookie mix so your child can make some cookies.

[bran]

What a good idea for a thread. We didn't do a stocking last year because we were at MIL's in Malaysia for Christmas and they don't do the whole Santa Claus thing. But the year before (when ds was only 2) we were at my parents' in Dublin and my Mum was horrified when I said we weren't going to do a stocking, so she got all the bits for it. We're in Dublin again this year so I suppose I should assemble at least a few bits to go into the stocking.

The gemstones suggestion has given me an idea for part of DS's proper present, I might buy him some fossils as he is quite fascinated by that sort of thing.

[expatinscotland]

hey, anorak's back

how about essential oils?

i'm putting some pretty bits of sea glass or pottery in ours this year.

[wonderstuff]

Does everyone else get an apple, satsuma and 20p??

[cheesesarnie]

yes satsuma is a must!

i love this thread!

[bran]

Cutesy stationery is always good too, pencils with feathery tops or googly eyes, erasers that smell and textured/patterned notebooks. Even boys like them, at least my DS does.

[TheProvincialLady]

A gigantic bar of chocolate covered marzipan - and if the child didn't like marzipan that would only be a bonus!

[Mercy]

Mine get a magazine or comic. Not cheap but it does keep them quiet!

[ChippyMinton]

head torches were a hit last year, for reading in bed.

love the cereal variety pack idea

[hana]

we do mini cereals here too
toothbrush/toothpaste
novelty plasters
container of sprinkles from the cake aisle

love the gems idea, my 7 year old would love that!

[twoboots]

i was doing a school project on germany in 1989, i got a piece of the berlin wall. Mum told me recently it was fake!

[FabioAsGoodAsItGets]

a kitten

[roquefortlover]

small pack of novelty tissues always v popular here!

also tacky Christmas socks

small joke book/notebook

I also second the gemstones and fancy stationery.

[UnfortunatelyMe]

these dont need batterys and are really nice quality

Pig torch!

[Buckets]

Ooh yes Hana, posh chocolate flakes to have in bread and butter sandwiches, Holland-style. Wow little childhood comfort food memoriy coming back now...

[girlandboy]

I did the gemstone last Christmas - one of those that looks like a slice of pretty coloured stone. Ds collects them.

I like the head torch idea, though dh has one for work!

[Yurtgirl]

at a kitten Fabio!

I love the gemstones idea

[morningpaper]

a new toothbrush!

[Marina]

Glowsticks were the biggest hit last year - and also Burts Bees lipsalve, pair of nutters