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?

Packets of seeds is a lovely idea. DD is only two so I'm a novice. Last year she got a selection of plastic animals, bubble bath, crayons and some little books. She didn't really get the whole idea very well but I'm really looking forward to this year. Stockings were always so much more fun than any other bit of Christmas when I was little.

wooden spinning top my kids love still play with it now 3 years on!!

I always get these for people www.firebox.com/product/1984/Wild-Hibiscus-Flowers they are great

Lst year I put mini Lindt reindeers in for the boys. Sadly one found it's way under my bottom (in bed while we were opening) and became a flat reindeer
Love this thread. Flashing toothbrushes are good. Have started collecting stationary and stuff...

MorrisZapp - my mum started complaining once my sis and I got to pub going age. The 1 st year she got fed up of waiting up, she left them in our rooms before we got in. Remember my sis (having had a few) stomping into parents room at 2am and saying "father Christmas doesn't come till we're in bed asleep". My Dad responded, very grumpily and sleepily, "He also doesn't come to naughty children" My sis soon accewpted her stocking would be there when she returned from the pub

My Stocking essentials are a scratch lottery card, as someone else has said, and a handful of bright shiny new coppers (coins not the police). If I can't find new ones then leave the old ones in spot of vinegar for a while and soon have shiny coins.

Oh, and some sort of kitchen utensil eg funky handled wooden spoon or peeler

Message withdrawn

Alastair Darling's eyebrows.

Pants, always save the pant buying for christmas and put new pants in the stockings - that way they get more to open as I wrap all the pants up seperatly

As well as the toys my sister puts in a couple of sticks (in the old days Saint Nicolas carried a bunch of sticks for thrashing the naughty children as well as a sack of toys)- so her DS knows he hasn't been perfect all year and can strive to do better!
In Spain, where I live, the naughty children get a lump of charcol from the wise men on 6th January as a reminder to be good.

biscuitsmustbe - coca cola brings up the coppers a treat, in fact my mum only uses it to clean brass. Maybe that's why I never drink the stuff

Loads of great ideas here.

This year will also be adding in those things that go in Crocs - someone put me out of my misery and tell me what they're called .

feet?

LOL Shitemum, yeah that's the things!

Jibbitz! What a fab idea! My DD loves them!

Jibbitz - of course!

I'm going to get DS a couple of Ocado vans this year I think. They're so cute.

Bran - are you going for veg or will he only want fruit?

last year DS had one of those spew balls from hawkins - is a ball looks like troll face, and as you squeeze it inner casing pops out of mouth and you get glimpses of spiders/flies/gruesome stuff inside it.

Major hit!

Mistlethrush - it'll probably be my only chance ever to get him in contact with courgette and cabbage.

Slightly thick admission here - I hadn't connected the names of the vans to the colours until I saw the names of the models. You know how you get a text saying "your order will be delivered by Sven in Cabbage van", I just thought they were random poncy names and the van colours were also random.

Those Russian dolls that fit inside are good. Also (rather American but cute) candy canes to poke out of the top.

last year mine had mini maglight torch, mini sparklers, create your own snow, a book, magic tricks, lindt reindeer, pens and paper a christmas cracker, bubble bath, socks and pants, a bottle of fentimans(sp) fizzy pop, DD had bobbles and DS had a comb, one of the tesco chilly friends and a tree decoration the last two they have every year.
I also hang a new pair of jamas on number 24 of the advent calender evry year too.

Some great ideas on here. LOVE these threads!

a friend said today they saw mini electric toothbrushes for kids, tesco or boots can't remember.
could be worth a look...

Conversation cards - great to use on Xmas day with long lost rellies but also good to get kids to chat at the dinner table.

www.gifts-2-go.co.uk/productdisplay1.asp?prodId=794

this should be chocolate letters...........