When I was a child, the first thing we would "open" Christmas morning was our stocking. The stockings would be jam packed with small gifts, candy, movies, etc. and we couldn't wait to see what Santa left in ours. Today, I am practicing the tradition with my own family and every year I look forward to seeing their surprised faces. Now that I am the one jamming all the goodies into the stockings, I try to switch it up with gifts that are different, creative and sometimes goofy.

I made up a list for anyone who is stumped on what to stuff into their loved one's stockings this year.

CHILDREN

Gel pens, scented markers or Crayons
(My son loves the Crayola Twistables)

Coloring books, Crossword puzzles, Sudoku books

Stickers

(Scratch and sniff are super fun!)

Enormous bouncy balls

(Kids love them!)

Fizzy bath tints

Mini Lego packs

Funny eye glasses and/or stick-on mustaches

Potato shooter or marshmallow gun

Character bandaids

Mittens, earmuffs, scarves and/or winter hats

Bath Markers

Matchbox cars

Lip Smackers flavored chapstick or lipgloss

Hair clips, bows, hair tie ball and/or headbands

Wallet and/or coin purse

Funky socks

Travel games

Silly Putty

Faux makeup

Fun shaped erasers

20 Questions handheld game

Crazy drinking straws

mp3 Player

BeanBoozled Jelly Beans

Fingerpaints

PEZ

Mini Flashlights

Stamp set

Card games/Flash cards

Barbie clothes

Chocolate golden coins

Mini action figues

Solid perfume

Pretend shaving kit

Bubbles

Character shampoo or soap

Playdoh

Doll accessories

(Diapers, clothes, bottles, etc.)

Video games

Diary/Notebooks

Sea Monkeys

Money

Slipper Socks

Shrinky Dinks

Flying monkeys

Sidewalk chalk

A bell from Santa's sleigh

(For the children who love The Polar Express!)

EVERYONE

Underwear and/or socks

(This is an every year occurance/must have)

Chewing Gum

(large packs are available at Dollar Tree)

Fun Printed Kleenex packs

Gloves, winter hats, ear warmers

Bookmarks

A toothbrush

Hand sanitizer

Blurays or DVDs

Gift cards

(Starbucks, movie theatre, iTunes, etc.)

CDs

Jewelry

Phone Cover

Candy/Chocolate

A piece of Fruit

Wrist watch

Hair gel/mousse

Money clip

Earbuds

Hot cocoa kit

Bubble bath

Kindle Fire

Tablet protector

Flavored dental floss

Nail and/or grooming kit

Magazines

Body wash

Back Scratcher

Disposable hand warmers 

Golf balls

Month membership to Netflix

Handheld mirror

BATTERIES!!!

(Go crazy...I promise you will eventually use them all!)

ADULTS

Ice scraper

Mini bottles of liquor

Hot Sauce

Koozie

Spiced nuts

Nail Polish

Cologne/perfume

Engraved Flask

Makeup

Gift cards

(Spa treatments, GNC, golf, etc.)

Cigars

Bath oils, salts and scrubs

Gourmet chocolates
(Glacier Confection of Tulsa!)

Car air freshener

(They even have bacon scented fresheners on Amazon!)

Personalized coffee cup or travel mug

Address/date book

Razors and refills

Lint brush with refill

Bottle opener

Beef Jerky/Slim Jims

Fishing lures, line and hooks

Pocket knife

Essential oils for warmer

Bottle of seasoning

Wallets

Travel size hand lotion

Neck tie

Lottery tickets

A big o' lump of coal



Christmas Tree Skirt

I have had the same tired tree skirt since 2005...not to mention, the poor thing isn't the prettiest. It's a fluffy white, glittery piece of fabric that is supposed to look like snow.

This year will be the first Christmas we spend in our new home and I would like to make my own NEW Christmas Tree skirt this year :)

Here are some simple DIYs that I found! 

Red and White Fleece Tree Skirt - This cute tree skirt is made with red and white fleece. The skirt is red while it is embellished with snowflakes and snowmen! So many details make this a beautiful tree skirt to add to your decor. Give your gifts a cozy place to rest until Christmas.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Fuzzy Fleece Tree Skirt

You'll Need:

• 2 yards red fleece
• 2 yards white fleece
• String
• Tape measure
• Chalk
• Fabric scissors
• Straight pins
• Pinking shears
• Sewing machine
• Thread: red, white
• 2 squares red craft felt
• 3 squares green craft felt
• 4 squares white craft felt (if desired, buy extra squares for snowflakes)
• Craft glue
• 12 black buttons, 1/2 inch each
• Black fabric marker
• Hot glue gun, glue sticks!!

To Make Fuzzy Fleece Tree Skirt:

1. With fleece folded in half as it came off the bolt, fold it in half again, matching cut ends. Take bottom corner at fold of short edge, and bring it to long edge of fold.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Fold bottom corner to long edge.
2. Tie 50-inch length of string to piece of chalk, hold down string at point of fleece, and pull taut. Swing chalk in arc around bottom edge to mark off curve. Cut on curve to create circular skirt.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use chalk to mark off curve.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with white fleece. Pin red and white circles together.
   
   
4. Cut 1-inch-wide strips 5 inches long through both layers of fleece. Knot matching red and white strips together.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Knot red and white strips together.

5. Use sewing machine to stitch 2 straight lines 1/2 inch apart from edge to center of skirt. (Use red thread in top of machine and white in bobbin.) Cut between stitched lines toward center to create skirt opening. Make 7-inch circle in middle of skirt with chalk. (You can use string as you did in step 2 to make a small circle.)
   
   
6. Sew around circle, and cut out inner circle with pinking shears.
   
   
7. Copy and cut out patterns. Download tree skirt patterns here. Cut out snowmen and holly designs from felt. Glue snowmen to red side of fleece and holly berries and leaves to white side of fleece with craft glue. Hot glue black buttons on snowmen. Use fabric marker to draw snowman eyes. (Note: Spot wash only with mild soap and water.)

Easy Tree Skirt Variation        

Materials
72" square of red felt
Chalk marking pencil
1 yd of string
Scissors
Pin
Tracing paper
1⁄4 yd of white felt
White yarn
Fabric glue
White pompoms in various sizes
Directions
1. Fold red felt in quarters. Tie string to pencil; pin other end of string to folded corner of felt. Keeping string taut, move pencil to mark quarter-circle along edge of felt.
2. Cut along marked line through all 4 layers.
3. At folded corner, cut out a 1"-deep quarter-circle (makes a 4" center opening). Open out felt. Cut from outer edge to inner circle to form tree skirt.
4. Glue white yarn in a vine design about 2" from the edge of the tree skirt.
5. Draw leaf shapes onto tracing paper; cut out. Cut about 16 white felt leaves. Glue onto skirt near yarn.
6. For berries, glue pompoms in various sizes in clusters around the skirt.


Read more: Christmas Crafts at WomansDay.com - Easy Christmas Tree Skirt Ideas - Woman's Day