Updated Sep. 2019. Originally published Nov. 16, 2012.

If you have other ideas, we’d love to hear them. In the meantime, here’s the list we brainstormed here at my house!

= This is an option you can make yourself (depending on your skills). In some cases, clicking on this will take you to a tutorial.
= This is frequently available at the dollar store (e.g. Dollar Tree).
= This is commonly available at OrientalTrading.com.

1. Cosmetics (Even samples can be great stuffers.) Or makeup brushes
2. Small flashlights
3. Adhesive bandages (Plain ones are fine, but there are lots of fun designs.)
4. Pens/pencils or pen refills/ink/nibs
5. Sticky notes
6. Film, if you have a loved one who still uses a film-based camera (Or extra memory cards for those who are fully digital.)
7. Flash/thumb drives (Again, there are plain ones, and there are fun designs, as well.)
8. Jewelry (Varying costs and styles, depending on the recipient: earrings, necklaces, Silly Bandz, tie tacks…)
9. Kitchen gadgets
10. Dice/cards/flashcards/other small games or game elements
11. Sand timers (Kids use these for brushing their teeth, for games, for racing each other, etc.)
12. Pocket calendar for the coming year
13. Puzzle books (crosswords, sudoku, etc.)
14. Music – CD’s, etc.
15. Accessories for mp3 players or other devices (fun earbuds, earbud wraps, cases, etc.)
16. Barrettes or other hairthings
17. Bibs (for a baby, obviously)
18. Crayons/colored pencils/other drawing or art supplies
19. Ornaments
20. Bath bombs, bath salts, etc.
21. Lotion
22. Toothbrushes
23. Travel-size toiletries (Again, samples work!)
24. Lip balm
25. Fun office supplies: paper clips, rubber bands, binder clips, etc. all come in interesting prints.
26. Small notebooks
27. Books
28. Rubber balls
29. Magazines
30. Matchbox-style cars
31. Bubbles (Even grownups sometimes like bubbles. If you have a lot of stockings to stuff, you could even get a box of those wedding bubbles.)
32. Small-denomination gift cards (Great use for Swagbucks and similar points!)
33. Cash (Probably not a great option for the grownups unless you just have a lot lying around. 😉 But young kids are often thrilled to have a crisp $1 bill that’s theirs! Fold it into fun origami figures to add a little pizzazz.)
34. Small craft supplies: hooks, needles, yarn, floss, thread, adhesives, beads, etc.
35. Stickers/Dover sticker books
36. Stamps and/or ink pads (Michael’s, Target, and the dollar store often have stamps, punches, and small ink pads for $1 each.)
37. Small items to add to a collection, like collectible stamps or coins
38. Teenymates, baseball cards, or other sport-type collectibles
39. Purse packs of tissues, or handkerchiefs
40. Keychains
41. Magnets
42. Playdough
43. Small reusable totes (The sort that rolls up into itself is a great size for this.)
44. Travel-size first aid kits
45. Bookmarks
46. Food – candy, fruit, power bars, small bags of granola, nuts, squeezy applesauce, etc.
47. Gum/mints
48. Socks or slippers
49. Gloves, hats, or scarves
50. Compasses
51. Night lights
52. Lighters or fire starters (Um…grownups only, obviously)
53. Purse/pocket-sized lint roller or packet of lint sheets
54. Love letter/note/encouragement card(s)
55. Coupons to be exchanged for “together” activities later (If you have a very quiet, to-himself sort of family member, a coupon for time alone might also be appreciated.)
56. Hot cocoa packets, tea packets, or water flavoring packets
57. Underwear (Probably best if this is only a spouse-to-spouse kind of option. Or maybe for the little kids.)
58. Nail clippers/files/etc.
59. Calculators (In my experience, the babies love these – they think they’re telephones. And the hubbies love these, because theirs are always being stolen by the babies. lol)
60. Straws (either disposable, or the permanent variety)
61. Travel-sized Norwex cloths (Buy the 4-pack and split them up. Believe it or not, even my kids love these. Or try the makeup removal cloths.)
62. Magnifying glasses
63. Blood type test cards (for the science-minded – older – kiddoes)
64. Crystal grow kits, etc. (The dollar store sometimes has small science-type kits.)
65. Decorative baking supplies: cookie cutters, food colors, sprinkles, decorative cupcake liners, etc.
66. Small Slinkies
67. Tops
68. Jacks, Pick-Up Sticks, other small classic toys
69. Nesting dolls
70. Sunglasses
71. Pacifiers
72. Pocketknives
73. Small kaleidoscopes or teleidoscopes
74. Mineral samples (in other words – rocks!)
75. Gyroscopes
76. Carabiners
77. Batteries
78. Pumice stones
79. Spa masks or headbands
80. Maps or pocket-style nature guides
81. Dollhouse dolls (or other small dolls), or miniatures
82. Wooden or paper decorative folding fans
83. Packets of tracts
84. Wallets, coin purses, business card cases, cosmetics bags
85. Costume accessories (Think animal tails, masks, silly glasses, sheriff badges, etc.)
86. Cards, stationery, and/or postage stamps
87. Music accessories (guitar picks/holders, replacement strings, tuners, reeds, etc.)
88. Candles
89. Shoe polish and/or shoelaces
90. Small jars, vases, or other containers
91. Small tools: mini screwdrivers, small wrenches, etc.
92. Mirrors
93. Adapters: for various cords, plugs, etc. (dual phone jacks, cassette adapters for hooking mp3 player to the car, chargers for the cell phone, etc.)
94. Small picture frames or brag books
95. Coasters, can cozies, drink charms
96. Seeds (for planting)
97. Recipe cards (blank or with recipes on them)
98. Hardware: either basics like nails, screws, outlet covers, etc. or “fun” hardware like decorative drawer pulls
99. Ammunition
100. Grow pellets or magic towels
101. Car care items, such as car wax, tire gauges, etc.
102. Legwarmers/baby leggings (Coupon code T2H-STOCK will give you $50 off 5 pairs at that link.)

Get a printable version of the list.

Thank you to my daughter, Ariel, for helping me brainstorm the last twenty or so items on the list.