RAOK: (Winner: stephpinktree!) I need super-cheap Christmas ideas for kids! (stocking stuffers, small gifts, etc)

[XUfan]

I did this last year, and got some great ideas!! So, let's put on our thinking caps and come up with some more for this year!

In my family, we only buy for the kids. So, I don't have a huge list of people to buy for...but I like to get them lots of things to open. So, if I can find super bargains...they get even more!!

Here's who I have to buy for:

Stepdaughter
15 year old girl (she'll actually be 16 a week before Christmas).

Grandkids
11 year old boy (he'll be 12 in January)

8 year old girl

2 month old girl (well...she's due this week, so you do the math!)

Really, those are the only people we buy for! Although, I'd like to send a little something to my daughter, who just got married last month, and moved to Texas. But...that's only if I have any money left!!

I'm looking for general ideas as well as specific things (like if you know of a store that has a certain item on clearance, or a website that has cheapo stuff!). I'm open to any ideas!!

I'll leave this open for a week. On Monday, Oct 10th, I'll have my husband pick a random post number. So...you don't have to have the "best" idea! You can enter as many times as you like. So, if you think of something today...post it!! Then, if you think of something else tomorrow, post that too! I need ideas!!! And I bet other people do too!

The winning post number will receive a big, fat potluck envie!! I'll try to make sure some things from your WL are in it, if you have one!

OK...put your bargain-hunting-thinking-caps on!!

[lazy1608]

How about a whisk and some type of cooking apron or cake mixes. then attach a tag to the whisk and have it say "I whisk you a Merry Christmas!" :)

[thickbluebug]

I

Is she into nail art?
My 12 yr old niece is into it.
There are lots of people on you tube showing how to do nail art.
We researched lots of designs this summer.

Maybe you can find a pattern she likes and buy the starter stuff for it. Ie,,,polish, nail design polish, stones and make the how to card - really cheap.

I bought the (special brush) nail polish at dg for $1 a bottle.
Also used a $5/25 too. So to me it's free if I bought milk bread and some cheap after q stuff - the $5 was what I bought her nail art polish with. At least that's how it was in my mind.

Finished up her kit with the free revlon polishes at wags.

I plan on printing the original nail designs she liked and making a how to card.
Putting everything in a caddy or small plastic box.
I am putting clear shelf paper over the design cards. Cheap-o laminating.

There were tiger prints, lips, sunglasses, flipflops, leopard print, stripes and flowers all really easy too. The rhinestones are cheap and can found at dollar tree.
Want to make her some more cards for xmas, st pattys day, valentines day art too,,,,.


Know you only buy for the kids - but here's some to think about:

II
I bought restaurant dot com certificates for $2 one year - it was a big hit with the in laws. There was a $1 sale 9/30 that I missed.
Something $25 for $1 or $2.
Plan on doing that again this year.

III
Also you can make hair wraps to dry long hair out of microfiber towels from the dollar stores. Bought a multi pack for $5 and it had 5 dish towels in it.
All the nieces went crazy over those this summer.
If you stock pile hba could make a hair kit. Buy a big tooth comb from the Dollar stores with hair products.
My sister buys those garnier kits they put out for Xmas and uses those for dirty santa. Peeps fight over them.
I don't get it,,,,,,,,, give me something I can't get for free.

IV
My fav thing I just saw was black picture frames with letters to spell family.
Hung by black lace ribbon from a metal rod.
Finding the letters would be my concern.
Looked very nice.
I am doing one of those for a dirty santa gift.

Pink Ink Doodle: {VINYL FUN} Family Sign

[rheavon]

Well, let's start with the youngest and work our way up:
-2 mo: As they might not quite remember what happened on their very first Christmas, it could be a safe bet to find something warm for her that she can use even a few months down the road. A blanket, an outfit.. Maybe some of those plastic car keys or something small that is mouth-proof.

-8 y/o girl: A diary/journal book. If you're crafty at all, you could get a plain composition book and then decorate the cover with stuff that you know she likes. Add a crazy pen or two to the mix.

-11 y/o boy: Battleship or some other kind of board game that involves strategy and is easy to figure out.

-Turning 16 girl: A new wallet or handbag. I'm not sure if she's driving yet, but having something like that as an official place to keep your permit/license along with emergency contacts and all that is pretty good to have. Cute bags and wallets are everywhere, but if you're looking beyond Walmart- Kohl's, Ross, & TJ Maxx have good selections.

[Lori63]

I am hoping to get gift cards from my rewards programs. I also love the dollar store for little ones

[stephpinktree]

I found some cheap little cute toys in the dollar section at ToysRus. My dog loves popping bubbles so I have to buy the bubbles from that section.

[ilove2$hop]

I can't believe Christmas is right around the corner....here are some ideas ;)

15 year old girl- I don't know if she likes to take pictures but if she does, then I would get a photo frame where it has like 10 slots so she can put her friends and fun stuff to hang on her wall and a e-gift to shutterfly or something...
11 year old boy- mcdonalds gift certificate
8 year old girl- cute fancy purse with play makeup
2 month old girl- cute outfit that says "grandma's angel" ;)

[sunshiney]

For all the kids... a 2 dollar bill. Never underestimate the fun of a unique item! :)

15 year old girl (she'll actually be 16 a week before Christmas) - if you can get a great deal on a digital camera, i'd get her one of those... but for cheaper items, i have to go with ilove2shop and go with something with pictures. make a collage, get her an album to use for her personal pics, or make a family album focusing on her growing up. or if all else fails... a gift card for i-tunes (assuming she has an i-pod).

11 year old boy (he'll be 12 in January) - a video game, depending on which system he has (walmart has some cheap ones).

otherwise, transformer's are popular right now and there's a great deal going on. Also, if the kids like games (non-video), get the card game versions like Scrabble Slam - so much fun!!
Deal Idea: Target has a mobile $5 q and there's a mfr $5 q so you can get a couple of those cheap. also, there's a 20/20 deal... buy $20 of dark of the moon toys and get $20 value package rebate package
Deal Idea: Hasbro card games. Scrabble Slam, Sorry Revenge, and Monopoly Card game and use the $4 Hasbro q's to get each for I think less than $2.

8 year old girl - see above about transformer toy if she's into it too. also, see above about card game... get 2 different ones, one for the boy and the other for the girl depending on which one likes what.

If neither of those work, then a giant assortment of make-up. Not the expensive kind, the kid versions that have like 5 lipglosses, nail polish, and eyeshadow. I've found that the more glittery, the better, but that will depend on her personality. (assuming mom allows her to wear make-up)

2 month old girl - I would go with a baby's first christmas ornament - make sure it's dated. you can make it or buy one. I tend to like the ones that you can place their baby picture in it.

something to my daughter, who just got married last month - if you have time, make her a wedding collage. it's fairly simple, elegant and can be done cheaply

gather up momento items from the wedding such as the wedding ceremony pamplet (no clue what it's actually called), an invitation, maybe a petal of the type of flower in her boquet, a picture of the 2 of them, maybe one of the family ones, any simple wedding type images such as 2 joined rings. use whatever objects would be special to her. i've actually used the large frames from the dollar store to do this type of collage, so if you're lucky to have the large ones at yours it should be cheap (the frame is the most expensive part). just remember to keep it simple and that helps keep it elegant.

if you don't have time... keep your eye out for photo books. there's been some great deals lately, and they look nice.

Hope this might help!

[sunshiney]

lol... after i posted i saw that ilove2$hop put make-up as an idea too! sorry, didn't intend to copy you, but great ideas :)

[Ashley1102]

2 month old- get one of those pet/blankets they call snuggles? Carter's has a really cute christmas one. My daugther have loved hers ever since we got her one. She HAS to sleep with one now so I have 2

8 year old- you could make her a pictue holder. The ones where they have the big square covered in fabric and then ribbon is put on it in a cross hatch way so it holds pictures or actually anything her wants.

11 year old boy- try to find a good deal on video game supplies

16 year old girl- I second the makeup/nail stuff/ hairdryer or straightener. There are deals all over the place for all of the above