Temporarily Closed

Santa's Stocking Stuffer Helper is taking a break, but will be back for next season! In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful, happy, healthy New Year!

Silver Plate Plant Markers -- with 20% off coupon code!

It's been far too long since I posted about any of the lovely handmade items available on Etsy, but now I can remedy that situation. Heidi of the CambriRae etsy shop has generally offered my blog readers a 20% off coupon (code "20off") which can be used on her lovely silver plate plant markers, Christmas ornaments, and page clips.

Although you should look through all of her beautiful offerings, I personally love the plant markers the best; each is made from vintage silver-plate forks and spoons with letters permanently engraved into the metal. Each marker is $5.00, or only $4.00 with the coupon code. They're perfect for outdoor or windowsill gardens, and as the product description states, they "make a wonderful gift for anyone who loves gardening, is an antique fanatic, enjoys a shabby chic décor, or simply likes to receive unique gifts."

And there's still time to get these for Christmas, at least within the United States. As long as you choose priority mail shipping and order by Sunday night (Dec. 19), you should have these by Thursday (Dec. 23).

And if you've already done your Christmas shopping, keep these in mind for Springtime birthdays and especially Mother's Day!

What: Silver Plate Plant Markers -- with 20% off coupon code!
Where: CambriRae (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $5.00 apiece -- $4.00 with coupon code!

Fortune Gumballs

Anyone on your stocking-to-be-stuffed list like fortunes and fortune cookies? If so, they might get a kick out of these Fortune Gumballs. The "set" comes with seven boxes labeled Love, Finances, Career, Future, Health, Travel, and Mystery, and each box contains two gumballs and a fortune. The overall package is 4 1/2 inches long by 2 inches tall -- perfect for stocking stuffers!

What: Fortune Gumballs
Where: Perpetual Kid
How much (as of today's post): $2.99 (plus shipping)

Moose in the House game

I found this game at Barnes & Noble, and the only reason I didn't buy it for some nieces and nephews this year is because I'd already done their shopping. But next year I'm giving this to at least one set of relatives with kids -- especially because they're Canadian and I think they'll find it pretty darn funny, not to mention fun! The object of the game is to keep the moose out of your house and get it into your opponents' houses; cards have pictures of rooms, some of which have been invaded by the monster moose from the north! (If you have no idea how big a moose really gets, go to YouTube and search on "baby moose sprinkler", where you'll find an adorable video of twin baby moose playing in a yard sprinkler, with mama looking on.)

Back to the game, the box it comes in is pretty small as far as games go. According to Amazon, it measures 1.6 by 4.7 by 5.8 inches. So whether or not it fits in a stocking depends on how big that stocking is, of course! But it does make a lovely small gift in any case. Recommended age range is 8-12 years old, but I think it's the kind of thing parents can play with kids and still have fun, like Waterworks or Mille Bornes, two of my childhood favorites.

What: Moose in the House game
Where: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $9.99

Cocoa Puffs Lip Balm

I admit that this stocking stuffer idea is inspired more by nostalgia than anything else. I used to love Cocoa Puffs when I was a kid (and Cocoa Pebbles perhaps even more). I used to eat bowl after bowl of these cereals along with a glass of Welch's grape juice. It's a miracle I didn't go into sugar shock!

In any case, though, here's a way to enjoy the memory without the sugar -- Cocoa Puffs lip balm! I would think kids up to 8 or 9 years old might really like this -- any older and they might be too "sophisticated" for it! I found this on the Perpetual Kid website, and they also have Lucky Charms and Boo Berry cereal flavors, and Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll flavor, in case Cocoa Puffs aren't the thing.

What: Cocoa Puffs Lip Balm
Where: Perpetual Kid website
How much (as of today's post): $2.99 (plus shipping)

Craisins

Looking for a sweet treat other than candy for stockings? Craisins are still "new" enough to be a little bit of a novelty, but common enough that you can find them in any grocery store at a reasonable price. They do have sugar added to them, so this won't work for everyone -- and be sure to read the ingredients if you want to make sure it's cane sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup. But even if they're sweetened -- and after all, they are cranberries, so you can see why they would be sweetened -- they have all sorts of nutritional benefits that candy is entirely without.

I believe "Craisins" is the Ocean Spray brand name, but I imagine there are other brands of dried cranberries out there too. For Craisins themselves, Ocean Spray also puts out 100 calorie packs (perfect for stocking stuffers), and in more exotic "blends" such as blueberry, cherry, and pomegranate-juice "infused".

What: Craisins
Where: any grocery store
How much (as of today's post): varies

Yumbot Cupcake Molds

Not long ago, I posted about a cupcake pop mold as a possible stocking stuffer; today I have Yumbot Cupcake Molds from (who else?) ThinkGeek! For $17.99 you get a set of four robot-shaped silicon cupcake molds into which you pour the batter directly for baking and then decorating. I think they're adorable, and if you split them up among recipients they're not too expensive.

Of course, it's unlikely anyone would ever want to make only four cupcakes at a time, but the robots would make a cute centerpiece for a display that is rounded out by more traditional cupcakes. The set has one each of red, yellow, blue, and green. They're oven-safe to 450 degrees, and of course they're dishwasher safe as well.

What: Yumbot Cupcake Molds
Where: ThinkGeek
How much (as of today's post): $17.99 for set of four (plus shipping)

D20 Magic 8 Ball

I'm old enough to remember Magic 8 Balls when they were new. Here's an updated version in the form of a 20-sided gaming dice (well, technically it's a "die"). If ThinkGeek's product information is to believe -- and you never can tell with them, because they tend to be a bit tongue-in-cheek -- possible answers to your gaming questions include "+5 CHA, you handsome devil!", "Yes (if 3rd Edition)", and "It’s a trap!" If you have any teens who are into gaming, this is for them!

What: D20 Magic 8 Ball
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping)

Draw Your Own Design Watch

As a teenager, I loved bright and colorful Swatch watches, but I think I would have really loved this -- a "draw your own design" watch! The plain white watch can be drawn on with pens or markers, to make any design that suits the wearer. Unfortunately the description doesn't give the measurements of the watch face or the length of the band, which to me is important because I have tiny wrists and even ladies' watches tend to be too big, but that aside, I love the idea of this as a super fun stocking stuffer for teens, especially artistic ones.

(Don't forget, ThinkGeek participates in Mr. Rebates.

What: Draw Your Own Design Watch
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $11.99

Set of Like/Dislike Stamps

OK, this is temporarily out of stock at ThinkGeek BUT it's due back in stock by December 13, and it's too cute not to post about!

So.... Got Facebook? Or, more importantly, got a teen or college student who's on Facebook? He/she might love this set of like/dislike stamps! The set includes both stamps, which each measure 3 by 1.25 by 2.5 inches. And they're self-inking, always a plus.

And hey, why does Facebook still not have a dislike button?!

What: Set of Like/Dislike Stamps
Where: ThinkGeek
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 for set (plus shipping)

Spot It

This "Spot It" game is the perfect size for a stocking stuffer! It comes in a 3.5 inch diameter, 1 inch high circular tin, and contains 55 cards with 8 symbols each. There are 4 different versions of the game, all of which incorporate matching symbols the most quickly. The product description says it's for 2 to 8 players, ages 7 and up. The compact size means it would make a good take-along game, as well. Looks like fun, don't you think?

What: Spot It
Where: Solutions
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 (plus shipping)

Penguin Rubber Duckies

Oriental Trading Company sure gets creative with its rubber duckies! They have tons of holiday-themed ones, including a nativity set, a traditional Christmas toy set, a Nutcracker set.... But the ones that caught my attention were these adorable penguin rubber ducks!

At $5.99 per dozen, they're certainly affordable, as long as you have several recipients. Actually, since you almost always have to buy by the dozen from this company, I advise going in with a friend or family member so you can order a few things, save on shipping, and split up the spoils -- it becomes fairly economical that way.

What: Penguin Rubber Duckies
Where: Oriental Trading Company
How much (as of today's post): $5.99 per dozen (plus shipping)

Star Trek Outlet and Light Switch Plate Covers

This arrived last week from ThinkGeek.com, and I think it's my favorite thing that I'll be putting in my husband's stocking this year. For the uber-Trek-geek in your life: Star Trek outlet and light switch plate covers! I got my husband the outlet plate, which I see is now temporarily out of stock, but they also have light switch and slider light switch covers. The outlet cover was $12.99, and the light switch plates are $17.99 apiece. My husband and I each have our own "room" -- mine is an office and his is his game room -- and this will be Just Perfect for his game room. I can't wait until he opens it!

What: Star Trek Outlet and Light Switchplate Covers
Where: ThinkGeek.com
How much (as of today's post): $12.99-$17.99 (plus shipping)

Ninja Salt & Pepper Shakers

What's with all the ninja stuff out there these days?! In the past I've listed ninja star coat hooks, ninja star push pins, a ninja toothbrush sanitizer, and ninja-bread men cookie cutters. They're almost as ubiquitous as zombies and vampires! For today, I found these adorable ninja salt and pepper shakers online at The Afternoon. I normally don't "do" cutesy salt and pepper shakers, but I do find these appealing. They strike (no pun intended) just the right tone for a college student or young adult in his or her first apartment, especially if they're into anime or manga or martial arts films.

The shakers are approximately 3 inches tall and made of ceramic.

What: Ninja Salt & Pepper Shakers
Where: The Afternoon
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Microplane Herb Mill

Although I don't bake -- trust me, I'm really bad at it! -- I do like cooking, and I've been gradually trying to make more and more things from scratch. I love the idea of using fresh herbs to enhance flavor, but I admit it does take time and it's a mess to chop up a lot of parsley into itsy-bitsy pieces. So when I saw this herb mill at a Williams Sonoma store I instantly coveted it. The first thing I checked, of course, is that it's dishwasher safe!

Once that was out of the way, I looked more closely, and found that it uses a wrist-twisting motion to chop herbs finely, without (according to the online product description) "tearing, bruising or blemishing herbs’ delicate leaves." It measures 3 x 2.5 x 3.75 inches. In the photo it looks a bit larger than that, but the top closes to make it a bit shorter when not in use. Judging from the one I saw in the store, it should fit in a reasonable-sized stocking easily.

What: Microplane Herb Mill
Where: Williams Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $19.95 (plus shipping)

Cupcake Pop Mold

One of the many blogs I follow is Bakerella, whose creativity and talent amazes me. If you're one of the few people out there who don't know who she is, she's the one who makes all those amazing cake pops, or little decorative (and edible) cakes on a stick. She has her first book out, Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats, and she's been on a whirlwind publicity and signing schedule lately. I have her book on my wishlist, even though I know I'm not likely to attempt her creations since I'm not even good at making cookies from already-prepared dough!


So where am I going with this? I was looking at the Cake Pops book on Amazon, and Amazon helpfully suggested to me I might also like this cunning little cupcake pop mold for $5.95. It certainly is cute! (It does occur to me that one mold might not be very helpful, if you have to make these one at a time, but on the other hand, I imagine every type of cake pop is kind of labor intensive to make!)

Anyway, if you are stuffing the stocking of someone who loves to bake creatively, the cupcake pop mold would be a great stocking stuffer, perhaps paired with the Cake Pops book under the tree. And this book has started quite a trend, because there's another beautiful book, Pop Bakery: 25 Cakes on Sticks and Other Tempting Delights by Clare O'Connell, coming out in March 2011.

What: Cupcake Pop Mold
Where: Amazon or a baking supply store
How much (as of today's post): $5.95 (plus shipping)

Clip-on Animal Flashlights

Check out these cute clip-on animal flashlights! They can be attached to keys, purses, backpacks and more, and contain a bright LED flashlight inside the animal's mouth. The choices include a T-rex, a green lizard, a blue lizard, a panda, a red frog, and a toucan. Personally I like the T-rex, with his oversize head and his stubby little legs. The flashlights measure about 3.5 inches at their longest dimension.

What: Clip-on Animal Flashlights
Where: Solutions
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (or 3 for $8.95 each) (plus shipping)

Pewter Wall Pegs

I've had these pewter wall pegs bookmarked forever, so when I went back to the link I was happy to see they're on sale for $14.99, down from the original $22.00! (I also note, though, that they've been discontinued -- so once they're gone they're gone.) Uncommon Goods often has stuff priced a little higher than I would like, but at the same time their merchandise always looks to be of very high quality. In any case, I think these pewter wall pegs would make great stocking stuffers, especially for cat or dog lovers. They're perfect for holding a key ring or two, or a dog leash. They're approximately 3 inches long by 1 inch wide.

What: Pewter Wall Pegs
Where: Uncommon Goods
How much (as of today's post): $14.99 (on sale from $22.00) (plus shipping)

Retro Ice Bags

I take some very expensive prescription migraine medicine (I'm blessed to have good prescription benefits through my employer), but I have to admit, sometimes the least fancy remedies work wonders, such as a good old ice bag on the back of the neck. My ice bag is a pretty boring affair, but the Container Store has these designer "retro" ice bags which might make a cute and useful stocking stuffer for someone in need.

The ice bags are made from "rubberized cotton cloth" (I'm not entirely sure what that means) and are leak proof. The four designs are Black Dots, Green Boxes, Pink Hibiscus, and Yellow Ducks. Personally, I like the duckies the best!

What: Retro Ice Bags
Where: Container Store website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $12.99 (plus shipping)

Darth Vader Flexible Spatula

Williams Sonoma has been rockin' the Star Wars stuff lately! Sandwich molds, cookie cutters, pancake molds, and now this awesome Darth Vader spatula. It seems a strange combination of interests, but one of my best friends is totally into Star Wars/sci-fi and she loves to bake!

Details: flexible nylon-silicone head that won't scratch nonstick pans; stainless steel handle; and (most importantly!) dishwasher safe. It's 10 1/2 inches long. Which makes it perfect for sticking out the top of a stocking!

What: Darth Vader Flexible Spatula
Where: Williams Sonoma website or stores
How much (as of today's post): $12.00