Sock Doll

Sock Doll

Best Stocking Stuffers - 5 Ideas for Filling Those Holiday Socks

Before I met my husband and we created our own distinctive mishmash of holiday traditions, my idea of stuffed stockings was a pair of Spanx filled with Stove Top.

Now that we have children, stockings are like the marshmallows floating in our hot cocoas – the perfect garnish on a day spent giving, unwrapping, eating, and photographing a fleeting parade of joyful moments. I even have my own stocking, a fancy embroidered number bearing my likeness. It's the best first stocking a Jewish adult could ever hope for.

Whether they're embroidered or store-bought, fuzzy cashmere or wooly felt, practically ancient or brand new, stockings are a great place to stash the little surprises that make a Christmas morning one-of-a-kind. As you look for ideas on how to stuff those famous holiday socks with a few unique stocking stuffers, start with these five favorites:

1. If a cozy fire is part of your family's celebration, make a few fire-safe satchels filled with naturally fragrant combinations, such as orange peels and cloves, for some memorable holiday aromatherapy.

2. Roll up a few removable frames decals, diploma-style, to go with new disposable cameras your kids can use to capture Christmas from their own angles.

3. Dress a personalized paper doll in a construction paper version of the new dress or leather jacket you very recently hid in a certain someone's side of the bedroom closet.

4. Enclose a set of directions for a holiday scavenger hunt. Santa's leftover milk and cookies could be number one on the list, while numbers two through five could take care of a few presents that don't fit under the tree or are difficult to wrap.

5. Start a new Christmas morning tradition by wrapping together a blank postcard-sized canvas, two paintbrushes, and a selection of small paint samples. Once the recipient has created his or her impromptu holiday masterpiece, punch a neat hole at the top, string with fluffy red ribbon, and add some annual art to the tree.

The best stocking stuffers create memories, no matter what the holidays mean to you and your family. If you're the official stocking filler, give gifts that create a pinch of activity to counteract all that hot cocoa and help your loved ones work up an appetite while they're knee-deep in their special versions of the holiday spirit.

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About the Author

Allison Krongard is the founder and president of WallCandy Arts; a U.S.A. manufacturer and distributor of modern and unique, high quality removable, re-positionable, vinyl wall decals for baby nurseries, kid's rooms, dorm room decor, play rooms, classrooms and rooms for teens and adults.

Ideas for easy to make doll/stuffed animal clothes?

My 5 year old is having a Bday based on the book -The Best Loved Doll. We are doing it old school at home to save $$ ..pin the tail ..musical chairs..you knw. Anyway I want an activity where the kids can make something for their dolls. My best idea is a tutu that you make by tying strips of tulle around an elastic. However their will be about 10 kids..not sure how smooth tying abilities go. Could be a project.And tank tops from socks..I have cool pattern ones from target already ..we were on a sock creature kick for a while.. Other wise I can glue gun easy patterns in felt..no glue seems to hold anything so the kids will have to arrange decor on pattern and again I'll have to glue gun it on. Anything cool looking a 5 year old can do that doesn't cost $$$? Thanks

Fingers cut off gloves = socks
Toes cut off socks = hats (just fold over the edge like you would a stocking cap)
Tops of socks with holes cut on either side = tunics and dresses
Felt:
vests, circle skirts (they can draw around a cardboard pattern and cut them out--you might have to cut out the arm holes on the vest, but they can cut the hole inside the circle if the felt is folded first) ponchos (pretty much the same as the circle skirt) Decorate the felt with glitter glue, felt shapes, fabric paints, glued on beads and sequins, etc. Cut fringe at the bottom of the poncho, vest or skirt. Make felt bracelets and headbands. Glue felt shapes to bobby pins and barrettes. If you have a friend or sunday school with a good die cutter, you can cut the thinner felt with it. I used to work in a school that had a die cutter for bulletin boards, etc. and I frequently used it to cut felt shapes for sewing projects.
If you want to get more involved, there are some wrap pants that people wear. Go online and you will see the shape. You will have to make a pattern they can draw around. Cut out the shape, wrap it around the doll and fasten with a string tied around the waist or a ponytail elastic band. Might be a better project for just your family.
Sounds like it will be a fun party!!!

how to make a sock doll part 2