Shinny Upatree is Santa’s oldest friend and in charge of the whole elf operation at the North Pole. While he’s very busy, especially with his Christmas punch list this time of year, he took a break to share the artful ideas behind successful stocking stuffing. 

“Stockings are like the icing on the cake or toppings on ice cream,” said Shinny. “They make everything about Christmas morning even better, and when someone makes the effort to put time and creativity into their stuffings, it’s the bestest!” 

Choosing the Stuffing 

“When I help Santa with his stockings, we bring in the information collected by Alabaster Snowball, who is in charge of the Naughty and Nice list, and Sugarplum Mary, who is Mrs. Claus’ assistant and the CSO or chief sweets officer. It is important to know something about the individual whose stocking you’re stuffing,” shared Shinny. 

Start with the basics – sweets and treats. Sugarplum scoured the Candy Barrel and shared her top suggestions with Shinny. He said that the Mast Store Cheerwine bar is a must have for any adult with a stocking on the mantel. It would be closely followed by the Over the Moon bar, and then any of the Goo Goo Clusters (mainly because she likes saying Goo Goo Cluster ). 

For kids, Shinny said that Sugarplum had spent ample time in the test kitchen to garner insights. She learned that they favor gummi candies and sour candies AND the weirder the better.  

“I also suggest putting in a few peppermints and an orange,” said Shinny. “That ties in perfectly with the traditions of an old Appalachian Mountain Christmas.” 

Personal touches – do you know their favorite color, what are their hobbies or interests? “If you think back over the last several weeks or to a recent conversation, what jumps out that would be recognized as special because you noticed,” continued Shinny. “For instance, if you know someone is gadget guru, you might look at the Dime Micro Tool. It has 10 tools in a mere 2.2-ounce package making it perfect for carrying every day to solve big and small issues.  

“Or if a mom shared her concern about one of her children getting ready to be a teenager, you could slip in some Dicey Advice, which may help allay her fears or at least give her a good chuckle.”   

Useful gifts – sometimes something that is practical will be the most appreciated gift. “Oftentimes, people have the idea that a gift has to be extravagant or a luxury. That’s not the case at all. Your recipient will appreciate something in their stocking that is thoughtful and that makes their life easier. At Christmas, think of things that could be used every day – like lip balms, Midnight Honey hand lotion from The Naked Bee, Bloody Knuckles Hand Repair from Duke Cannon, or even socks. Mast Store’s Christmas 2-Pack Socks may start a new Christmas morning tradition,” said Shinny.    

Fun surprises – almost everyone loves a surprise, especially if it is a gift! Big surprises often come in small packages – like gift cards. “As elves, we love stuffing thoughtfully curated stockings, but sometimes, even with information gathered by Alabaster when making his naughty and nice list, we don’t know everything,” said Shinny. “That’s when a gift card can help round out the collection. We love Mast Store gift cards because there are so many things they can be used for. We’ve even gifted one to Santa before – it's awfully hard to find just the right gift for a great gifter.” 

Shinny shared that there are “other gift cards” that make great additions to a stocking, too. For instance, you might make your own gift card for Help Cleaning Out the Garage or Hosting Next Year’s Christmas Gathering.   

Putting it All Together 

“While it helps to have a good sense of spatial relations, if you follow a few simple steps, your stuffed stockings will be works of art,” said Shinny. 

According to Shinny, these are the top ideas to keep in mind when preparing stockings to be placed on the mantel. 

Layering is important to add stability to your stocking. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom of the stocking; that will help the stocking maintain its shape and makes it fun to unpack. As you move up the stocking, the weight should get lighter and lighter on the way to the top. Be sure to save one “favorite” stuffer for the top – and don’t show all of it; you want to tantalize your recipient. 

Wrap for extra flair. You’ve spent a lot of time wrapping the gifts under the tree, but wrapping a least a few of the items in the stocking gives a little added artfulness and increases the fun and anticipation. 

Top it off with something special – it could be a stuffed animal, a Christmas ornament (what a great way to build a collection of ornaments for a child to be used when they have a home of their own), or maybe a pine or holly sprig.  

More Stocking Stuffer Suggestions 

For Kids of All Ages 
There are many out there who will remember hours spent with all these items.   

• Old Maid and/or Go Fish Cards (You can't go wrong with these classics!) 
• Wind-up Sock Monkey Toy (another classic!) 
• Magic 8 Ball (who doesn’t need help with decision making?) 
• Original Slinky (an all-time favorite) 

For Outsiders and Nature Lovers 
There are useful items that are just right for those who spend lots of time outdoors. 

• Fahlo Bracelets (these bracelets help support wildlife through official non-profit partnerships)  
• Rechargeable Handwarmers (two sizes, great for ballgames, hiking, or just staying warm)  
• Mr. Bird All Season Fruit & Nut Bell (A feast for our feathered friends)  
• Torchy Flashlight (rechargeable and just the right size to carry in the car, backpack, or purse)  

For the Entertainer 
Our homes are filled with visiting friends and family at the holidays, and this is where our “entertainers” are in their element. 

• Ciderworks Cider (easy as pie to make and visitors can choose their favorite – there's cocoa, too)  
• Christmas Jams (perfect for spreading on fresh baked biscuits on Christmas morning or carrying in as host gifts at all your holiday parties)  
• Fraser Fir Scented Candles (for spreading holiday cheer throughout the whole year)  
• Kitchen Gadgets (for those who entertain often, they can always use extra cheese knives for the charcuterie board, additional measuring spoons or fun measuring cups, or even something to expand their mixology collection) 

For Our Loyalest Friends 
Pets are like family, so we should treat them like family with their own stockings. 

Dogs 

• It’s a Wonderful Treat (what self-respecting dog is going to turn down these tasty morsels?)  
• Cookie-Saurus Dog Toy (made from gingerbread, of course, and equipped with a “roaring” speaker for playtime) 
• Large Christmas Hedgehog (perfect for festive play or cuddling)  

Cats 

• Nutcracker Cat Toy Set (one is a crinkle toy and the other is a rattle, and both have a little pouch for catnip)  
• Freeze Dried Chicken Cat Treats (your kitties will love these... because they are also coated in catnip) 
• Bird Zippystick Cat Toy (cats love to be teased – and this stick has some of their favorite foils – birds, poms, and tassels)  

Are you looking for even more ideas? Follow this LINK to pages and pages of ideas for everyone on your list. 

And to All a Good Night 

We certainly appreciate Shinny Upatree’s help in compiling this article. During our conversation on the phone, we could hear lots of commotion in the background. If you think the lead up to our holiday events is busy, just think about what is happening right now in Santa’s workshop. Whew!! Shinny sends his warmest holiday wishes to everyone this year and hopes that his tips will help make your Christmas even more special. He also shared, “Be sure to get to bed early on Christmas Eve. The magic can’t happen with night owls wandering through the house.”