What a cool idea! What about varying the types of the items that you have? For example, you could have a variety of gift cards such as Starbucks, Target, Amazon, iTunes, and also vary the type of candy such as peppermint, chocolate, peanut butter, hmm-do they like nuts or dried fruit? Energy or granola bars?

Fingerless gloves? Car wash gift card/certificate?

Maybe a pair of soft socks would fit. A trip to a beauty supply store to see if small sizes of body spray, lip balm, etc. are available. Earbuds. Not sure where you live but Wendy's (the fast food chain) has a card (it's key fob sized) for $2 that they can get free frosty's all year long.

It's never to late to start a great tradition, and they are going to love it. Maybe for the last gift, you might want to do something a little bigger, and find a gift card or coupon to a place the two of them could go together, so they could have their sister time when the 18 YO comes back for a visit.

favorite nail polish? lip balm/ lipstick? hand lotion? fun earrings? pocket charms?

Lip balm, mini Nutella containers, nail polish, tea bags or hot chocolate packets, small Clementines/mandarin oranges, homemade certificates for an afternoon or evening together.

One thing I've learned with kids -- the smallest, most insignificant, throwaway type thing during the holidays can assume huge importance, so don't dismiss varying the types of chocolates/candies etc. : ) .

Edited to add: tiny flashlight, goofy key chain, tiny picture frame...

I pick up stocking stuffers throughout the fall. I got the girls some very cute little sachets with sayings on them, and gorgeously wrapped bars of soap. Try looking at Whole Foods, Francesca's, Forever21, Anthro, Ulta.

I confess I love shopping for my girls, it is so easy!

My youngest daughter is 20 and is obsessed with the ocean and marine life. A few years ago, I purchased a container of nicely done small plastic ocean animals from the toy section in Target. Dolphins, sharks, jelly fish, etc. Every chance I get, I throw one or two in her stockings, suitcases, care packages etc.

Perhaps one of your girls has a similar interest. There are small versions of just about everything - dinosaurs, horses, movie characters, cartoons, etc.

These are all excellent ideas! I'm going to get my nails done this afternoon and will pick up some polishes, etc.

dgw, the sloth thing is what they are stuck on and I looked at ordering some tiny felted sloths on etsy, but yowza they were expensive (which I get 'cause they are time consuming to make). I settled on the pins instead and they are really cute and well made. I love those little sea creatures!

mtn, I am always stuck when I have to get gifts for boys - girls are waaaay easier - IMHO.

becky - yes - keychains! They need those - always losing house keys. I might as well just leave the spare in the door lock.

annie, great ideas - but what are pocket charms?

rockypointdog - I love the idea of something they can do together. There is such a spread in their ages, they don't always do that, but now that the youngest is getting older (and slightly less annoying) they are starting to get along better and do more bonding. That would be really lovely b/f the oldest leaves.

gsciencechick, yes, I could do more giftcards. I needed the reminder I could do smaller amounts to ice-cream places, Mcdonalds, etc.

Thanks, all! Off to do some shopping.

one more -- there are lots of pretty little tins with breath mints, some with funny sayings etc

What about tiny cards printed with inspirational or humorous sayings? Teeny tiny books?

Bath & Body Works has some cute hand sanitizer holders called PocketBac Holders. They clip to a purse or backpack. The hand sanitizer is sold separately.

PocketBac Holders

Another idea --- there are decks of cards for certain interests, like this mindfulness deck for teens?

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-mindful-card-deck-for-teens-gina-biegel/1123543946?ean=9781559570589#/

Forever 21 has really cute, cheap socks.

Target has some cute little things near the holiday candy section (in our store) like lip balm, candy, etc.

My 16 yo likes “fuzzy socks” — Old Navy had some online for something like $2 over the weekend.

Emery boards for nails.

Gel pens.

Or, I like Le Pen brand markers.

Love your idea!!! Fluffy, pompom keychain -my 21 DD LOVE hers. Starbucks giftcard, lotto tickets, Exploding Kittens cardgame...

I do something similar--small white paper bags. Along with physical items, I mix in notes saying we will do something, like go buy the Christmas tree, decorate cookies, drink hot chocolate, watch a Christmas movie together. I always plan those to be redeemed the same day or the next day at the very latest; I don't like having promises to do things hanging out there to be redeemed on the worst possible day (of course, I have a seven year old, since yours are older they are probably more reasonable about not asking for the hot chocolate in the middle of preparing for a party)

My kids are younger so most of my physical items may not work for you:. hair bows, baseball or Star Wars or Pokemon trading cards, wiki stiks, gel pens, markers, Hershey's kisses, Swedish fish, bouncy balls, slinky, bracelets, Japanese erasers, fingertip flashlights, silly putty, party size play dough containers. . . . I try to keep the items very inexpensive as there are 24 days to fill, times two since I have two kids, and they get presents and stocking stuffers on top of this at the end of it.

Honestly, I think the candy is their favorite.