Christmas is coming... HELP!

It's that time of year again.
ONLY FOUR weekends until the BIG 25th!

Last year I did all my shopping early, but everything I bought my kid sister (she's eleven) was neglected and never used. I bought her some new jeans that are too short and some glittery shoes that hurt her feet. I bought her candy canes... which were eaten almost imedeately. But the expense on the shoes and jeans and other stuff such as a little makeup palette thing, was tossed in a case and never used.

I love my little sister dearly, but she has everything she needs. And I'm really rubbish at picking presents by the looks of it haha.

Anybody who has a young daughter, or anyone knows of a great gift for my sister?
It can be of no expense (a hand made gift) or quite pricey. I just want to get her one thing that she'll be excited to see and use.

I was also thinking of making her a stocking up of little nick nacks..
but im scared incase it's a waste of money.

She's not an ungreatful child at all.. I just think ive been going for the wrong things. All help will be extreamely appreciated!

Thanks guys!

My 12yr old sister is still into stuffed animals and things like that. Maybe get her things that are a little less 'grown up'? What are her interests? Have you asked her what she wants? I would think kids her age still have lots of stuff they way :)

Is she a fan of Hannah Montana or High School Musical? Most tweens are crazed and love the merchandise.. Or maybe she'd like some CDs or DVDs.

I realise that what I bought her last year was a little old. Alot of her friends are into clothes etc, but I guess Claire is more interested in having fun outdoors and getting mucky lol.

She already got alot of high school musical merchandise last year, and has basically everything hanah montana! However, doesnt really seem to be as excited about all of that recently.

Last year my mum bought the whole family tickets to go and see a pantomime.. whcih thanks to my ED stopped me from going - and she was really upset. And I was also devastated as acting is a passion of mine. To go and see a show with her would have been great..

I don't know if my mums got the tickets in this year and is just leaving it a surprise... so im afraid to go ahead and buy them!

If your sister's picky like me, you should just get her a gift card. ^^;; I mean I love presents but it shows up on my face when I don't like something >_<;;;

and for little kids who are addicted to a movie/series, they can't ever have enough of that series. (I know, i went through pokemon/sailor moon/Hello Kitty/Pirates of the Carribean phases... uhh still haven't completely gotten out of it)

If she likes those series, get her a poster, a doll of one of the characters, books, clothes, etc. Or you could get her some jewlery because she'll eventually wear it :D

Yea, finding out what she is interested in is your best bet. At that age my iinterests were changing a lot...but they generally were around the same types of things. Gift cards for that age kind of fall flat (what 12 year old wants to go shopping? all money at that age is a gift card from their parents or wherever it comes from ><)

If she gets cold (Winter is coming!) you could get her a stuffed heated bear/animal! (then again, i think thats great for anyone :D )

I don't know what type of little sister the op had so I suggest gift cards, lol. Little kids don't get to shop with their own money so much so I thought it might be an interesting experience.

Interestingly enough I didn't like stuffed animals UNTIL i was in high school O_O

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I've bought her gift now and I can't believe that I never thought of it before.
My sister loves music and she's much mlore into music than alot of her friends. She listens to it alot so I thought i'd invest in a metalic pink ipod shuffle. It was only £32, which I think is good for the ipod make. If anyone has one im sure they'll agree that theyre easy enough for a 'tween' to use. You just turn the thing on and it shuffles through your music - no dodgey button pressing involved!

For stocking fillers I got her the nightmare beforem christmas dvd which I'm sure she'll love as she has never saw it and is a great fan of both holidays lol.

I don't know if any americans have heard of the British author Jaquliene Wilson? She's one of the best childrens writers here and has lots of book awards. Well Claire, my sis, wants to be an author when she grows up and loves writing little stories. Well the book i've got her is Wilsons autobiography, the story of her childhood and how she became one herself. It has been wrote simply and has lots of pictures, so I'm sure she'll enjoy reading it as that's another one of her past times.

I'm crossing my fingers she'll be happy on Christmas morning! :)