Oh, that sounds like a great idea! I will have to stop by Dollar General and pick some up for my next package.
It may be a little unorthodox, but I sent a package recently that received good reviews from its receipient.
I work at an art store (Michaels, to be specific) and decided to try sending a different brand of "fun." I put together a themed "craft" package. While I know most guys don't do crafts (me exluded, I think... lol), it is definitely something unique to try.
Michaels sells wooden frames for $1, and small bottles of acrylic paint for 59 cents, as well as inexpensive brushes! I put together a small craft "kit" for my soldier to paint a frame for a loved one. I included some Army stickers I found in the scrapbooking section, but they also sell 25 cent already-painted wooden accents as an option. In addition, I sent a disposable camera with the frame kit so that they could take pictures for the frame.
Also, in the craft section in with all of the spring foam projects you can find in the 'center' aisle that runs around the store, there are origami books that come with patterns and paper for $1. You can also print out additional instructions from numerous websites online. The "ninja star" origami pattern is a winner, for sure, if you can find it online.
I also included a leather working set that Michaels sells, where you can make your own leather tool & flashlight holder. Everything is precut, and it needs nothing in addition to what is included in the kit except a pair of scissors to cut the thread. There are other options at the store, such as moccassins, medicine bags, and leather cuff bracelets.
In the jewelry section, under "Naturals" there's a beginners hemp set that is not very expensive (especially if you get the 40% off coupon in the paper... if not, print out the coupons from JoAnn's website. Michaels will honor them!). I purchased an additional roll of hemp. Bracelets and chokers can be made for the kids in the area, for themselves or for their loved ones back home.
The last thing I included was a small wooden plane you assemble from three pieces, that he could paint with the paint I included with the frame. The plane was only $1 and I found it in the model car section with the model rockets. It also really flies when you throw it. :D
I was a little worried about how my package would be received, because crafts are not generally a "manly" thing, but he was very excited to have something different to do!
As a note, there are always numerous kits you can find around the store with easy to do projects to help pass 30-60 minutes of time. Some are far more appropriate for our Any Female Soldiers, but there's a lot for the boys to do too!
Also, I just worked a delivery truck for Michaels today that had a couple dozen new products for the "Kids Impulse" aisle (labeled with a bright orange sign that says "Fun Finds Under $5!) with a lot of cool new stuff--including very inexpensive silly string! There are generally cheap, $1 toys down that aisle... playdoh, mini rubik's cubes, parachute men (plastic army guys attached to parachutes that you can drop from high distances and they float down), sticky bubbles (bubbles that don't pop!), silly putty, bouncy balls, water guns, note pads, packs of pens, small crafts.
Other easy craft and art ideas for male and/or female soldiers: Air dry clay (Crayola Model Magic is a good one), blank bookmarks with markers and stickers, small sketch book and pencils, a friendship bracelet book (comes with floss) OR embroidery floss and printed instructions for them, duct tape and duct tape wallet instructions (http://www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/duct_tape_wallet.html), small velvet art posters (velvety posters with white sections to color in), t-shirts and fabric markers, t-shirt and tye dye kit! Every now and then Michaels has t-shirts on sale for $2. :)