100 Elf On The Shelf Ideas (2024)

Grab our list of 100 unique Elf on the Shelf Ideas for last minute and new ideas you can use for your elf! We are also sharing our Elf on the Shelf Printables that you can download to help you come up with some funny elf ideas without any of the hassle or hard work!

ELF ON THE SHELF

Looking for last minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas? Tired of coming up with creative ideas for your Christmas Elf? Check out our list of 100 Elf on the Shelf Ideas! We are also sharing a fun and festive Elf on the Shelf Printable Kit! Great printable to enhance the fun this year!

I am pretty sure that everyone has heard of the Elf on the Shelf by now…right? You might even have one in your home during the holiday season! Some of you may even have pretty strong feelings one way or another about it.

At our house, we like to do the Elf on the Shelf but tend to keep it pretty easy and low key. Our elf tends be on the tame and less mischievous side! And that is just the way this momma likes her to be. With 5 kids, a business to run and a pretty busy schedule, I don’t need a lot of extra work in my life, so we tend to keep it super simple and fun.

I swore I would never own one, but my kids were dying to have one after hearing all the fun things their friends elves were doing. So I caved…but have actually found myself enjoying our new family tradition.

WHAT IS ELF ON THE SHELF?

What exactly is an Elf on the Shelf? For those of you who might be living under a rock…or are new to the whole idea, let me give you a quick run down. “Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” that was released in 2005. It is a rhyming book that explains how Santa’s ‘scout elves’ hide in people’s homes to watch over events. When everyone is in bed, the elf flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa about the good and bad activities that have happened that day.

When the family wakes in the morning, the elf has flown back and is hiding in a new place to be found by the family. In the book, the elf’s magic will disappear if he is touched, although you are allowed to talk to him and tell him your Christmas wishes so he can report back to Santa. The elves usually arrive the day after Thanksgiving, but you can have them arrive any time that is right for your own family.

WHERE CAN I GET AN ELF ON THE SHELF?

The following is the official and original Elf on the Shelf. You can commonly find him in various stores or on amazon here. There are a lot of versions of the Elf on the Shelf now like these dark skinned versions with brown eyes, or the light skin versions with blue eyes. Feel free to get whatever version works best for your family! Here is the elf on the shelf book.

WHEN DO I HAVE TO START THE ELF ON THE SHELF?

Start anytime that feels right for your family. Many start the day after the US Thanksgiving Holiday. Many begin on the first day of December. Start when it is right for your family!

I DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE ELF SPYING ON MY CHILDREN AND TELLING SANTA IF THEY’VE BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE.

Cater your elf to your own family’s beliefs. If you don’t like the idea of an elf spying on your children’s activities, you can tell your children that the elf is there to help them make good choices and to love and help others around them.

Don’t want to clean up after a mischievous and naughty elf who leaves a big mess overnight? Have the elf do acts of service for someone like I share in this post here. Or just do simple things so that the elf is not an extra stress in your life. The elf doesn’t have to do a grand adventure every night. It should be something that adds joy to your holiday instead of anxiety and stress!

WHAT IF I FORGET TO MOVE THE ELF ON THE SHELF?

Let’s face it, your elf might forget to move during the night. Act like it’s part of the magic; say you’ve heard elves can do this and it might mean he has something exciting up his sleeve. Maybe he can have assumed a new position when you get home from school, or when your child wakes up from an afternoon nap.

WHAT IF THE ELF GETS TOUCHED?

If he gets touched by little hands you can make up some process so he can get his magic back. Pick him up with tongs and use the blow dryer to bring back his magic. Or have him rest in the same spot for 24 hours until his magic can return.

WHAT IF HE ACTUALLY FALLS FROM WHERE HE WAS PERCHED?

It is okay if mom or dad (or a responsible adult) picks him up with a pair of clean kitchen tongs and blows him off with a blow dryer and returns him to where he is supposed to be.

HOW SHOULD MY ELF SAY GOODBYE?

I like to let the kids know how long the elf will be staying with us when the elf arrives so they aren’t surprised when he/she has to go home. In the arrival letter with our elf, it says that he will return home with Santa when Santa comes to drop off their Santa gift. You can have your elf leave when it is best for your family. Have him leave a goodbye letter like the one I have provided, or have him leave a little message somewhere for the kids to find!

100 ELF ON THE SHELF IDEAS

The hardest part of the Elf on the Shelf is definitely remembering to move the Elf every night! If you are like me, at the end of the day, I am exhausted and ready to climb into bed. So it can be tough to add one more thing to do at the end of a long day. I like to set a timer and have everything planned out for the whole month so I know EXACTLY what I am doing. But in the real world, that doesn’t always happen.

ELF IDEA LIST 1

So I created a list of 100 Elf On The Shelf Ideas that are super easy and literally take just a few minutes to throw together. When you need an idea quick with items you have on hand, simply use one of the ideas from this list.

1. Making snow angels in flour.
2. Playing board game or making crafts with other toys.
3. Tied up and being carried away by army guys or other “bad guys”.
4. Zip-lining on candy cane from top of Christmas tree to mantle.
5. Toilet papering Christmas tree.
6. Stuck in a toilet paper roll rolling down the stairs.
7. Fishing in the sink or the tub with some bath toys.
8. Hiding in the Christmas tree.
9. Reading a Christmas book.
10. Doodling funny faces with a dry erase marker over family pictures (on the glass).
11. Tangled up in Christmas lights.
12. Getting in the cookie jar.
13. Riding on the back of a toy horse or stuffed animal.
14. Elf in fridge drawing sharpie faces on eggs.
15. Tangled in tinsel or the ribbon on the Christmas tree.
16. Hanging from a tree ornament.
17. Watching TV with a bowl of popcorn.
18. Hiding in a shelf of stuffed animals.
19. Snowball fight with mini marshmallows and other toys.
20. On a drive with Barbie in the Barbie car.

IDEA LIST 2

1. Stuck to the wall or mirror with bandages all over him/her.
2. Have another toy wrapping the elf up in wrapping paper.
3. Sitting out by cookie supplies asking to make cookies that day.
4. By a puddle of water with pretzel arms and snowman eyes. (melted snowman)
5. Drinking a mug of hot cocoa.
6. Sitting next to a fun holiday breakfast or santa pancakes, etc.
7. Playing video games.
8. Spell out words with cereal on the kitchen table.
9. Coloring in coloring books
10. Making a house out of legos.
11. Sitting with a scripture or Christmas story to read.
12. Roasting marshmallow over a fake candle. (safety first)
13. Building snowmen out of powdered donuts.
14. Playing the piano.
15. Hiding in a Christmas stocking.
16. Taking a nap in a box of Kleenex.
17. Laying on the printer and making a copy of his face with a printed picture of him in printer tray.
18. Elf caught a cold sitting my waded tissues and thermometer.
19. Elf gets a broken leg.
20. Hang upside down from a slinky or swinging in a makeshift swing.

ELF ON SHELF IDEA LIST 3

1. Elf cutting paper snowflakes with some hung in the room.
2. Elf bowling with pieces of candy or Hershey’s kisses.
3. Elf stuck in the blender with some fresh fruit.
4. Elf with some mini pancakes and a big bottle of syrup.
5. Elf sitting on top of a jar over some toys or stuffed animal he has trapped inside.
6. Stuck on the ceiling fan.
7. Sliding down the banister.
8. Flying in a toy plane.
9. Sleeping under the Christmas tree.
10. Putting on makeup.
11. Drinking syrup out of the bottle with a straw.
12. Shaving with dad’s razor and shaving cream.
13. Making a cereal necklace.
14. Reading a Christmas toy catalog.
15. Stick red stickers or pom poms on elf and family pictures giving everyone a Rudolph nose.
16. Sitting in the nativity manger with baby Jesus.
17. Head stuck in a bag of cookies with some eaten.
18. Stuck in the washing machine.
19. Elf rappelling off the side of the TV.
20. Elf hangs underwear on the Christmas tree.

IDEA LIST 4

1. Laying in a hammock made out of toilet paper hanging from towel rack.
2. Elf taking a shower with a mini towel wrapped around him and sitting on the soap.
3. Elf caught in the beater of the kitchen mixer.
4. Elf making his own Christmas gift wish list.
5. Elf doing yoga on a little yoga mat.
6. Elf sitting in fridge with google eyes glued on things.
7. Elf playing with pots and pans on the floor like they are drums.
8. On the stove with a pot cooking a pot full of candy.
9. Elf stealing money out of a piggy bank or putting money into it.
10. In a hot air balloon made out of a cup and a balloon.
11. Driving a toy tractor.
12. Laying underneath and fixing a broken toy car.
13. In a hamster ball rolling around the house.
14. Hiding in the utensil drawer in the kitchen in place of the knives.
15. In the freezer wrapped up in a blanket.
16. Getting a glass of water in the fridge water dispenser.
17. In the car hiding behind the rear view mirror.
18. Laying out with some suntan lotion under a lamp.
19. Trapped inside Jenga game with the blocks built up around him.
20. Walking a toy dog on a leash.

LIST OF IDEAS 5

1. Taking a selfie with a phone or ipod.
2. Hiding in a child’s shoe.
3. Elf playing a toy guitar or instrument with other toys watching.
4. Elf tied up laying on some train tracks.
5. Make paper or felt clothes for your elf and hang them out on a line to dry.
6. Have the elf appear with a small little gift for your little ones.
7. Sprinkle glitter in the sink with the elf holding the bottle of glitter.
8. Hide him in a house plant.
9. Squeeze a pair of doll shoes on him and surround him with other shoes he has tried on in front of the mirror.
10. Write a message from him on the mirror with a dry erase marker or toothpaste.
11. Place him in the vacuum cleaner hose like he is getting sucked in and trying to hold on.
12. Have him write a letter to Santa or his elf friends.
13. Have him ski down a slope with some popsicle stick skis and toothpicks for poles.
14. Put him next to dog bone or dog treat with a sign that says. “Yuck! Do NOT eat!”
15. Hide the elf in an ornament and hang it on the tree.
16. Have him with some Reindeer Feed so the kids can sprinkle it outside at night.
17. Make some candy cane playdough or have the ingredients out so you can make some with the kids.
18. Make a little sled out of a tupperware lid and have him sled in some flour on the counter or down the banister.
19. Have him looking inside the window or the door like he got locked outside last night.
20. Elf gets stickers stuck all over him.

ELF ON THE SHELF PRINTABLES

To grab a printable list of elf ideas, click on the link here or the red button below. Having a physical copy will make it easy for you to access whenever you need it and plan ahead for each day.I will keep your email confidential and I promise not to sell it to others.

And because I love to create pretty printables, I made some fun printables that you can use to enhance the Elf on the Shelf experience in your home. These printables are a fun way to add some “authenticity” to your North Pole elf!

All the work has been done for you…all you have to do is print them out and then use them in the way that is best for your family!

What is included in our Elf on the Shelf Printable Kit?

• Beginner’s Guide Intro and Common Questions and Answers
• List of 100 Easy Last Minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas
• Elf on the Shelf Printable December Calendar
• Daily Planner
• Elf on the Shelf Arrival Letter
• Printable Elf on the Shelf Surveillance Certificates
• Elf on the Shelf Note Cards
• Elf on the Shelf Goodbye Letter

If you are interested in grabbing the Elf on the Shelf Printable Kit click on the link here or on the red button below!

I hope you enjoy these Elf on the Shelf printables! The Elf on the Shelf tradition can be fun for the whole family without adding a lot of extra stress to your life.

You can find even more Elf on the Shelf ideas here.

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