The winter season is officially here, and Christmas seems right around the corner. To create magical moments for your kids, there isn’t a better way than an elf-on-the-shelf tradition, and I’m so excited but a little nervous as well about this tradition because I cannot tell you how many times (an insane amount) I’ve forgotten to move the elf.
So if you’re like me, between all the planning, plotting, and hustling in this chaotic festive month of December, it’s quite normal to forget to move the elf. So don’t you panic, okay? I’ve got you. I’ve come up with 30 last-minute elf on the shelf ideas that are creative, fun, and, most importantly, very quick to put together.
These ideas are for those very tiresome moments when you’re too tired to come up with very elaborate schemes and plans, but you still want them to be effective and super funny, which will manage to make everyone laugh, and who doesn’t like a good laugh?
1. Elf’s Arrival
Is that a bird? Is that a plane? If you want the heads rolling when the elf arrives, there isn’t a better way to do it than having the elf parachute its way into your home. All you need are your regular face masks, which all of us have by now (thanks to the pandemic), and a white thread to hang the elf by the parachute.
2. Elf and the Nail Polish
Funny and cheeky! Just grab the nail polish by your dresser and paint a few fingernails or toenails, and then keep the nail polish beside the elf and write a funny note confessing the deed. A lot of my friends have tried this, and it always manages to make people smile.
3. Elf Starts Working Out
Staying fit is essential if you’re out there helping Santa day and night, so our elf doesn’t take his fitness lightly. This one is super easy to implement; just get a toothpick, two marshmallows or cotton balls, and stick them on either side of the toothpick. Now wrap the elf’s hands around the toothpick as if he’s brench-pressing while lying down.
4. Elf and the Red Nose
This is one of my personal favourites. Put a tiny red pompom on your elf’s nose and write a funny note like “clowning around.” Now, when the kids are fast asleep, go color their noses with red skin-friendly face paint. It’s going to be fun watching the kid’s reaction in the morning.
5. Elf Was Hungry
Everybody craves midnight munchies, including our elf. Grab the nearest jam or nutella from the kitchen countertop, smear a little around the elf’s mouth, and make sure his hands are holding the nutella or jam. This one is easy, funny, and relatable, but make sure you don’t forget to clean up the elf later.
6. Elf is Hanging Out
Grab a few fur toys and make sure all of them are sitting in a circle. Distribute a few cards to all of them because our elf is playing cards with his friends. You can also use money, like some chocolate money or monopoly money, to make it seem more realistic.
7. Elf and the Snow Angel
We all love a snow angel, don’t we? We’ve made one several times, and showing the elf making a snow angel brings a touch of nostalgia. It’s simple and easy; all you need is some flour, sprinkle it over the countertop, and now place the elf on top of the flour and move its arms and legs to make a snow angel pattern. It’s quite easy, isn’t it?
8. The Elf is Trapped
This one is quite hilarious! Just take your Elf and stick it in the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner and write a note, “Please help me,” with it, and this will make the kids burst into laughter.
9. Mischievous Elf
What happens when the elf discovers the toilet paper? Well, it wraps around the Christmas tree. This one shows a bit of the naughty, mischievous side of the elf and what it has been up to during the night.
10. Elf and His Pool Party
Who’s ready for a pool party? Gather all the bath toys available in your house and create a wateristic party for the elf. The more floating toys and guests you can gather, the bigger this unforgettable aquatic experience will be. This one will also take a few minutes, and it’s super easy to implement.
11. Sleepy Elf
This one is definitely a cult favourite, and it takes less than 2 minutes to set it up. Some days, due to school or going out, the kids are super tired, and thats when you can take the elf, put him in his pyjamas, make him lay in bed, and then tuck him. Now write a note, “Elf is very tired,” and put it beside him.
12. Elf and the Oreos
This one is one of my personal favourites, as it takes 2 minutes and is easy to implement. Grab the elf and a packet of Oreos, go to the bathroom, and put them on a shelf. Open the packet, scrape out the white cream from the oreo, and replace it with toothpaste.
13. Elf With the Countdown
Another super easy and quick idea is to make your elf sit near a partially rolled toilet paper and grab your marker. Write down how many days are left before Christmas. It’s funny, and looking at the countdown will make the kids super excited for Christmas.
14. Elf and the Candies
Christmas doesn’t feel festive without a box of candies laying around in the house, and who doesn’t like candies? Including our elf. Grab your box of candies and the elf. Hide your elf in that box, but make sure the elf is easily visible. For extra creativity, you can leave a few empty wrappers around the elf.
15. Elf and His Shoe Train
This train joke is like a tradition in my family, and it never fails to make us laugh. Just grab a few shoes and put them one after the other in a train-like form. Now put your elf in the frontmost shoes with a note, “All aboard the Shoe-Shoe Train.” I’m telling you some old jokes are timeless.
16. Shakespeare Elf
Trust me with this one: get a cupcake liner, use it as a collar for the elf as a statement piece, and get a really old book, open it, and make sure the elf sits like he’s busy reading. And channelling that Shakespeare spirit.
17. Elf and the Cookies
This one is for people who have pets at their place. Grab your furry animal’s bowl and put a few treats in it. Put your elf near the bowl, take out one treat, break it into two, crush one part and sprinkle it near your elf, and put the other part near your elf as if he mistakenly ate dog treats instead of cookies, and put out a note near it: “Worst cookies ever! Don’t give it to Santa.” This idea is super effective and very funny.
18. Elf Poops Chocolate
Unwarp a few chocolates and put them on the toilet seat and inside it, while showing the elf is squatting on the toilet seat as well. This one is a little embarrassing but also hilarious.
19. Elf Takes You to Movies
Do you have a tradition of watching a Christmas movie? Or are your kids excited about watching a particular movie? Well, this is a perfect way for them to watch that movie. Set up the whole ambience for the movie, get popcorn and maybe some hot chocolate, put the elf in the popcorn bowl, and let your kids enjoy their time.
20. Elf and the Snow Fight
This one is a classic elf on the shelf idea, and it takes very little time to set it up. Sprinkle some flour or rice on the countertop or table. Grab any toy or soft toy and your elf, and sit them opposite each other on that sprinkled flour with some distance between them. You can use marshmallows or cotton balls to make tiny walls for them to hide during the snow fight.
21. Elf Tells Stories
Not only is this idea super fun, but it also promotes reading. It’s perfect for kids who avoid reading books or have no interest in them. Just grab as many soft toys as you can along with your elf, and make the soft toys sit opposite the elf. Get a book, open it, and keep it in front of the elf as if it were reading and educating the soft toys.
22. Elf on a Flight
Every time I see a paper plane, I am hit with nostalgia and childhood memories. If you know how to make a paper aeroplane, it will take just a few moments to put together this idea. Make a paper plane, write something like “Just landed,” and put your elf on it. The children will absolutely be thrilled by the thought of an elf flying on a paper aeroplane.
23. Demanding Elf
This trick has been used on me and by me a few times. It’s perfect to keep kids on track. Just place the elf on a table with a note asking the kids to do an activity with the elf. The perfect way to engage the young for a while if you’re going to be preoccupied for a while.
24. Elf and the Coloring Activity
As a kid, I cannot even describe how much I loved coloring books, and your kids probably love them as well. So what’s a better way to spend a cozy December day than coloring books? Make your elf sit on the table with some colors, a coloring book, and a cute note with instructions.
25. Elf Candy Games
If your kids are in a playing mood, you have to try this activity. It’s a fun little hide-and-seek game that takes just a few minutes to set up. Grab a few candies or anything available at home your kids would like and hide them throughout the house. Make your elf sit on a table with instructions, telling them to find candy hidden in the house. Sounds fun! Isn’t it??
26. Elf is Boating
Just the idea of waking up and going to the washroom only to find an elf boating wash basin makes me laugh for a good minute. Grab a toy boat or make a paper boat, fill up your wash basin with a little bit of water, and put the boat inside it. Place the elf on the boat, and trust me, this will lift your kids moods like nothing.
27. Stuck on the Chandelier
Place your elf on the chandelier or the fan. Your kids might not realize where the elf is and will probably smile when they see it hanging on the chandelier or the fan. To be more creative, you can add a note saying “help.”.
28. Baking Cookies With an Elf
I wasn’t a fan of cooking until I started cooking with my grandma. So this Christmas, maybe you should bake some cookies with your kids and make some really good memories that you will cherish all your life. Just place your elf with ingredients and a note describing the fun activity.
29. Elf in the Refrigerator
This one is a perfect hiding spot for older kids who can easily find the elf and can easily open the refrigerator, and for the elf, this will feel like a second home after the North Pole. Just place the elf in the refrigerator and let the kids do the work!
30. Where is the Elf?
This idea is easy, fun, and very engaging for the kids. Hide your elf in between soft toys or other things and leave the instructions to find it. The kids will have so much fun doing this activity that they will truly enjoy the festive season.
Well the situation is under control for now but don’t get too comfortable but who knows what will happen tomorrow? but keep coming back for more quick, easy, budget friendly elf on the shelf ideas using household items with a touch of imagination.
Elf on the shelf is the kind of Christmas tradition that will never go out of style and will bring a lot of magic and chuckles during this festive season. Use these humourous Elf on shelf ideas to bring joy to your young ones and create everlasting memories of Christmas that will last a lifetime.
