25 Elf on the Shelf Quick and Easy ideas that take UNDER 5 Mins!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1479766267 Cassie Harding Osborne

I can’t wait to start our Elf on the Shelf! I have a pack coming out for it.

overthebigmoon

So fun Cassie! Can’t wait to see it!

Jamey Tobler

I have never done Elf on the Shelf, and seeing these easy cute ideas makes me want to! My hubby thinks it is just one more way to lie to the kids, so I would just need to get him on board.

Jen

My husband was in a similar situation. Reading him the story that actually goes with the elf totally got him on board. He picked out a name and wanted me to take the girl elf I picked out and get a boy:-)

http://www.facebook.com/lori.huntgentry Lori Hunt-Gentry

I am wrapping the toliet this year!!! haha!

http://www.facebook.com/heidi.s.fowler Heidi Schilling Fowler

What a fun post, Pam! I love the kid trap and the hot air balloon ride!

randi

omg these are the cutest ideas ever i am using most of these and cant wait.

gootz34

can’t wait for our elf to return Thanksgiving night…. these ideas will make this season tons of fun!!!

Danielle

I am in LOVE with our elf Princess.. we have done many of these ideas and more..
We have put Barbie sunglasses and tied a scarf around her neck in the Barbie convertible. Made a mess in the kitchen with flower, and went to a bakery and bought gingerbread cookies and Xmas cupcakes, put spatula in he hand so it looked like she made them.. my favorite was when my girls touched her. The next morning she was flat on her face between the window panes. I told our girls Princess tried to fly but had lost her magic. We sprinkled her with pixie dust and sang xmas carols to her all day. She recovered of course! Put her on top of the Xmas tree with the angel on the ground. can’t wait to see what princess does in 2012.. fond of the zipline idea :O)

Danielle

I’m super interested in doing this, this year. I’m curious to know what the story is that goes along with elf and stuff..

Lisa

You can order it through Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XR6MBQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000XR6MBQ&linkCode=as2&tag=ovthbimo0b-20

Amy Lanhardt

Great ideas!

We have some more Elf ideas over at our blog!

We’d love it if you’d take a look!

http://makinglifewhimsical.blogspot.com/2012/11/we-believe-in-christmas-magic.html

Have a whimsical day!

Laura

Our Elf’s name is “Twinkle”, and this is a tradition that’s been in our family LONG before “EotS” became popular. I had an Elfen friend when I was a kid (I’m in my 40′s). But I’ve been running out of places for him to hang out, so I’m really glad I stumbled through your site. I’ll definitely be using some of these ideas. We have plenty of Lego People, so I see Twinkle reading books to them. And I am SO wrapping the toilet!!

MumofC&D

Rudy, our Rascally Reindeer, is going to decorate our tree with undies this year. This should really tickle the fancy of our 2.5 and 4.5 year old boys! Toilet humour is BIG in our house right now!

Emily

Thats just too funny!!

Dorcas Troche

These are so funny! Our elf had a potential magic loss on Thanksgiving and my eight-year old almost had a nervous breakdown.

overthebigmoon

Be sure to keep our Elf on the Shelf Magical Recovery Kit handy in case it happens again! http://www.overthebigmoon.com/elf-on-the-shelf-magical-recovery-kit/

http://www.facebook.com/bella.guiness Bella Guiness

I was wondering if I am supposed to keep our elf’s hand’s sewn together or not. Looks like some of the photos that they cut their elf’s hands loose but in others they seem to still be sewn? Don’t want to ruin ours by cutting them apart if I’m not supposed to.

mommy manda

I was wondering the same thing!
- jenney
  
  you could cut them and them put some velcro on his hands for when they need to be together!
overthebigmoon

It’s just up to you – what you prefer. I keep our Elf’s hands together, cause I like to be able to hook him over and on things, but my sisters have cut theirs!
http://twitter.com/TammiRae81 Tammi Rae

There are several tutorials online where people cut their hands apart, sewed velcro to them and even inserted 14 gauge wire into their arms/legs to make them bendy for even more fun poses. http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/hack-your-elf-on-the-shelf-tutorial/
Nicole

I cut mine and attached velcro! It was super-easy, and I also inserted wire so he’s more pose-able. I posted a tutorial on my blog:
http://lifesolovely.com/2012/12/01/elf-on-the-shelf-mod-in-easy-steps/

Let me know what you think!
Nicole

Amy

These are great ideas! Thank you!!

polly

I just love this elf idea but where do you buy one? I need one for this year?

mommy manda

Bass pro shop has them…
overthebigmoon

Target has them and you can order them on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XR6MBQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000XR6MBQ&linkCode=as2&tag=ovthbimo0b-20

Elizabeth

I can’t wait to try some of these out! Here are the pranks our elf “Stocking’ has pulled off http://www.hawaiidiscountblog.com/elf-on-the-shelf-ideas-christmas-traditions/

Misty

Are the kids able to play with and touch the elf? I have seen several things where they can and then some where their not suppose too. We did it last year and didn’t allow the kids to touch the elf but didn’t know what others were doing..

Ashley

According to the story, no one is suppose to touch the elf or he( or she) loses his magic:however, we received a special note from Santa that said the kids could touch him because he needed a snuggle…they love the fact that they can take the elves to school—sometimes the kids will come back to class and their elves have made a mess in the classroom!!

Stephani W

Some cute new ideas I hadn’t seen yet on other sites – thanks for sharing!

Sarah

I love all these ideas…I was cracking up reading them. This will be the first year I’m starting elf on the shelf and I can’t wait!!!! I ordered mine on amazon and it should be here in the next couple of days!!!! Can’t wait to wrap the toilet my five year old is going to laugh so hard! Lol

Kellee

Okay…I am not trying to be a dud! All these ideas are awesome and probably have the kids (and the Elf hider) in fits of giggles. If the kids are supposed to be good (I have younger kids) and Mr. BoJangles (in our case) is naughty – does the whole ‘the elf is watching, you better be good’ lose its impact? Just curious…this is our first year. Thanks!

Andrea

I feel the same way and unfortunately, I was looking for a response too.
Cassy

Whenever our elf does something naughty, the next night he does something to apologize like writing “I can be good” sentences on the whiteboard or sending the magic seeds. Santa sent a letter and said sometimes elves are naughty just like children. They really get a kick out of it.
Bdowd

Our elf only acts up in response to our children’s behavior. So when our kids have a naughty day our elf has a naughty night! We have a discussion in the morning how we need to be on our best behavior so that Santa lets “hart” come back next year! hope this helps!!
- Hali
  
  What are some examples?
KokMomma

I’m on the same page with you. I found on another blog, a mother who used the elf not the traditional way, but as a teaching point for her kids to teach the elf how to behave. She didn’t use the elf on the shelf story, instead she sent him in the mail to her children with a letter from Santa Clause that asked her children to spend the Christmas season teaching their elf about grace, and goodness. I think it is a better approach, and my kids have responded really well to it, and in turn have been really well behaved as a manner for teaching the elf.
Nicole

I have to say, I don’t really see any of the above ideas as “being bad”. Jokes or harmless pranks are not bad behavior.
Lisa

I think it is up to individual families to find what works for them. There are obviously people who feel strongly that elves should not act up and there are others that think its super fun. Do what works for your family.

Lish

Hey Pam, I just got my Elf and I am very excited to see how my kids respond. Thanks for the fun ideas

Nicole

Love these! So cute! Definitely stealing some. =) I “hacked” our Elf,
Eddie, to make him hang, bend, and climb! (Wire, magnets, velcro.) It
was super-easy! If you (or anyone) wants to check it out, I made a tutorial on my blog
at:
http://lifesolovely.com/2012/12/01/elf-on-the-shelf-mod-in-easy-steps/

-Nicole

http://www.facebook.com/aideen.hammes Aideen O’Malley-Hammes

I bought an Elf and his name is “Fritz”. We don’t have children liviing here (but we have 7 Grandbabies with another little Angel due in March), but I started this for my husband the other day and he loves it. It’s nice to see him LOL.

Ashley Holmes

we have had our elf for two years now, I loved the idea but didn’t like the little elf that comes with the book. So away I went in search of the perfect elf. Not too big not too small, I purchased a stuffed pose-able very very cute elf from the local pottery/craft store. I have not seen many people doing this but my kids love ours and he is adorable and pose-able as well. So don’t feel limited to the basic elves, create your own elf on the shelf with a more to your taste little sprite

mammahohoho

I thought the elf was there to watch the kids & encourage good behaviour. Not get into mischief

Katie

This morning our Elf had a note from Santa to my kids saying there was a message sent to my email for them that was from Santa. It was a video message that was personalized for each kid. The note that our Elf had said Your Elf Stevey has told me that you are having a hard time being good. I have sent each of you a message to your mom’s email. Please watch. Merry Christmas! SC. So they watched their video and the look on their faces was priceless! Especially my two youngest. If you would like to have a message sent to your kids go to portablenorthpole.com. Merry Christmas

Ashley

Great ideas!! To add to list…We have had toothbrushes frozen in blocks of ice (water in tupperware) with elves sitting on top and snow angels made from flour Kids love their elves!!

latti

As a christian, I know that we are not supposed to indulge in anything dealing with “magic” according to Gods word. We need to be careful of what we let our kids deal with.

Lisa

I think there is a big difference between this and “magic.” After all Santa uses magic to get to all the boys and girls in one night. Santa is a symbol of Christ. You should check this book out.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967357101/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ovthbimo0b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967357101

As a christian I think you would love it! It goes step by step how Santa
is a symbol for the Savior. My children love it.

Merry Christmas.

MAMA DEEDS

my daughters birthday is in December, I had cake crumbs around our elf and icing on her face, also I am trying to potty train my son so there was a big note on our bathroom mirror reminding him to use the bathroom !!!!

Amy

Some of these are SO cute! I am also careful that our elf (Apple) doesn’t do anything naughty (making a mess, TPing the tree, basically doing anything I wouldn’t want my 3 year old to do.) Seeing as the elf is there to report naughty behavior, it baffles me that some elves are doing naughty things. Thanks for some great ideas- love the book reading!

Melissarodrigues

Mine were never together. My hands have been apart but I also bought it a few years ago. Lol

cammie

Some of these are really cute, others not so much. The drawing on pictures? Next thing your 3-8 year old will find a sharpee and draw on pictures. I wouldn’t have the elves do anything that you wouldn’t want your child to do. Sends mixed messages. Also nothing that could be dangerous. Like one person tied shoes together as a rope from second floor to first. A young child is very likely to do that and end up falling. Another had the elf take a toy boat out on the lake.

Lisa

I am glad you were able to find a few cute ideas. That is the goal of a round up is to help a lot of people find ideas. You know what is best for your family, others know what is best for theirs. We all have to make choices based on our individual children, and try not to judge others for doing the same. We are all here to support each other.

666ilovenick

the tolit 1 so funny xoxoxoxoxox lol lol lol lol

666ilovenick

how did he wrap the tolit ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Denise Willowbabyphotography

We have been doing this for years. This past CHristmas I found my twin girls getting dressed in the hallway and asked why they weren’t getting dressed in their bedroom… They said they couldn’t because Freddy the Elf was hanging from their chandelier and they thought it would be creepy to get undressed in front of him. My husband and I laughed so hard at that!

Download