The Christmas holidays are filled with many traditions, with Elf on the Shelf Season being one of them. If you aren’t familiar with this tradition, here’s the gist of it.
Basically, the Scout Elves watch over the family during the daytime and report to Santa at night, revealing who has been nice or naughty. Through the help of magic—and some willing adults—they return the following day, taking up a new spot each time.
However, kids aren’t supposed to touch the Scout Elves, or they’ll lose their magic. The Elves themselves cause a lot of mischief with each visit, committing a series of funny pranks and tricks while leaving the evidence behind. This tradition normally takes place between 1st December and Christmas Eve.
To help you take out the stress of this tradition, we’ve compiled a few Elf on the Shelf ideas you can easily recreate with readily available household items.
From creative creations to whimsical wintery scenes, these playful ideas will delight the kids and are the perfect way to make one of the most marvelous times of the year extra special.
Take a look!
1. Create a Bathroom Scene
Seems like these naughty elves have taken over the bathroom! One Elf creates a snowman on the top shelf with three rolls of decorated toilet paper. Place the Elf in the hollow interior and position him to hold up the top roll as a delightful snowman disguise.
Another Elf relaxes on the bottom shelf while one makes a statement of how smelly it is whenever you visit the toilet using a branded roll.
2. Glass Toilet
Hey, that’s not a toilet! Grab a glass from the kitchen and channel your Elf’s naughty side with a messy toilet setup.
Simply put some cooled chocolate shaped like fecal matter in the glass, then position your Elf as if it’s taking a dump.
3. Make Toast
Start your day with a festive holiday breakfast by recreating this cute Elf on the Shelf toasted bread idea. Pop two slices of bread in the toaster before punching two holes in each.
You can insert the elves’ hands or legs, as shown in the above example. A cheeky message, “It’s cold outside, but it’s TOASTY in here,” comes with the fun setup—peep that one Elf being envious of all the fun the others are having!
4. Morning Greetings
This Elf on the Shelf idea is sure to make your kids laugh when they walk into the bathroom in the morning.
You only need a small chalkboard to display your message and have the elves hold it up.
5. Big Bells Idea
Look at this little naughty Elf! This setup requires only two bells and comes with a customized message to emphasize the satirical meaning.
The hand gesture kinda says it all about what this Elf means!
6. Lock them Up
They aren’t in the bedroom, nor are they in the kitchen—where could they have gone? Kids will wonder where the elves are, only to realize later on that they’re being held up in jail by the Grinch!
You only need to create a box-like structure with cardboard and some tape and put your Elf in it. Cut out a rectangular hole, then add some candy canes as prison bars. Remember to name your jail!
7. Stop the Vandalism
If you’re looking for a last-minute idea, try this mischievous Elf on the Shelf idea by drawing over some pictures. Your kids are guaranteed to get a kick out of this silly idea!
Sit the Elf next to the picture and place the marker nearby as evidence of the cunny deed. Just make sure you use a washable marker.
8. Gift a New Gadget
Make your kids laugh when they wake up to see the elves holding a note that says they brought a new “Eye Pad.”
You only need a legal pad and some googly eyes to create your ‘mobile device.’ If you have a little one with an iPad on her Christmas list, this is an excellent way to foreshadow the gift before you present it.
9. Fork Problem
It looks like these elves have got themselves in a tricky situation—and they certainly aren’t holding back to showcase their frustration!
Get out some forks from your drawers and trap your elves underneath them on the kitchen counter. Complete the setup with a funny pun, “What the fork?” to display their dismay.
10. Repurpose the Toothbrush
Elf, that’s not what a toothbrush is used for!
Feign shock as your kids wake up to brush their teeth and discover a pesky elf has repurposed the toothbrush for other purposes. Just look at him shamelessly holding the thank you note!
11. Take it to the Pitch
Your soccer-obsessed kid will love this Elf on the Shelf soccer game idea. Use green construction paper or felt and draw lines with chalk to create a soccer pitch.
Knit some uniform kits for each team and have one Elf hold up the scoreboard.
12. Do a Prank
Recreate this adorable Elf on the Shelf idea to make a significant impact with only a few supplies.
All you need is to suspend your Elf from the shelf upside down while holding a bottle of water, then put a cute toy underneath to make it look like a sneaky prank move.
13. Play with a Slinky
This Elf got in a tricky situation trying to figure out how to use a Slinky.
Well, someone needs to tell him that we don’t use Slinkys but instead play with them! Even Santa seems to be laughing at his scout.
14. Catch the Elf
This setup is excellent if you have a big fan of Lilo and Stitch in the house. Tie up the Elf and place it near a Stitch doll with a message saying what’s really going on.
Remember: You can’t touch the Elf! Otherwise, the holiday magic will be lost, and you’ll be left with bad luck. The Elf has to free itself from this dire situation.
15. Take a Break
Look who’s decided to take some free time and indulge in some knitting. Being a Scout Elf can be stressful, so taking some time to relax is highly encouraged.
Thread some bamboo cocktail picks in the yarn and have the Elf hold them as knitting needles. Knit a small section first to make it look like an ongoing task.
16. Stuck in a Cup
After making sweet breakfast treats, rolling in the snow, and generally filling the house with holiday cheer, this Elf on the Shelf finally got stuck in a mug.
17. No Peeking
Take inspiration from this holiday scene and place the Elf and other playtime friends in front of miniature frosted trees.
The Elf decided it wouldn’t have fun alone this time and let others join in, including Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Yoshi. I’m pretty sure they can’t wait to take those blindfolds off and get in on the festivities!
18. Hostage Situation
It looks like another Elf is being held captive, only this time by army soldiers! Sit the Elf next to a wooden Christmas tree while tied up—here, a customized tree invokes the holiday spirit with its sweet message.
Place a few army soldier toys to complete the siege, and finish off the setup with a garland and frosted mini trees.
19. Make Some Donuts
The Elf is so helpful, waking up early to bake some donuts for breakfast.
Recreate this baking-inspired Elf on the Shelf idea with small, winter-inspired wood pieces for a snowy scene, a cute donut shop front, and some mini decorative donuts.
20. Croc-Infested Waters: A Splash of Humor
Transforming an ordinary bathtub into a playful scene, this idea features a vibrant blue bubble bath filled with floating Crocs in various colors and patterns. Perched above the action, an Elf on the Shelf clings to the faucet, adding a touch of mischief with a warning sign that reads “Croc Infested Water.”
The clever mix of wordplay and imaginative setup brings a dose of whimsy, making it a standout moment in holiday decor sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
21. Elsa’s Frozen Elf Adventure
A playful and creative twist on the Elf on the Shelf tradition, this setup features Elsa from Frozen seemingly casting her icy powers to freeze the mischievous elf in a block of ice.
The dramatic frozen scene is both hilarious and whimsical, adding a touch of storytelling to holiday décor. Perfect for delighting kids and adults alike, this clever idea combines holiday magic with a nod to a beloved animated classic.
