25 Different Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Elf on the shelf is one of the very many traditions our family partakes in during the holidays.  I mean, who doesn't want to say , "Your elves are watching", and have your kids shape up IMMEDIATELY and listen to you?!?!?!  I wish we had a form of these guys to us year round HA.  This year, our original elf, Buddy, brought his friend Sparkle to join in on the fun.  The kids get so excited to come downstairs everyday and see where the elves are hiding and what they have gotten into the night before.  If you want to see more of them dressed up as their two favorite elves, check out this blog post!

I wish I could take all of the credit for most of the scenes, but my husband is the mastermind behind the elves!  Our elves make their magical appearance the day after Thanksgiving.  (I know, I know, December 1st is the official date!)  I let the kids cuddle and snuggle with them until the 31st....and then off to the North

Day 1:

Countdown Calendars:  The grand appearance day of the elves.  The perfect gift on December 1st is a countdown calendar.  I found these two on Amazon a while back.  However, I think next year I will be ordering these sleigh ones...because I mean...look at them!!!  I fill each one with little candies, treats, or toys.  Sometimes I even add a little note in them.  The kids get to open them each day after school which gives them a little surprise to look forward to at the end of the day.

Day 2:

Each year, we buy the kids and ourselves matching Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve.  Last year, I decided the pajamas would be a gift from the elves.  I normally gives these at the beginning of Elf season so the kids get a couple of wears out of them before Christmas. 

My four year old was "helping" decorate the stair case the night before I had come up with this one.  She took all of my extra ribbons and one by one knotted them on every single one of our stair banisters.  She did NOT want me to take them down LOL.  So I left them, and the elves took them down to use as props.  It was a perfect plan!

Day 3:

Hands down the kids get MOST excited when the elves use their toys to create little scenes.  This scenes credit goes to daddy.  I had forgotten to move the elves and texted him to do so when he got home (LA City Fire Fighter...so he works 24 hour shifts).  He surprised ALL of us with this adorable setup!  Barbie table and chairs, LOL cups, and a couple of half eaten donut wholes!

Day 4:

Need a quick and easy idea?  This one is great.  The elves reminding the kids to take their daily vitamin!

Day 5:

The Quarantine Elf.  Because it's not quite 2020 without one.  I actually thoroughly enjoy creating these little magical scenes....and I think my husband does even MORE!  I could not bare the thought of having our elves in quarantine for a set amount of days.  Although, it is a great idea if you need to buy yourself some time lol.  But, my kids do get irritated with the restrictions the pandemic has on them.  So I decided to put a little positive spin on it and "isolate" the elves in lamp shades with  little face mask gifts and a note telling the kids to stay safe and hang in there!

Day 6, 7 and 8:

Over the top or showing up with a gift is not always an option.  I mean.....there is not always time! LOL So when there is not the time, I always make sure to just move them to a cute spot before I go to bed.  I always love including Christmas decor! 

Day 9:

This was a fun one.....and got the BIGGEST reaction out of the kids so far.  Pictures speak a thousand words.  Those pesky elves.  AND in the middle of a pandemic #wortheveryroll

Day 10:

Ok ok...this one got me in a little bit of trouble! So I had an elf on the shelf mom fail....

I overheard Charlee (my 4 year old) tell Mason (my 6 year old) yesterday morning when they had seen the elves had moved the night before, that she touched the elves and they didn't lose their magic. Mason yelled at her and said she couldn't do that but neither of them knew I heard the conversation. So....this morning I set the elves up with medicine and things and wrote a note. First line....

We're not feeling so well, I think someone touched us and we're losing our magic.

Both of the kids jaws dropped. Mason said, "Mom, I did NOT touch those elves!" He hesitated to say, "but I think I know who did." Points to Charlee behind her back so she can't see him. Charlee immediately starts balling her eyes out. Mason started tearing up and asked me if the elves were going to die or stay at the North Pole and never come back. It was a disaster.

Last line on the note said if your extra good today, our magic may come back. We were already in full blown crisis mode for that to happen. Lol  Not a good way to start the morning with those two!

Notice the sock sleeping bags, medicine, and thermometer.  I even put pink lip gloss on their cheeks to make it look like they were really sick.  I honestly thought I was setting myself up to get a couple of REALLY good kids that morning. 

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Day 11:

Mason is OBSESSED with dinosaurs.  I was pretty proud of this one and he was so impressed he had to call grandma and tell her all about it that morning. 

Day 12:

The kids play "The Floor is Lava" ALL the time and got a huge kick out of this one!  Immediately jumped on the couches as soon as I read the note.  Although, I would suggest revealing them closer to the front door....it took us a bit longer to get to school that morning bouncing from object to object.

Day 13:

When we knew we were going to spend the night at home watching movies, we thought it would be fun to play a game with the kids.  So why not have the elves introduce it to them! 

Day 14:

This one had my husband and kids rolling.....Dinosaurs for Mason, Barbie's for Charlee, it was the perfect scene!

Day 15:

Masons room is a totally decked out Jurassic World.  We have netting and vines hanging from his ceilings.  He took it upon himself to hang helicopters and all of the different flying dinosaurs as well.  So naturally, I had to utilize the decor for a fun elf scene!  The note said they took the helicopter to the North Pole that night.  I could just see the kids imaginations running wild!

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Day 16:

Hubs came up with this one.  His family has a tradition of making Worscterbroils (no idea how you spell it, but kind of like pigs in a blanket).  They get together about a week before Christmas every year and all make them together....guys and kids too!  So the day we were going to do that....the kids and I woke up to this elf scene!

Day 17:

The kids baby cousin came over for dinner the night before and left the high chair behind for the holidays.  Those silly elves had to try it out!  Eating maple syrup and writing love notes in M&Ms.

Day 18:

Ok this one got some MAJOR stuff done!  I told the kids that if they ate all of their vegetable soup (they eat NO veggies) that I would write a letter to the elves that they were extra good.  Soooo....as a double wammy, the elves wrote back that they were so proud of them...but if they also slept in their own beds without crawling into mommy or daddys before it was time for school....they would bring them something comfy and cozy.  After much success two nights in a row, they brought back matching pajamas!

Barbie bed, them holding the note we wrote them, and a blanket made of kleenex was a big hit with the kids. 

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Day 19:

The naughty little elves getting into the booze!

Day 20 and 21:

I lumped these two together because they were pretty much the same idea.  I have to say, Charlee's favorite was the writing in lipstick on the floor.  Spa day, dress up, and makeup with the elves. 

Day 22:

This one got a good laugh and was so quick and easy to do! 

Day 23:

Toothpaste on the mirror.....sounded like a great idea.....but 10 days later....I still have toothpaste on the mirror LOL  Next time I will probably hang a note or piece of paper with the toothpaste on it. 

Day 24:

Credit to dad on this one!  Christmas Eve = a day of cooking!  No idea HOW he comes up with this stuff LOL

Day 25:

The Christmas morning surprise!!!! As we were putting the kids down for bed, we read them the Night Before Christmas and told them we were going downstairs to watch a holiday movie before we went to bed ourselves.  Mason replied, "If Santa comes when you are still awake, can you get a picture with him?"  So....those little elves tried to catch him for a picture, but were left only with his boots! 

Tips On Keeping the Magic Real:

I always try to include a note.  Sometimes there is no time.  But a personalized note that recalls stuff going on in real life.  "Mason, you did such a good job eating your carrots last night...maybe try broccoli tonight and I will bring you something special from the North Pole tomorrow."  "Charlee, good job on getting 5 green stars this week in class.  Remember, Santa can see you, even when you can't see him! "

Use props from around the house.  The kids are always SO impressed when the elves create little themes from the toys they have laying around the house or Christmas decor,  I can just see their imaginations running wild when they come down to see them.  Wondering how these little elves gathered all of these items to make up the cutest little scenes.  

I am always looking for new and fresh ideas!  Please share if you have put together any epic Elf scenes for your little ones!