10 Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas

November 1, 2023
Blain's Farm & Fleet

Bring a smile to your kid’s face with these silly elf ideas!

Knock knock. Who’s there? It’s your Scout Elf, with some super amusing antics sure to make you smile! These ideas show off your elf’s playfulness and their flair for the funny.

If your Scour Elf has a good sense of humor, show them these hilarious The Elf on the Shelf ideas with easy instructions. So they can set up a scene that will leave the little ones giggling!

1. I’m Stuck in the TV!

elves stuck in TV

Psst…it’s me! I’ve found myself inside the screen. Can you help?

Materials:

  • YouTube video
  • Smart TV, computer monitor, laptop, or another device

Instructions:

  1. While experimenting with technology, your Scout Elf clicked on a YouTube link that got them stuck inside the screen!

2. The Floor Is Ice!

elves jumping on presents

In this cool elf caper, your Scout Elf must watch their step because the floor is made entirely of ice! How fast can they move around the ice?

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the ice backgrounds (as many as needed).
  2. They will tape them on the floor to create an ice floor.
  3. Then, next to your Christmas tree, your elf will set up boxes or presents on the ice to use as stepping stones. So they can make it across without touching the freezing floor!

3. Ironing Out the Wrinkles

elves ironing potato chips

“Don’t mind me. Just ironing out a few wrinkles!”

Materials:

  • Ruffled potato chips
  • Regular potato chips
  • Elf-sized ironing board and iron

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will find ruffled and regular potato chips.
  2. Next, they will set up their elf-sized ironing board and iron.
  3. Then, the elf will get to work ironing out all the wrinkles on the ruffled chips!

4. Get Me Out of Here!

elf next to picture

To create a silly surprise, your elf will scan themselves!

Materials:

  • Picture frame
  • Copier or camera
  • Color printer
  • Paper
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will use a copier to scan themselves. Helpful hint for elves: You could also press yourself up against a window and take a picture, if a copier is unavailable.
  2. Then, your elf will cut out the image and put it in one of your picture frames.
  3. They will sit nearby to watch you discover their funny photo!

5. Clownin’ Around

elf wearing clown nose next to picture with clown noses

To show off their love of playing jokes and dressing up at the North Pole, your elf will turn themselves (and your family) into a silly clown.

Materials:

  • Red pom-poms
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will tape small red pom-poms to one of your family photos.
  2. Then, they will wear their own clown nose and sit by to watch you find their silly surprise!

6. Baking “Brown-Es”

elf next to cookie sheet

This is the easiest batch of brownies ever! Your punny Scout Elf isn’t gathering flour, sugar, and cocoa; they’re crafting “Brown-Es,” sure to get laughs from little ones!

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. Then, they will whip up the batch of Brown-Es, by displaying the printable brown letters on a baking sheet. Yummy? Funny!

7. Freshest OJ Around

two elves drinking from oranges

To get a sip of the freshest orange juice around, your elf will drink straight from fresh oranges.

Materials:

  • Silly straws
  • Oranges
  • Knife

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will use a knife or other sharp object to puncture the skin of the orange.
  2. Then, your elf will carefully slide a silly straw in the hole to get to the yummy juice in the middle of the orange, and take a sip!

8. Peekaboo!

elves inside snowmen made of toilet paper

Oh dear! This toilet paper snowman is hiding a surprise…your Scout Elf!

Materials:

  • 3 rolls of toilet paper
  • Googly eyes
  • Black, orange, and brown construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Single hole punch
  • Gift bow (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will create a snowman they can hide in! First, they will stack three rolls of toilet paper on top of one another.
  2. Then, they will glue two googly eyes on the top roll of toilet paper.
  3. They will cut a nose, arms, and buttons out of construction paper and glue them onto the toilet paper.
  4. Using a single hole punch, they will punch small circles out of construction paper and arrange them for a mouth.
  5. As an option, they will glue a gift bow on top of the snowman.
  6. Finally, they will climb inside the middle of the toilet paper rolls and pop out to surprise you!

9. sELFie Session

elves taking selfies

“I think we just found our new profile picture!”

Materials:

  • Cell phone camera

Instructions:

  1. The Scout Elf will secretly use your cell phone.
  2. Then, they will flood your camera roll with sELFies!

10. New Eye-Pad

elves next to notepad covered in googly eyes

“Eye” spy something silly!

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will find a notepad and googly eyes.
  2. Then, the Scout Elf will adhere the googly eyes to the notepad to make an “eye-pad.”
  3. The elf will place the “eye-pad” where you can see it, so everyone can have a laugh!

These ideas were originally posted on Elf on the Shelf’s Blog.

For more toy guides and ideas like this one, check out our Toyland® Blog.