10 Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Throw together these simple elf ideas in a jiff!

Is your Scout Elf crunched for time? Is their commute to the North Pole really long, or do they have a lot of duties for Santa?

Now, you can inspire them with these easy last-minute Elf on the Shelf ideas. Suitable for the busiest of elves, these elf ideas can be created in a flash!

1. Toilet Paper Trade Out

That’s a wrap! Your Scout Elf made a surprising switcheroo in the bathroom!

Materials:

• Wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Empty toilet paper roll
• Tape

Instructions:

1. Your elf will cut a small section of wrapping paper, and tape it to an empty toilet paper roll.
2. They will sit by and watch you find this silly swap.

2. Making Faces

Your Scout Elf tweaked your photo with some silly scribbles. Do you like their zany additions?

Materials:

• Picture frame with glass
• Dry erase marker

Instructions:

1. Your Scout Elf will make some silly adjustments to your framed pictures by drawing on funny faces with a dry erase marker.

3. Nutcracker Imposters

“Just act natural…”

Materials:

• Nutcrackers
• Nuts in shells
• Metal nutcracker

Instructions:

1. First, your Scout Elf will arrange some Nutcracker friends into a line.
2. Next, they will place themselves, standing tall, among the nutcrackers while holding a metal nutcracker and unshelled nuts.

4. Don’t Forget the Syrup

Scout Elves love to sip syrup, and thanks to some handy tools, your elf will find an innovative way to do it!

Materials:

• Color printer
• Paper
• Printable
• Scissors
• Tape
• Syrup bottle
• Straw
• Scout Elves at Play Tools
  • Christmas Climbing Boots

Instructions:

1. First, your elf will strap on the Christmas Climbing Boots and secure them to a flat surface. Helpful hint for elves: The Christmas Climbing Boots work best on smooth surfaces, like mirrors, glass, or tile!
2. Next, your elf will print off the funny syrup label and attach it to the bottle.
3. After hanging upside down, your elf will stick a straw into a bottle of syrup and take a big slurp of it!

5. Online Shopping Spree

“Did you see the new Claus Couture?”

Materials:

• Laptop computer
• Color printer
• Construction paper
• Printable boxes 2.5 x 2.5
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Your Scout Elf will place themselves in front of a laptop computer with farmandfleet.com showing on screen.
2. They will place all the elf-sized mailing packages around them to showcase their online shopping spree!

6. Outdoorsy Oasis

Even while inside, your Scout Elf won’t pass up the chance to feel as if they’re sleeping under the stars.

Materials:

• Washcloth
• Two cups
• Scout Elves at Play Tools
  • Glacier Grips
  • Candy Cane Cable

Instructions:

1. Your Scout Elf will pitch a tent by placing two cups approximately 15 inches apart.
2. Secure a Glacier Grip to the top of each cup. Helpful hint for elves: The Glacier Grips work best on smooth surfaces, like glass!
3. Tie the Candy Cane Cable from one Glacier Grip to the other, keeping the line tight.
4. Drape a washcloth over the Candy Cane Cable.
5. Crawl inside the tent for a campout!

7. Prepare for Landing

Your Scout Elf had an awesome airplane entrance!

Materials:

• Paper
• Paper plane printable
• Christmas tree

Instructions:

1. To stage this entrance, your Scout Elf will start by creating an aircraft using the instructions on the paper plane printable.
2. After crafting their plane, your elf will sail straight into the Christmas tree and wait to be found!

8. Hallway Hijinks

Your Scout Elf showed off a unique way to climb the stairs!

Materials:

• Staircase
• Scout Elves at Play Tools
  • Peppermint Grappling Hook
  • Candy Cane Cable

Instructions:

1. Your Scout Elf will tie the Candy Cane Cable to the Peppermint Grappling Hook.
2. They will dangle from the Candy Cane Cable and wait for your to see their hallway hijinks!

9. Sofa Search

You’ll wake to see your Scout Elf pulling an assortment of missing items from your couch cushions!

Materials:

• Sofa
• Coins
• Candy
• Buttons
• Miscellaneous toys/objects

Instructions:

1. Your elf will look under the sofa cushions for forgotten tidbits—coins, candy, buttons—it’s sure to be a surprise!

10. Picture Perfect

Your Scout Elf did a little redecorating last night. How do you like the new pictures?

Materials:

• Family photos

Instructions:

1. Your elf will go head over heals turning family photos upside down!

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.