62 Elf on the Shelf Ideas from Make the Best of Everything
62 Elf on the Shelf ideas originally shared by Make the Best of Everything. Crawled in v1 — 64 raw ideas extracted Every idea below links back to the original post — visit their site for more parenting ideas, recipes, and crafts year-round.
Being a Door Able
Use sticky tack to press the elf flat against a door in a silly pose. Add a paper sign that says 'door-able'.
Christmas Book Display
Fan out Christmas books on a shelf with the elf arranging them. Prop one open in his hands.
Drinking Fresh Orange Juice
Poke a straw into a fresh orange and pose the elf sipping from it. Add a tiny napkin for effect.
Elf Covered in Christmas Stickers
Cover the elf head to toe in holiday stickers until he's unrecognizable. Leave the sticker sheet beside him for kids to see.
Getting Cozy in Christmas Socks
Tuck the elf inside a festive Christmas sock with just his head sticking out. Lay him on the couch or nightstand.
Hanging Out in a Cup in the Cupboard
Sit the elf inside a cup on a pantry shelf so kids find him when they grab breakfast dishes. Add a tiny book for reading.
Hanging Out with Apples in the Fruit Basket
Nestle the elf into a fruit basket among apples and oranges like he's camouflaged. Add a paper 'spot me' sign.
Hanging Out with Nativity
Nestle the elf beside a nativity set like a curious visitor. Add a tiny gift at his feet.
Hot Chocolate Elf
Pose the elf hugging a mug of cocoa topped with marshmallows. Add a blanket draped over his shoulders.
It's Corn
Pose the elf hugging an ear of corn or a corn-on-the-cob decoration. Add a speech bubble quoting the viral song.
Looking in a Box of Cereal
Stand the elf on the kitchen counter with his head peering over or into an open cereal box. Add a tiny spoon.
Napping in Toy Boxes
Burrow the elf into a pile of small toy boxes like a nest. Add a tiny pillow and blanket.
Peeking Out of the Cookie Jar
Lift the lid of a cookie jar and settle the elf inside so only his head pokes out. Add a crumb around his mouth.
Sitting with Olaf
Seat the elf next to an Olaf plush with a book or a mug of cocoa between them. Add a paper 'warm hugs' sign.
Warming Up with Toast
Pose the elf hugging a slice of toast like a blanket. Add a butter knife and a drop of jelly on a plate.
Watching Through Binoculars
Place a pair of binoculars in the elf's hands and prop him on a shelf like he's spying on the room. Add a tiny notebook.
Wrapped in Tin Foil
Wrap the elf head to toe in aluminum foil like a holiday leftover. Leave him on the counter or inside the fridge.
Acting Silly in Toilet Paper Rolls
Stick the elf's arms and legs through empty toilet paper tubes for a robot look. Pose him on the bathroom counter.
Bringing Breakfast for the Kids
Set out a plate of pancakes or cereal bowls at each kid's seat with a note from the elf. Pose him at the head of the table with a spatula.
Camping Under a Book
Prop an open book tent-style with the elf inside holding a flashlight. Lay a towel beneath as a sleeping bag.
Candy Cane Heart
Arrange candy canes in a heart shape on a table and center the elf in the middle. Tape the candy canes lightly to keep the shape.
Caught in the Instant Pot Trivet
Thread the elf's limbs through an Instant Pot trivet so he looks stuck. Set it on the counter with a help sign.
Cleaning Teeth with Crocodile Dentist
Pose the elf at the Crocodile Dentist game with a tiny toothbrush in the croc's mouth. Add a paper checkup clipboard.
Coming Home from the Christmas Tree Farm
Pose the elf beside the Christmas tree dragging a small branch with a paper 'tree farm' sign. Add a toy saw.
Cooking with Chips
Set up a toy stove with a frying pan of potato chips and pose the elf as the chef with a spatula. Add a chef's hat cutout.
Dressed Up as Rudolph
Fix a red pom-pom nose and paper antlers to the elf and pose him prancing on the mantle. Add a tiny bell around his neck.
Drew Mustaches on Photos
Use a dry-erase marker to add mustaches and silly details to framed family photos. Pose the elf with the marker mid-doodle.
Drinking Syrup in the Fridge
Prop the elf on a fridge shelf with a syrup bottle tipped toward his mouth. Add a sticky droplet trail for effect.
Elf Cookies
Set out a plate of elf-shaped cookies with the elf in the middle, pretending to munch on one. Leave crumbs on his hands.
Elf in a Hamster Ball
Place the elf inside a clear plastic hamster ball and set it on the floor or shelf. Add a tiny 'runaway' sign.
Elf is Locked Outside
Stick the elf to the outside of the front door with sticky tack. Add a 'let me in' sign pressed to the glass.
Elf Makes Up a Game
Pose the elf with a handwritten index card describing a silly new game he invented. Add a few game pieces to match the rules.
Elf Menu
Set up a folded paper menu on a plate with silly 'elf cuisine' entrees. Pose the elf as the maitre d' holding a pen.
Elf Reindeer Cookies
Arrange a plate of reindeer-shaped cookies and pose the elf sneaking a bite from one. Add a glass of milk.
Hanging Around in Underwear
Peg the elf to a clothesline wearing only a tiny pair of underwear. Add a sign that says 'laundry day'.
Hanging from a Hanger on a Light Fixture
Clip the elf to a clothes hanger and hook the hanger over a light fixture. Let him swing slightly for motion.
Hanging Out in the Advent Chains
Tangle the elf in a paper-chain advent calendar strung across the room. Pose him upside down with a surprised face.
Hanging Out with Christmas Bows
Stick a cluster of decorative bows together and entangle the elf in the ribbon. Hang the whole arrangement from a doorknob.
ICUP Cup Joke
Stack two paper cups labeled 'I' and 'C' beside the letter 'U' with the elf holding a 'P'. Add a laugh track sign.
Ironing Chips
Set up the kid's toy ironing board with an iron and a stack of crinkled chips. Pose the elf pressing chips flat with concentration.
Jingle Bells Batman Smells
Pose Batman and the elf side by side with a sign singing the 'jingle bells, Batman smells' version. Add a tiny music note.
Locked in a Candy Jar
Sit the elf inside a clear glass candy jar with a few candies around him and screw the lid on tight. Add a 'help' sign.
Marshmallow Bath
Fill a small bowl with mini marshmallows and settle the elf in the middle with a tiny towel. Lay parchment underneath for quick cleanup.
Melted Snowman Water Glass
Fill a glass with water and drop in a carrot nose; draw a face on the glass with a dry-erase marker. Pose the elf beside it with a sad note.
Message on a Banana
Scratch or write a short message onto a banana peel with a toothpick or marker. Pose the elf holding the banana proudly.
National Poop Museum
Display wrapped chocolate candies on a tray with fancy paper labels like 'specimen A'. Pose the elf as the docent with a pointer.
Ornament Instruments
Arrange small Christmas ornaments as if they are a drum set or band instruments in the elf's hands. Add a music note garland.
Paper Towel Snowman
Stack paper towel rolls into a snowman with a drawn-on face and paper scarf. Pose the elf as the builder.
Poofy Ball Pit
Fill a clear container or shoebox with craft pom-poms and drop the elf in. Add a tiny 'ball pit' sign.
Popping Through Rice Krispies
Submerge the elf mostly into a bowl of Rice Krispies so only his head and arms poke out. Add a spoon and a napkin.
Sprinkle Bath
Fill a small dish with colorful sprinkles and submerge the elf up to his neck. Add a tiny rubber duck for bath-time charm.
Standing on a Globe at the North Pole
Perch the elf on top of a globe with a finger pointing at the North Pole. Add a paper 'home' label.
Sweet Drink with Mickey
Seat the elf and a Mickey Mouse plush at a tiny table with two cups of cocoa. Add striped straws and a sign saying 'cheers'.
Wrap Star
Stack a few wrapped gift boxes and perch the elf on top like a tree topper. Add a paper star in his hand.
Wrapped Up in a Tin Foil Hershey Kiss
Wrap the elf entirely in aluminum foil with a paper strip tag poking out the top to look like a giant Hershey Kiss. Set him on a plate for display.
Hanging Out on the Ceiling Fan
Use sticky tack to perch the elf on one of the ceiling fan blades. Turn the fan off and leave him straddling it.
Mega Blocks Christmas Tree and Chair
Build a small Mega Blocks Christmas tree and chair and pose the elf lounging in the chair. Add a tiny ornament on the tree.
Popping Out of a Gatorade Bottle
Cut a hole in the top of an empty Gatorade bottle and pop the elf's head and arms through. Tape edges inside to prevent cuts.
Snow Boots with Gloves and Scarf
Stand the elf in a pair of kids' snow boots and add rolled paper-towel 'gloves' and a paper scarf. Add a cotton-ball snow pile nearby.
Swing Made from a Toilet Paper Roll
Tape twine to the ends of an empty toilet paper roll to make a swing and hang it from a shelf or lamp. Strap the elf on with painter's tape.
Wearing Harry Potter Costume
Dress the elf in a paper Hogwarts robe, glasses, and a lightning scar marker. Add a chopstick wand.
Wrapping Paper Stilts
Roll two tubes of wrapping paper and tape them to the elf's feet as tall stilts. Prop him leaning against the wall.
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