20 Elf on the Shelf Ideas from Mrs. Ashley French

20 Elf on the Shelf ideas originally shared by Mrs. Ashley French. v2 crawl — 24 ideas Every idea below links back to the original post — visit their site for more parenting ideas, recipes, and crafts year-round.

20 ideas Use the generator instead →
Bedroom ●●○○○

Aluminum Foil Shoe Shine

Wrap child school shoes in foil with a note saying the elf shined them.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Can Stack Counter Climb

Stack cans to counter height with elf's face inside snack package appearing to steal food.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Fridge Egg Face Draw

Draw faces on fridge eggs and position elf sitting on them holding the marker.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Fruit Face Marker Art

Draw faces on fruit and leave marker on elf's lap to appear the elf created the artwork.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Gingerbread Kit Gift Delivery

Place gift on counter with elf leaned against it with accompanying note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Googly Eyes Everything

Affix googly eyes to fridge items, eggs, fruit, and family photos around house.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●○○○

Lego Cooperative Build

Build small structure with elf and Lego figures positioned to appear constructing together.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●○○○

Magnatile Small Structure

Construct small structure with elf positioned inside or beside it.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Mirror Drawing Counter

Draw silly portrait, face, snowflakes, or message on mirror with elf on counter holding marker.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Ribbon Doorway Trap

Tape ribbon across doorframe entrance with elf in hallway next to ribbon roll.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Sequential Clue Trail Hunt

Create sequential clue trail throughout house leading from one clue to next to final elf location.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Toilet Paper Roll Chocolate

Position elf bent over inside toilet paper roll with candy behind for humorous scene.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●○○○

Toilet Paper Tree Strips

Hang toilet paper strips on tree with elf nestled in branches appearing stuck mid-prank.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Laundry Room ●●○○○

Toy Donation Basket

Position elf in empty basket with note explaining it took old toys to North Pole for inspection.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●●○○

Shoebox Treats Trap

Wrap shoebox with hole cut in top, label with elf treats, place elf inside.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●●○○

Spider Man Mirror Tape

Tape elf to mirror with Spider Man figure holding yarn to appear capturing elf.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●●●○

Cereal Shoe Breakfast

Fill child's shoes with cereal, add spoon, position elf with note claiming breakfast creation.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●●○

Muffin Tray Candy Display

Fill muffin tray with various candies labeled humorously with elf nearby.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●●○

Rubber Duck Marshmallow Tub

Fill bowl with marshmallows as bath with elf inside, dishcloth draped over edge.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●●●○

Vehicle Toy Parade Line

Line up vehicles with elf on first one alongside other character toys mimicking parade formation.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0

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Frequently asked questions

Who runs Mrs. Ashley French?
Mrs. Ashley French is a parenting blog. v2 crawl — 24 ideas
Are these ideas from a Mrs. Ashley French blog post?
Yes — each idea on this page is credited back to a specific post on https://mrsashleyfrench.com/blog-archives/easy-elf-on-the-shelf-ideas. Click any idea's detail page and look for the "original post" link in the image caption or the Credit section at the bottom.
Can I use these ideas with my own family?
Absolutely — ideas are free to use. If you'd like to share or republish any of these specific scene write-ups, please follow the original source's usage terms; visit the linked post for details.

Source: Mrs. Ashley French. Each idea below links to the specific post on their site.