Elf Planner

79 Elf on the Shelf Ideas from The Foreign Mom

79 Elf on the Shelf ideas originally shared by The Foreign Mom. v2 crawl — 100 ideas Every idea below links back to the original post — visit their site for more parenting ideas, recipes, and crafts year-round.

79 ideas Use the generator instead →
Other ●●○○○

Band-Aid Accident Victim

Cover elf with band-aids with "I need a hug!" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Bathroom Bow Decorator

Stick colorful bows all over bathroom; elf holds one.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Be Good Pencil Reminder

Elf with pencil and small "Be Good!" card.

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

Board Game Night

Elf with dolls around board game setup.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Candy Cane Jar Thief

Elf's body inside jar of candy canes with cane in hand.

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

Candy Cane Tree Decorator

Hook elf's arms over tree branch, hang candy canes around with "I'm hooked on the holidays" note.

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

Candy Delivery Gift

Pile candy with bow; elf nearby as delivering treats.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Candy Wrapper Feast

Elf surrounded by candy wrappers as if having eaten too much.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Chip Bag Burial

Elf inside half-empty chip bag with crumbs spilling.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Christmas Card Writer

Elf with pen by stack of cards with "Time to write cards" note.

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

Christmas Lights Wrap

Loosely wrap elf with battery-operated lights near tree.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Coffee Mug Lounger

Elf inside large mug with head poking out.

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

Couch Cushion Nester

Tuck elf between couch cushions for cozy hiding spot.

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

Curtain Ribbon Swinger

Tie ribbon around curtain rod; hang elf on it.

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

Dinosaur Rider

Elf on top of plastic dinosaur holding reins of string.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Doll Clothes Dresser

Dress elf in Barbie or doll clothes with "How do I look?" note.

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

Domino Line Starter

Line up dominoes in row; elf at starting point.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Empty Wrapper Culprit

Elf on table surrounded by empty chocolate wrappers with "Oops!" sign.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Freezer Cold Refuge

Elf among frozen vegetables with "Too cold for the North Pole" sign.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Fridge Whipped Cream Surprise

Elf on fridge shelf with dab of whipped cream on nose.

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

Gift Bag Surprise

Elf in gift bag with tissue and "Thanks for having me!" note.

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

Gift Bow Wearer

Large gift bow on elf's head with "I'm your present today!" tag.

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

Gift Box Popper

Elf inside wrapped present with lid half off popping out.

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

Gift-Wrapped Elf Present

Wrap elf in gift paper with bow, head peeking out.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Googly Eye Bandit

Stick googly eyes on fridge items; elf nearby holding one.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Jar Trapper

Elf inside clear jar with "Do not open!" label.

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

Lego House Builder

Use Legos to build walls around elf as if trapped inside.

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

Light of the World

Elf next to candle or string lights with "Jesus is the light" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Marshmallow Bubble Bath Bowl

Elf in bowl filled with mini marshmallows as if bathing.

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

Mini Tree Decorator

Elf near tabletop tree with few mini ornaments scattered.

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

Napkin Parachute Drop

Craft mini parachute from napkin; suspend elf from ceiling.

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

Nativity Scene Prayer

Elf beside nativity with folded hands pointing toward Baby Jesus.

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

Nativity Star Bearer

Elf holding shining star above nativity manger.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Nice List Holder

Print mini "Nice List"; tape to elf's hand with "Be good" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Pajamas Delivery

Elf with wrapped pair of pajamas for children to open.

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

Paper Airplane Flyer

Strap elf to paper airplane in flying position.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Paper Snowflake Maker

Paper bits scattered; elf with scissors and finished snowflakes.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Paper Towel Sleeping Bag

Roll elf in paper towel with "Do not disturb!" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Home Office ●●○○○

Photocopier Selfie

Elf on printer glass with copy paper (optional photocopy).

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

Prayer List Starter

Elf with small paper titled "Prayer List" for family.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Prayer Reminder

Tape "Remember to pray" note into elf's hands.

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

Presents Pile Sitter

Elf on top of pile of wrapped presents with "Wrap this up!" note.

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

Remote Control Guardian

Lean elf behind TV remote on couch with arms around it.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Scripture Card Holder

Elf with tiny scripture card about kindness or faith.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Season Reason Scribe

Elf with pen writing "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Entryway ●●○○○

Shoe Rack Peek

Tuck elf in cubby hole of shoe rack with head poking out.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Entryway ●●○○○

Shoe Sleeper

Elf inside sneaker with "Comfy bed!" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Silverware Drawer Peek

Elf's head peeking out from open silverware drawer.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Sprinkle Bowl Lounger

Elf sitting in bowl of rainbow sprinkles.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Sticky Note Encourager

Write encouragement on sticky notes; tape to wall near elf.

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

Stocking Stuffer

Elf halfway inside stocking holding candy or printable note.

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

Storybook Reader

Prop open Christmas book under tree; elf holds it with stuffed animals listening.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Sugar Snow Lounging

Mound sugar; position elf on top enjoying winter.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Tissue Box Sleeper

Elf inside tissue box with tissue as blanket.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Toothbrush Reminder

Elf by sink holding toothbrush.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Toothpaste Smiley

Smiley faces drawn with toothpaste on mirror; elf nearby.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Toothpick HELP Message

Arrange toothpicks to spell "HELP ME!"; elf holding one.

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

Towel Hammock Sleeper

String dish towel between chairs as hammock with elf tucked.

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

Toy Car Driver

Elf inside toy car with dolls in back seat.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

TP Roll Snowman Builder

Snowman from toilet paper rolls; elf with marker as if finished.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Staircase ●●○○○

TP Roll Stair Tumbler

Elf inside toilet paper roll mid-step rolling down stairs.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe Needs stairs 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

TP Streamer Bandit

Elf on toilet paper rolls with unrolled paper streaming across floor.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Wall Tape Spread

Stick elf to wall with painter's tape across arms and legs.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Entryway ●●○○○

Wreath Entanglement

Tuck elf in middle of hanging wreath with arms spread wide.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Ziplock Bag Escape

Zip elf inside Ziplock bag with "Help me out!" note.

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

Battery-Candle Marshmallow Roast

Tape marshmallow to toothpick in elf's hand over battery candle.

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

Chandelier Swinger

Tie elf upside down onto chandelier or light fixture.

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

Coloring Book Artist

Crayon taped to elf's hand; open coloring book with scribbles.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Cupcake Decorator

Elf with sprinkles and frosting tube near decorated cupcake.

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

Decoration Bin Explorer

Tuck elf inside box of tinsel or ornaments peeking out.

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

Gift Wrapping Worker

Elf with wrapping paper, tape, bows as if wrapping presents.

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

Light Parade Puller

Elf pulling toy car or wagon decorated with mini Christmas lights.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Milk Mustache Display

Cotton ball dipped in milk as mustache with "Got milk?" sign.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Nutella Spoon Snacker

Elf next to Nutella jar with spoon taped to hand, chocolate on face.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Peanut Butter Diver

Elf in jar holding spoon (protected with plastic).

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Rice Krispies Chef

Scatter Rice Krispies and marshmallows; elf holding spoon cooking.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●●○○

Shaving Cream Dad

Shaving cream on elf's face; comb in hand near mirror.

Ages 4–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●●○○

Silly Photo Tape Doodler

Tape silly eyes or doodles over family pictures.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●●○

Spaghetti Dunking

Elf in bowl of pasta (protected in Ziplock), sauce on mouth.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0

More ways to filter

By style

By room

Frequently asked questions

Who runs The Foreign Mom?
The Foreign Mom is a parenting blog. v2 crawl — 100 ideas
Are these ideas from a The Foreign Mom blog post?
Yes — each idea on this page is credited back to a specific post on https://theforeignmom.com/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: The Foreign Mom. Each idea below links to the specific post on their site.