Wearing Harry Potter Costume
How it's done
Dress the elf in a paper Hogwarts robe, glasses, and a lightning scar marker. Add a chopstick wand.
You'll need
- paper robe
- pipe cleaner glasses
- marker
- chopstick wand
affiliate Cart icons link to Amazon search.
Should be fine around pets as long as you place it out of reach.
Why this works
Bedroom scenes work best as an evening reveal — kids find the elf when they climb into bed. Bedtime is when a cozy, low-mess scene lands hardest. This mid-difficulty scene trades a little more setup time for a bigger 'wow' moment when your kids walk in.
Variations
- Bigger-kid twist: For an older crowd that sees through simple scenes, step up to Balloon Door Crepe Blockade — same room, cleverer setup.
If it doesn't go to plan
If the elf ends up too well-hidden and the kids can't find it, nudge them with a vague hint ("Looks like our elf went somewhere cozy") — the discovery is the point.
Credit: This idea comes from Make the Best of Everything . Visit the original post for more ideas and photos.
Need an idea for tomorrow?
Tell us about your house and kids — we'll pick 5 more ideas personalized for you.
Try the generator →More Bedroom ideas
Abacus Climbing Adventure
Elf positioned climbing on toy abacus beads as climbing structure.
Aluminum Foil Shoe Shine
Wrap child school shoes in foil with a note saying the elf shined them.
Army Men Capture Binding
Position army men as if capturing or attacking the elf.
More ideas using marker
Dozen Egg Silly Faces
All dozen eggs in carton display silly drawn faces created by the elf.
Dry-Erase Joke Board
Elf holds marker next to board displaying elf-themed jokes or puns.
Elf Apple Watch
Draw a clock face on an apple with a marker and strap it to the elf's wrist with a rubber band. Add an 'Apple Watch' label.
Other similar-effort ideas
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.
Adoption Certificate
Official elf adoption certificate displayed near elf on arrival.
Airplane Arrival
Fold a paper airplane and position elf as if arriving via North Pole Express.