Elf on the Shelf Ideas with Paper

46 Elf on the Shelf ideas that use paper. From simple scenes like "Artistic Self-Portrait" to more elaborate ones like "Scanner Picture Frame Self", here's every idea from our catalog that calls for paper.

46 ideas Use the generator instead →
Living Room ●○○○○

Artistic Self-Portrait

Position the elf at a small desk or table with paper and crayons, mid-doodle. Leave behind a scribbled self-portrait for the kids to discover in the morning.

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

Elf Drawing for Santa

Set up a small drawing station with markers and paper showing a half-finished drawing of Santa. Pose the elf mid-stroke.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Paper Boat Sailing

Fold a small paper boat and float it in a half-full sink or bathtub. Place the elf inside as captain, holding a tiny paper flag.

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

Hangman Game

Draw a hangman grid on paper with a half-finished word guessed. Pose the elf and a second toy on opposite sides of the paper holding pencils.

Ages 5–12 Pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●○○○

Fireplace Self-Portrait

Roll out a small paper banner and prop it on a paper-towel-roll easel in front of the fireplace. Pose the elf with markers mid-drawing of himself.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Elf Moon Phases

Draw a row of moon phases on a paper strip and pose the elf pointing to tonight's moon. Add a small telescope prop.

Ages 5–12 Pet-safe 0
Dining Room ●●○○○

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.

Ages 4–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Invisible Ink Secret Messages

Elf leaves behind messages written with invisible ink for family to discover.

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

Airplane Arrival

Fold a paper airplane and position elf as if arriving via North Pole Express.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Doctor's Note Rest

Humorous doctor's note explaining elf needs rest for a few days.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Grocery List

Humorous grocery list from elf requesting items for family.

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
Living Room ●●○○○

Prayer List Starter

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

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
Living Room ●●○○○

Crayon Drawing Setup

Crayons and paper as if elf has been drawing, with creations.

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

Snowflake Cutter

Surround elf with cut paper snowflakes and scissors.

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

Santa Letter Writer

Elf at desk with paper and pen writing letter to Santa.

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

Photocopier Face Copies

Position the elf at a photocopier with funny copies nearby.

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

Printer Enlarged Face

The elf sits on a printer creating enlarged copies of its face.

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

Photocopier Paper Scan

Scan elf's image, leave printout in tray for discovery.

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

Tree Paper Airplane Crash

Create paper airplane with message, position elf crash-landed in tree branches.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Printable Twister Mat

Elf is positioned in contorted pose on Twister mat.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Sweets-Only Grocery List

Elf has written shopping list on paper containing only sweets.

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

Craft Time Glitter

Lay out a sheet of paper with glue, glitter, and a few cut shapes as if the elf just finished a craft. Pose him with glitter stuck to his hands and face.

Ages 4–10 Not pet-safe 0
Home Office ●●●○○

Elf Butt Photocopies

Run the elf's backside through a photocopier or scan and print a few pages. Pose him on top of the stack, proud of his handiwork.

Ages 5–12 Pet-safe 0
Home Office ●●●○○

Elf Printer Picture Prank

Scan or photocopy the elf's face several times and pile the papers in the printer output tray. Pose the elf standing on top of the stack.

Ages 4–12 Pet-safe 1
Bedroom ●●●○○

Elf Playing School

Line up stuffed animals facing a mini whiteboard with a lesson written on it. Pose the elf at the front as the teacher with a pointer.

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

Kindness Letter Arrival

Elf arrives with a Random Acts of Kindness letter.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Donut Breakfast Arrival

Festive donuts arranged around elf on arrival morning.

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

Bundle of Balloons

Colorful balloons attached to elf with welcome message.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●●○○

Elf Phone

Miniature phone prop with printable showing direct lines to Santa.

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

Secret Message From Santa

Leave encoded message from Santa that children must decode.

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

Gummy Bear Tree

Stack gummy bears to form Christmas tree shape near elf.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Mrs. Claus Cookies

Cookies with note indicating they came from Mrs. Claus.

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

Sweet Message in M&Ms

Spell out "Be Nice" or similar using M&Ms around elf.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●●○○

Elf Teacher

Elf positioned as classroom teacher with stuffed animals as students.

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

Trapped in Tape Train Tracks

Use tape to create train track patterns; elf tied along tracks.

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

Marshmallow Tic Tac Toe

Draw board; use marshmallows as game pieces with elf as player.

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

Skiing Elf

Popsicle stick skis; elf skiing down powdered sugar "mountain."

Ages 4–10 Pet-safe 0
Living Room ●●●○○

Snowflake Cutting

Paper, scissors, folding guide for children to cut snowflakes.

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

Lifting Weights

Tiny dumbbells from markers or paper; elf working out.

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

Donation Request

Elf with note requesting children donate toys for generosity.

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

Drawing Request

Note asking children to draw picture for elf to take back.

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

Moon Phase Paper Light

Create moon phase images featuring the elf's backside.

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

Snowflake Ceiling Fall Craft

Create snowflakes, suspend from ceiling, position elf with craft supplies.

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

Scanner Picture Frame Self

Scan or photograph the elf, cut out the image, place it in a frame.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0

More ways to filter

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need paper for these elf scenes?
These 46 ideas use paper as a key prop. Most allow substitutions — cotton balls for snow, ribbon for string, printed paper for a themed prop. Read each idea's "You'll need" list for specifics.
Where's the best place to get paper?
Most households already have paper on hand. If not, the affiliate link next to each prop in an idea's "You'll need" list goes to a Amazon search for that specific item.
Are any of these paper ideas pet safe?
Several are — check the "Pet safe" badge on individual idea cards, or use the Pet Safe filter from the main generator to narrow the list.