Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (2024)

Elf Ideas

Need an elf idea quick? Scout Elves—if you don’t have a lot of time, and you’re looking for a fast idea that will still bring a smile to your family member’s faces, check out these easy elf ideas that you can create in no time!

Click each picture for full instructions for your Scout Elf.

Wheel of Good Fortune

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (3)

Sugar and spice and everything nice! Your Scout Elf will set kind deeds in motion with this free printable that encourages little ones to partake in simple acts of kindness.

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Brad
  • Elf Pets® Saint Bernard

Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will print and cut out the printable kind deed wheel.
  2. Next, they will use a brad to fasten the arrow to the wheel, leaving a small space between the brad and the paper to ensure a good spin.
  3. Your elf will sit next to the wheel and wait for you to give it a spin to see what kind deed you can do today.
  4. Bonus: Elves love reporting kids’ kind deeds to Santa, and they may bring the wheel back more than once for kids to spin again!

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Christmas Rocks!

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (5)

Let’s jam! Your elf is excited to rock out like a Scout Elf superstar, and they’ll set the perfect stage with a free printable that attaches to windows or walls.

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Claus Couture Collection® North Pole Rock-and-Roll

Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will print and cut out the stage printable and tape it to a window or wall.
  2. To look the part of a rock star, your elf will put on their North Pole Rock-and-Roll outfit, complete with a Christmas tree-shaped guitar.
  3. Finally, they will take the stage and rock out!

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Holiday Hide-and-Seek

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (7)

Who’s up for a quick round of hide-and-seek? Your elf picked a tricky hiding spot and left clues on a free printable for you to follow. Along the way, pick up treats your elf left and at the end you’ll reveal their secret hiding spot. Catch them if you can!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. Then, they will fill in the printable with creative clues or rely on the clues provided to lead you to where they are hiding.
  3. Your elf will wait for you to find them in their extra secret hiding spot!

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Donut Seeds

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (9)

Using magical donut seeds from the North Pole, your Scout Elf will grow a donut garden featuring full-sized donuts for kids to enjoy for breakfast or as a sweet Christmas treat!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Donut seeds (small, round cereal)
  • Small bag
  • Stapler
  • Brown sprinkles
  • Flowerpot
  • Dry floral foam
  • Wooden skewers
  • Full-size donuts
  • Elf Pets® Saint Bernard

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the donut seeds label from the printable.
  2. Then, they will fill a bag with small, round cereal and staple the donut seeds label to the bag.
  3. To set up a beautiful donut garden, your elf will place a piece of dry floral foam in a flowerpot and cover it with brown sprinkles to mimic soil.
  4. They will place donuts on wooden skewers and stick the skewers in the dry floral foam.
  5. When kids wake, they will see that their elf helped the donut seeds grow into yummy full-sized donuts they can eat!

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Elf-Sized Oven

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (11)

Batch of cookies, anyone? With their mini oven, your Scout Elf will bake up surprises just for you!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Double-sided tape

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the oven.
  2. Then, they will lay the oven flat on a table with the blank side facing up, and fold each piece inward along the dotted lines. Helpful hint for elves: Fold each piece into the middle, with the exception of the stove top, which will be folded the opposite way of every other piece.
  3. After, your elf will start with the smallest flaps near the oven’s controls and tape each tab to the oven piece that it naturally touches. All tabs should be taped inside the oven.
  4. Finally, they will sit near the finished mini oven with a sweet surprise they baked up just for you!

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Seasonal Snowflake Wreath

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (13)

With this free printable, your elf will create a cool piece of décor, a seasonal snowflake wreath that is just as beautiful as the flakes falling outside, and every bit as unique, too!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape or Glue
  • Wire or flat wooden wreath frame

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the seasonal snowflake wreath pieces. Helpful hint for elves: Depending on the size of the wreath you want to make, you may need to print out multiple copies of the wreath pieces.
  2. Second, your elf will lay out the circles so they are overlapping and covering the wreath frame.
  3. Then, they will tape or glue the pieces to the frame.
  4. After they have created their wintry wreath, your elf will sit nearby to watch you find their surprise!

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Holiday Party Placemats

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (15)

Eating just got a whole lot more entertaining with this printable holiday party placemat your Scout Elf brought with them!

Materials:

  • Printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Crayons, colored pencils or markers

Instructions:

  1. To create this spirited spread, your elf will print and cut out the holiday party placemats.
  2. They will leave crayons, colored pencils or markers out on the table to encourage you to design your own unique placemats.
  3. They will be sure to stick around to scope out the colorful creations!

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Winter Pals Face Cutouts

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (17)

Scout Elves love dressing up—especially as other fun North Pole objects like snowmen, and now, they can do just that using this free printable!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Wooden craft sticks or skewers

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print out the photo prop and cut out the face hole.
  2. To complete this prop, they will use wooden craft sticks or skewers to prop up the page so that they can hide behind the piece of paper and stick their face through the open hole for a fun photo opp!

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Gingerbread House

Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (19)

Creating a sweet little gingerbread cookie cottage will be as easy as 1, 2, 3 with this printable!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will print and cut out the gingerbread house. Helpful hint for elves: Make sure to cut along the slit between the green roof and brown flap next to the front of the house.
  2. Second, your elf will fold along each of the lines.
  3. Your elf will lay the house flat on a table with the blank side facing up, and fold each side of the house up, keeping the plain brown rectangle flat on the table.
  4. Starting with the two brown tabs attached to the front of the gingerbread house, they will tape each tab to the wall or roof piece that it naturally touches. All tabs should be taped inside the house.
  5. To show off their handy cookie carpentry work, your elf will sit near their cottage and wait for you to find them!

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Looking for more quick elf ideas! Use these 10 printables to inspire your Scout Elf’s last-minute surprise!

Before you or your elf get to work recreating any of these inspirational photos, be sure to read these safety warnings. Santa wants to make sure everyone stays safe!


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Quick! Easy! Fast Elf Ideas! | The Elf on the Shelf (2024)

FAQs

What are the easy ideas for a lazy elf? ›

A snow angel

Making snow angels is an iconic seasonal activity, but you know your elf will have their own sweet take on it. Simply pour some mini marshmallows onto a flat surface, such as a countertop, table, or even within a baking sheet, and place the elf in the middle with the shape of a snow angel around them.

What is the number 1 rule for Elf on the Shelf? ›

The Elf Must Not Be Touched

Considered the most important rule, the Scout Elf must never be touched (of course, apart from when the parents move them around) as that will cause them to lose their magical powers. In some cases, they could also disappear when touched, such as when a dog might get a hold of them.

Where do you put the elf tonight? ›

Living Room
  • On the mantel.
  • In the Christmas tree.
  • On the presents.
  • In the stocking.
  • By the door.
  • On the shelf.
  • On the staircase.
  • On the windowsill.

Can you put your elf in the fridge? ›

Elf in the Fridge

The fridge is a great hiding spot for older kids who are better finders. Your elf will feel right at home in temperatures more like the north pole!

What are the 3 rules in elf? ›

The Code of the Elves is three simple rules:
  • Treat every day like Christmas.
  • There's room for everyone on the nice list.
  • The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
Dec 7, 2020

Can mom touch Elf on the Shelf? ›

Santa advises that no family member touch their Elf on the Shelf, but he does describe a few rare instances when an adult may use tongs or potholders to help an elf in an urgent situation. Parents: read on to learn about special, few and far between cases where emergency help will be required.

Do parents move the Elf on the Shelf yes or no? ›

The rule in the storybook is that the Elf is not to be touched or he'd lose his magic. Of course, that's a rule for the child. The parent can reposition the toy anytime they want to. It's like many rather common and harmless little traditions in some families, like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.

Can you touch your elf on the 24th? ›

No. The elf works for Santa. Don't touch him!

What day does my elf leave? ›

According to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, the night before Christmas, an elf's job comes to an end. On December 24, most Scout Elves say farewell to their families and fly back to the North Pole following Santa's sleigh.

What should elf do on his last night? ›

Fun and easy Elf on the Shelf goodbye ideas

For those looking for the easy way out, simply write your goodbye on a post-it note. Grab some textured snow spray and write a message on a window of your house. Have your elf sitting in the Christmas tree holding a goodbye sign or sitting on a paper airplane.

Is Elf on the Shelf ok? ›

Many families find that Elf on the Shelf is a fun way to start the day and get everyone into the holiday spirit. However, like many parenting decisions, there isn't one right answer about whether or not the Elf on the Shelf tradition is right for your family. Family traditions can foster family bonding.

Can you touch your Elf on the Shelf in December? ›

You can also find them on the Elf on the Shelf site. Don't touch your Elf! This is the most important rule, as touching a Scout Elf will cause them to lose their magic.

Is it OK to wash your Elf on the Shelf? ›

Place him in a lingerie bag and wash him on the gentle cycle in your washing machine. If you are not comfortable with this step, you can always opt for steps 1-3 and then finish off with a hand wash using Woolite or some other gentle detergent. Don't forget to tell him to plug his nose before tossing him in.

What are only three jobs available to an elf? ›

The narrator (Papa Elf) makes this explicit from the start. In the opening scene he explains that there are only three types of jobs that elves can do: clandestine cobblers; baking cookies in a tree; or making toys in Santa's workshop.

What do elves like to do for fun? ›

Well living and working at the North Pole is fun most of the time, but in their spare time elves like to sing and dance. Some like to dance the cha-cha, just like Norris Figgyworth.

How can I make my Elf on the Shelf fun? ›

Charitable and Thoughtful: For elves who love to give back.
  1. Picture Frame. Prop him on top of a family or child's picture.
  2. Tinkering. Put him next to a doll or toy. ...
  3. Good Deed Cards. Write a good deed on a piece of paper and put it in his arms.
  4. Pets. ...
  5. Welcome Note. ...
  6. Clean up a Mess. ...
  7. Elf Doughnuts. ...
  8. Pencils.

What snacks do elves like? ›

Sweet Snacks

You may have heard the rumor that elves love sweets, and it happens to be 100% true! What you may not know is that many of the sweets elves eat are exclusive North Pole foods with a dash of Christmas magic, including special cereals made by Mrs. Claus and gummy fruity treats concocted at the North Pole.

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