101 Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas
March 25, 2025
Being a parent these days can feel like an endless onslaught of creative endeavors. Case in point: the Elf on the Shelf. Yes, there’s Santa. Yes, you need presents under the tree. You need stockings hung (and stuffed!) by the chimney with care. You need reindeer glitter. Plus, you need cookies for Santa. And milk. And maybe even a recorded videotape of Santa caught pulling Christmas presents out of the fireplace before magically turning off the camera. Or was that just my mom? And then you also need to do Elf on the Shelf. How can you keep the Christmas mischief fresh and fun year after year? Don’t sweat. We’ve got you covered with 101 silly, sweet, and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that will keep that magic sparkle in your kids’ eyes all Christmas season long. And for that, it’s all worth it.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas
To make these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas even easier, we’ve organized them into the following categories:
- Baking and Kitchen Antics
- Present & Wrapping Mischief
- Holiday Decorating & Crafts
- Games and Activities
- Stories & Messages from the Elf
- Household Mischief
- Toy and Vehicle Shenanigans
Happy planning!
Easy Elf Baking and Kitchen Antic Ideas
1) Sneaking into the Cookie Decorating Supplies
The night before you all plan to decorate your holiday cut-out cookies with icing and sprinkles, set the Elf out with sprinkles, flour, and cookie cutters all over the counter or floor, as if he wanted to be a part of it, too.
2) “Donut” Worry
On the first day that the Elf comes back to your house for the season, position him with some large, fun donut print-outs and a sign that says, “Donut worry, I’m back for Christmas!” That morning can start with a box of donuts from your favorite bakery for breakfast.
3) Making a Sugar Angel
This could also be done in the period of time when you’re baking cookies. Position the Elf in a pile of sugar and use his little arms and legs to make a “snow angel” in the sugar.
4) Making a Flour Angel
You can do the same thing as above, but with flour, as well.
5) Breaking Out the Cookies
Open up a box of Christmas cookies (store-bought or homemade) and lay them out as if the Elf is stealing them.
6) S’mores in Progress
Set up the Elf holding a large marshmallow on a kebab stick that you have already browned a bit with a small flame. Put him next to a bowl of chocolate bar and graham crackers. Position a small tea light underneath the marshmallow on the stick. Right before your kids wake up (or as you’re calling them to get out of bed) light the tea light candle and tell them that you caught the Elf making s’mores.
7) Hot Cocoa Setup
Get your favorite brand of hot cocoa mix, tiny marshmallows, and decorative Christmas mugs. Set up the Elf as if he’s mixing the hot cocoa for your kiddos when they wake up—all you have to do is heat it up!
8) Snowballs
Make or buy snowball cookies or cakes. Position the Elf as if he’s rolling the snowballs, and include a note that says: “These are the kind of snowballs you don’t throw—you eat!”
9) Waffle Maker
If you have a waffle maker, leave the Elf “squeezed” in there with white streamers all around that says, “Just steamin’!” Then, make waffles for breakfast.
10) Stirring Pancakes
Mix up a simple bowl of pancake batter and have it ready for when your kids wake up. Position the Elf on a wooden spoon as if he’s stirring the batter with a note that says, “Cake? For breakfast? Only if it’s pancakes!”
11) Orange Juice
Make a hole in a fresh orange big enough to put a straw into. Cut it down to size if you need. Position the Elf as if he’s drinking from the orange through the straw. Write a note that says, “Time for some Vitamin C!” Make fresh orange juice for breakfast.
12) Caught in the Blender
Put the Elf in the blender with a bunch of frozen fruit. Put the lid on as if he’s trapped in there. Have your kids rescue him and make smoothies!
13) Candy Spaghetti
Get candy spaghetti and put it into a large mixing bowl and all over the counter. Put out maple syrup and other candies like M&Ms. Position the Elf with a spoon stirring the concoction. Write a note about how he loved the movie Elf and wanted to try the Elf’s spaghetti for himself.
14) Pizza Box Surprise
The night after you order pizza, leave any leftover crust and pizza (half eaten) in the box. Position the Elf as if he’s been eating all your leftovers!
15) Taco Kit
If you have hard taco shells, open them up and stand them up and put the Elf inside one as if he’s the taco meat. Write a note that says: “I think we deserve tacos for dinner!”
16) Pringles Can
Cut the Pringles Man’s face out of a Pringles can with a safety razor. Put the Elf in the can with his face sticking out.
17) Pretzel Prison
Build a log cabin style “pretzel prison” with pretzel rods and put the Elf in it.
18) Ketchup Message
Write a silly “Hello!” or other message from the Elf on a cutting board with ketchup. Give the Elf the bottle to hold.
19) Nice and Toasty
Make two pieces of regular toast. Put the Elf in between and leave a note that says, “It’s cold outside, but I’m nice and toasty!”
20) Candy Bowling
Set up Hershey’s Kisses like bowling pins and set up the Elf to look like he’s bowling with a big round candy like a jawbreaker.
21) Marshmallow Bed
Set the Elf up to pretend like he’s sleeping on a marshmallow bed.
22) Elf Burrito
Cut a hole in a large tortilla the size of the Elf’s face. Stick his face through the hole and wrap him up like a burrito for your kids to find in the kitchen. Have burritos for dinner that night.
23) Hershey’s Kiss Elf
Need one of the easiest (and tastiest) Elf on the Shelf ideas? Get a bunch of regular Hershey’s Kisses and position them on your counter. Wrap the Elf in foil to look like a Hershey’s Kiss.
24) Rainbow Magic
Put Skittles on a white ceramic plate in a circle. Arrange the Elf there with a glass of water. Leave a note that says, “Let’s do rainbow magic! Pour water on the Skittles to see what happens!” The dye will run off into the plate to make a circular rainbow.
25) Wrap All the Veggies or Fruit
Wrap up all the vegetables in your fruit or all the fruit on your counter, with the Elf the guilty party!
26) Too Much Sugar
Get some big googly eyes and attach them to the eyes to look like his eyes are bugging out. Grind up a bunch of candy canes into dust and leave the plastic wrappers and candy dust all around. Leave a note from the Elf that says, “Candy is dandy, but that last bit of sugar was a touch too much!”
27) Marshmallow Snowman
Build a snowman out of three large marshmallows and toothpicks. Draw a little face and give him a Twizzler scarf. Leave him hanging out with the Elf on a decorative plate. You could do this with several snowmen.
28) Marshmallow Snowman: Microwave Edition
Make the same snowman or snowmen as above, but leave them all in the microwave with the Elf outside about to press the buttons. Let your kids start the microwave (with the Elf safely outside). Then watch how the marshmallows inflate and turn to goo.
29) Candy Crush
Give the Elves a hammer and a big pile of candy. Write a note that says, “Candy Crush, Elf on a Shelf Style!”
30) Magic Egg Trick
This is a two-day trick. Put out the Elf with two eggs and a bowl of glitter. Write a note that says, “Let’s do a magic trick. Sprinkle a little Elf Dust on the eggs and let me do my magic. Takes one sleep.” The next day, have the Elf in the same place, but replace the eggs with Kinder chocolate eggs.
Easy Elf Present & Wrapping Mischief
1) Tied Up Wrapping Presents
Looks like the Elf tried to lend a hand wrapping presents, but he got “strung up” with too much ribbon. You could have him hanging by some ribbon from a banister, mantle, or from the tree. Or he could be tied up, bandit style, with wrapping paper, scissors, and boxes.
2) In a Box, Tied Up with Helium Balloons
Get several red and green balloons filled with helium from your local grocery or party store. Tie the Elf up with ribbon attached to the ends of the balloon, and put them all together in a large cardboard box that you gently close by folding the flaps together. In the morning, have the kids start searching for the Elf until they open the box and he floats out, attached to the balloons.
3) Wrapping in Ribbon
If you have two Elves, leave one wrapping the other up in colorful ribbon.
4) Wrapping up in Wrapping Paper
You can do the same “wrap up” situation with two Elves but with wrapping paper instead of ribbon.
5) Ho Ho Ho with Bows
Use bows to write Ho Ho Ho on the wall with the Elf holding a bunch more bows nearby.
6) Wrapped Up Backpacks
Wrap your kids’ backpacks in wrapping paper, except for the straps. Arrange the Elf so it looks like he did it, with scissors and extra paper. Give your kids the option to go to school with the wrapped backpacks—or not!
7) Wrapped Up Shoes
Wrap your kids’ shoes in wrapping paper and make it look like the Elf was the culprit!
8) Wrap Up the Cat or Dog Bed
If you have a pet who isn’t too particular, wrap up their small cat or dog bed with wrapping paper. Arrange the Elf with scissors and wrapping paper nearby. Leave a note that says, “I thought I’d make Fluffy feel special today!”
9) Wrap Up the Fish Bowl
You can do the same thing as above with a fish bowl. Don’t leave it overnight—do it first thing in the morning so the fish is only wrapped for a small period of time.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Holiday Decorating and Craft Ideas
1) Toilet Paper Snowflakes
The Elf got into the bathroom this time and made a whole roll of toilet paper (or a good portion of toilet paper) into cut-out snowflakes. Hang the roll from the toilet paper dispenser near the Elf and some scissors. Or string the long roll of snowflakes from the ceiling like streamers, with the Elf all caught up in the snowflakes he made.
2) Streamer Christmas Tree
Gather a bunch of long green streamers of different shades and wrap the ends around the Elf. Hang him from a high point in the room and let the streamers fall to the ground to create a tree. Use the heavy end of the roll of streamers to extend them out to form the shape of the tree. Let your kids play in the streamers when they wake up.
3) Introducing the Advent Calendar
Get an advent calendar that leads up to Christmas. Have the Elf introduce it to your kids on the day that the calendar starts. Write a note that says: “Christmas is coming, and each day we’ll count down. Open one door at a time, and see what comes out!”
4) Zip Line with a Candy Cane
String ribbon from one side of the room to the other and attach the Elf to a candy cane. Then, position him “ziplining” on the ribbon across the room.
5) Decorating the Tree with Candy Canes
The day after the ziplining (see above…easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that let you reuse your set-up are the best!), you can have the Elf on the tree decorating the whole thing with candy canes, as if he brought them over on the zip line.
6) Snowman Nose Rejection Center
Get out a box grater and a carrot. Draw a pained expression on the carrot’s face with a marker, then grate half of it. Leave the shredded pieces on a cutting board with the Elf positioned as if he’s shredding the carrot. Write a little sign that says, “Snowman Nose Rejection Center.”
7) Taped to the Door
Use fun red and green tape to attach the Elf to a wall or door. Write the word “Help!” in tape above or below. Have your kids help him escape!
8) Christmas Tree Farm
Get Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree cakes and set them up out of their wrappers with the Elf and a sign that says “Christmas Tree Farm.”
9) Tree Monster
Cut out big eyes and a large, tooth-filled mouth from construction paper and make a “monster face” on your Christmas tree. Stick the Elf or Elves in the mouth as if they’re being eaten. Make a sign that says, “I Eat Elves!”
10) Taking the Star off the Tree
After you decorate, position the Elf as if he’s trying to steal the star from the top of the tree.
11) Paper Snow Flakes
Cut out a few paper snowflakes and hang them near the Elf. Then, position him with a pair of scissors and the paper scraps as if he’d made them.
12) Pop Can Choir
Save a bunch of pop cans until you have enough for a “choir.” Put googly eyes on them and set the Elf up as the conductor under your tree.
13) Tree House
Build a small box out of wooden popsicle sticks and glue. Attach red and green felt, pom poms, glitter, or other small decorations. Make a little sign that says, “Elf’s Christmas Tree House” using your Elf’s name. Hang it in your Christmas tree with the Elf relaxing inside.
Easy Elf on the Shelf Game and Activity Ideas
1) Cup Game
Get red and green paper cups and line the floor in front of your tree with as many as you can handle. Hide the Elf under one of the cups. Then leave a note from him to the kids in the morning that says: “I got lost counting all our party supplies. Find me under the right cup, and get a Christmas surprise!” You could hide small pieces of candy in that same cup with the Elf as the surprise. Or, write your own fun note from the Elf.
2) Tic Tac Toe
If you have more than one Elf, have them playing a game of Tic Tac Toe together. This can be done on a piece of paper or with a fun wooden set. It’s a way to give your kids a preliminary little gift.
3) Scavenger Hunt
Set up a simple scavenger hunt involving candy and small toys. Leave a note with the Elf that says, “You’ve been so good this year—but are you good enough to solve all these clues?” Write a clue that leads them to the next position—you can include five or six. Conclude the scavenger hunt with a small treat.
4) Candy Cane Golf
For this easy Elf on the Shelf idea, set up the Elf as if he’s using a candy cane like a golf club to hit marshmallows on a rug.
5) Playing Cards
Set up the Elf to play solitaire with a deck of cards.
6) Pin the Elf on the Shelf
Use butcher paper to draw a shelf that you attach to your wall. Print out Elf on the Shelf images. Have your kids play Pin the Elf on the Shelf as the Elf watches from another shelf nearby.
7) Elf Piñata
Get a tiny piñata at a craft or candy store. Hang it from your cabinets. Blindfold the Elf and give him a candy cane to hit the piñata with.
8) Dinosaur Grow Sponges
Leave the Elf out with a glass of water and those tiny pills that contain dinosaur sponges that grow when you put them in water. Write a note that says, “Wanna help me grow some new friends?”
9) Elf Car Wash
Give the elf a kitchen sponge and all the toy cars in the house.
10) Only X More Sleeps
Use fake spray snow to cover your bathroom mirror. Write “Only 3 More Sleeps!” or however many are left in the spray snow, with the Elf nearby looking like he wrote it.
Easy Stories and Messages from the Elf
1) Reading Books to Stuffed Animals
Position the Elf on a guest bed or the couch with a Christmas children’s book and all the stuffed animals you can sneak out of your kids’ rooms in the middle of the night. Make it look like the Elf was reading to them for story time!
2) Chatting with the Christmas Beanie Babies
Sit the Elf up as if he’s having a chat with all of your Christmas Beanie Babies and stuffed animals. One of the easiest Elf on the Shelf ideas.
3) Christmas List Setup
Position the Elf with Christmas stationary and colorful pens, crayons, and markers. Have them write out their Christmas lists to Santa.
4) Mailing the Lists Off
Get some Christmas-themed stamps and, the day after they write their lists, have them address their envelopes to Santa and put the stamps on. The Elf can have a little example of how to address a letter. This can help them learn how to do it.
5) Reading a Complicated Book
Put him on your book shelf reading a page from a serious and complicated book that only an adult would read. Leave a note that says, “What? An Elf can’t be educated, too?”
6) Messages on the Mirror
Use dry erase markers to write silly comments from the Elf on the bathroom mirror, like “Elves Rule!” and “I love Christmas!” You can even write the lyrics to your favorite Christmas songs.
7) Poinsettia Arrangement
Get some poinsettias that you bring out at night and position the Elf among them. Write a note that says: “Santa saw how good you are, and sent you these flowers, because you’re a star!”
Easy Ideas for Elf on the Shelf Household Mischief
1) Building a Fire
Gather a bunch of Elf-sized twigs and sticks and make it look like he’s trying to build a fire in the fireplace.
2) Frozen in the Freezer
If you have Frozen action figures or dolls, position them all in the freezer with the Elf. Make a little note from all of them that says, “Let it go—we’re just chillin’!”
3) Changing the Hands on the Clock
If you have an analog clock, take out the batteries and change the time. Have the Elf hanging from the clock hands as if he did it.
4) Stuck in the Fridge
Draw a funny face on your milk carton or make one out of paper and attach it to orange juice or another product in your fridge. Leave the Elf in there as if they’re chatting.
5) Doing the Laundry
Get out all your laundry supplies and strew them about above the washer and dryer. Add in clean (or dirty!) socks and make it look like the Elf is doing the laundry.
6) Spinning on the Fan
Use colorful ribbon to attach the Elf to the blades of a ceiling fan and gently turn it on low so that your kids find him spinning.
7) Toilet Paper Roll-Up
Roll the Elf up in a roll of toilet paper and position him on top of the closed toilet with a cheeky note!
8) Blowing His Nose
Have the Elf pull all the tissues out of a tissue box to blow his nose. Use green slime to make “boogers” all around!
9) Coffee Station
Hide him in your coffee pot, under the Keurig in a decorative mug, or in and around your coffee station with a note that says, “Elves need caffeine, too!”
10) Dirty Stockings
Take an old sock and tie the Elf up in it in a chaotic way with ribbon. Then, attach it to the mantle with the other stockings and a note that says, “Am I doing this right?”
11) Time Out Corner
Leave the Elf in the corner facing the wall with a note that says, “I’m in Time Out!”
12) Underpants All Over
On laundry night, have the Elf either folding clean underwear—or tossing it all over the laundry room.
13) Turning Money Into Change
For one of the easiest Elf on the Shelf ideas, arrange the Elf with some dollar bills over a box grater. Then, put a bunch of change underneath the grater, as if he’d turn the dollars into cents.
14) Pulling Change Out of the Couch
Make a pile of loose change, small toys, and crumbs and make it look like the Elf is digging through the couch cushions for those things.
15) Getting Sucked Up the Vacuum
Place the Elf head first up the vacuum tube extension and leave a note that says, “I was just trying to clean up!”
16) Fixing the Car
If you have a garage where it’s safe to do so, pop the hood and arrange the Elf with tools to make it look like he’s fixing the car.
17) Is This How You Floss?
Wrap the Elf up in dental floss and leave him hogtied on the bathroom counter. Leave a note that says, “I know flossing is supposed to be important, but is this how you do it?”
18) Stuck in the Mittens
Arrange the Elf in a decorative basket with all your winter gear: mittens, gloves, and scarves.
19) Ice Bucket Spa
Wrap the Elf in a small towel and fill a metal ice bucket with cotton fluff. Then, position the Elf in the fluff as if he’s in a spa or giant bubble bath.
Elf Toy & Vehicle Shenanigans
1) Skating on the Stovetop
Position the Elf as if he’s figure skating on your stovetop. Bonus points if you have Barbie ice skates that you can put on him. To take these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas to the next level, you can also fill a Ziploc bag with water. Then, lay it flat in your freezer. In the morning, cut open the bag. Lastly, set it out as if it’s a pond of frozen water on your countertop or stove.
2) Tied to the Train Tracks
If you have an electric train, tie the Elf to train tracks as if he’s going to get run over. Even better if you can get another Christmas stuffed animal like Rudolph or a second Elf to drive the train!
3) Hanging with the Girls
Put the Elf in the bathroom with a bunch of Barbies to do their hair and make up.
4) Slinkies Down the Stairs
Put the Elf or Elves with other Christmas characters into some Slinkies and have them falling down the stairs.
5) Hangin’ with the Dinos
Put the Elf on your largest dinosaur toy and have him riding around the living room.
6) Chillin’ in the Car
If you have a Barbie car or a remote control car, position the Elf in the driver’s seat with a note about how he just sped back from the North Pole.
7) Kleenex Box Car
Use an old tissue box and wrap it to look like a Christmas car. Position the Elf or Elves inside as if they’re driving. Attach it to a banister on the stairs or another precarious place where the Elves shouldn’t be driving.
8) In the Bath with Rubber Ducky
Leave the Elf chatting it up with your kid’s rubber ducky in the bathtub.
9) Toy Box Itinerary
Leave a note from the Elf that he’s hiding in the toy box (if you have one) and that the kids have to find him, but only if they can show you if they still play with all the toys inside. Make sure the Elf is all the way at the bottom. Leave him there with a note asking if there are any toys they’d like to part with. Tell them it is to make room for new ones this year. This way, the kids (and you) can take stock of which toys are precious and which can be donated.
10) Play Dough Friend
Make the Elf a little friend out of Play Dough and leave them to chat together with balls of Play Dough and open containers all around.
11) Yarn Surprise
Wrap a small toy or piece of candy into a ball of yarn and leave it with the Elf and a note that says, “Unwrap me for a surprise!”
Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas – Additional Resources
Mastered easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, and looking for more family or classroom fun? Check out the following:
