Hidden Pringles Elf

Pin it
Kitchen Difficulty ●●●○○ Messiness ●○○○○ Ages 4–10

How it's done

Your child will find the elf peeking out of a Pringles canister in the kitchen this morning. You simply need to cut a small slit in the side of the container so the elf can stand inside with only his head visible. Use a spare chip to create a playful mustache for his face. This setup is perfect for kids aged 4 to 10 because it is entirely mess-free and safe for curious pets. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare this scene. Inspired by A Visual Merriment.

You'll need

affiliate Cart icons link to Amazon search.

Pets in the house?

Should be fine around pets as long as you place it out of reach.

Why this works

The kitchen is the first room most kids visit in the morning, for cereal, for milk, for the toaster. An elf scene staged here has the highest odds of being the first thing your child spots and shouts about. 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 Buddy Four Food Groups , 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.

Inspired by A Visual Merriment . Visit the original post for more photos and the full backstory.

Need an idea for tomorrow?

Tell us about your house and kids, we'll pick 5 more ideas personalized for you.

Try the generator →

Also: See all Kitchen ideas · Browse the full guide

More Kitchen ideas

More ideas using scissors

See every scissors idea →

Other similar-effort ideas

Related guides from Elf Planner

More ideas, templates, and rescue plays from our writing.