79 Elf on the Shelf Ideas from The Foreign Mom

79 Elf on the Shelf ideas originally shared by The Foreign Mom. v2 crawl, 100 ideas Every idea below links back to the original post, visit their site for more parenting ideas, recipes, and crafts year-round.

79 ideas Use the generator instead →
Other ●●○○○

Band-Aid Accident Victim

Cover elf with band-aids with "I need a hug!" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Bathroom Bow Decorator

Stick colorful bows all over bathroom; elf holds one.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Be Good Pencil Reminder

Elf with pencil and small "Be Good!" card.

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

Board Game Night

Elf with dolls around board game setup.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Candy Cane Jar Thief

Elf's body inside jar of candy canes with cane in hand.

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

Candy Cane Tree Decorator

Hook elf's arms over tree branch, hang candy canes around with "I'm hooked on the holidays" note.

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

Candy Delivery Gift

Pile candy with bow; elf nearby as delivering treats.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Candy Wrapper Feast

Elf surrounded by candy wrappers as if having eaten too much.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Chip Bag Burial

Elf inside half-empty chip bag with crumbs spilling.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Christmas Card Writer

Elf with pen by stack of cards with "Time to write cards" note.

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

Christmas Lights Wrap

Loosely wrap elf with battery-operated lights near tree.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Coffee Mug Lounger

Elf inside large mug with head poking out.

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

Couch Cushion Nester

Tuck elf between couch cushions for cozy hiding spot.

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

Curtain Ribbon Swinger

Tie ribbon around curtain rod; hang elf on it.

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

Dinosaur Rider

Elf on top of plastic dinosaur holding reins of string.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bedroom ●●○○○

Doll Clothes Dresser

Dress elf in Barbie or doll clothes with "How do I look?" note.

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

Domino Line Starter

Line up dominoes in row; elf at starting point.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Empty Wrapper Culprit

Elf on table surrounded by empty chocolate wrappers with "Oops!" sign.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Freezer Cold Refuge

Elf among frozen vegetables with "Too cold for the North Pole" sign.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Fridge Whipped Cream Surprise

Elf on fridge shelf with dab of whipped cream on nose.

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

Gift Bag Surprise

Elf in gift bag with tissue and "Thanks for having me!" note.

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

Gift Bow Wearer

Large gift bow on elf's head with "I'm your present today!" tag.

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

Gift Box Popper

Elf inside wrapped present with lid half off popping out.

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

Gift-Wrapped Elf Present

Wrap elf in gift paper with bow, head peeking out.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Googly Eye Bandit

Stick googly eyes on fridge items; elf nearby holding one.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Jar Trapper

Elf inside clear jar with "Do not open!" label.

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

Lego House Builder

Use Legos to build walls around elf as if trapped inside.

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

Light of the World

Elf next to candle or string lights with "Jesus is the light" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Marshmallow Bubble Bath Bowl

Elf in bowl filled with mini marshmallows as if bathing.

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

Mini Tree Decorator

Elf near tabletop tree with few mini ornaments scattered.

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

Napkin Parachute Drop

Craft mini parachute from napkin; suspend elf from ceiling.

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

Nativity Scene Prayer

Elf beside nativity with folded hands pointing toward Baby Jesus.

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

Nativity Star Bearer

Elf holding shining star above nativity manger.

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
Bedroom ●●○○○

Pajamas Delivery

Elf with wrapped pair of pajamas for children to open.

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

Paper Airplane Flyer

Strap elf to paper airplane in flying position.

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
Other ●●○○○

Paper Towel Sleeping Bag

Roll elf in paper towel with "Do not disturb!" note.

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

Photocopier Selfie

Elf on printer glass with copy paper (optional photocopy).

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 ●●○○○

Prayer Reminder

Tape "Remember to pray" note into elf's hands.

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

Presents Pile Sitter

Elf on top of pile of wrapped presents with "Wrap this up!" note.

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

Remote Control Guardian

Lean elf behind TV remote on couch with arms around it.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Scripture Card Holder

Elf with tiny scripture card about kindness or faith.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Season Reason Scribe

Elf with pen writing "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Entryway ●●○○○

Shoe Rack Peek

Tuck elf in cubby hole of shoe rack with head poking out.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Entryway ●●○○○

Shoe Sleeper

Elf inside sneaker with "Comfy bed!" note.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Silverware Drawer Peek

Elf's head peeking out from open silverware drawer.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Sprinkle Bowl Lounger

Elf sitting in bowl of rainbow sprinkles.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Sticky Note Encourager

Write encouragement on sticky notes; tape to wall near elf.

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

Stocking Stuffer

Elf halfway inside stocking holding candy or printable note.

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

Storybook Reader

Prop open Christmas book under tree; elf holds it with stuffed animals listening.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●○○○

Sugar Snow Lounging

Mound sugar; position elf on top enjoying winter.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Tissue Box Sleeper

Elf inside tissue box with tissue as blanket.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Toothbrush Reminder

Elf by sink holding toothbrush.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

Toothpaste Smiley

Smiley faces drawn with toothpaste on mirror; elf nearby.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Toothpick HELP Message

Arrange toothpicks to spell "HELP ME!"; elf holding one.

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

Towel Hammock Sleeper

String dish towel between chairs as hammock with elf tucked.

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

Toy Car Driver

Elf inside toy car with dolls in back seat.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

TP Roll Snowman Builder

Snowman from toilet paper rolls; elf with marker as if finished.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Staircase ●●○○○

TP Roll Stair Tumbler

Elf inside toilet paper roll mid-step rolling down stairs.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe Needs stairs 0
Bathroom ●●○○○

TP Streamer Bandit

Elf on toilet paper rolls with unrolled paper streaming across floor.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Wall Tape Spread

Stick elf to wall with painter's tape across arms and legs.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Entryway ●●○○○

Wreath Entanglement

Tuck elf in middle of hanging wreath with arms spread wide.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●○○○

Ziplock Bag Escape

Zip elf inside Ziplock bag with "Help me out!" note.

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

Battery-Candle Marshmallow Roast

Tape marshmallow to toothpick in elf's hand over battery candle.

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

Chandelier Swinger

Tie elf upside down onto chandelier or light fixture.

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

Coloring Book Artist

Crayon taped to elf's hand; open coloring book with scribbles.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Cupcake Decorator

Elf with sprinkles and frosting tube near decorated cupcake.

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

Decoration Bin Explorer

Tuck elf inside box of tinsel or ornaments peeking out.

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

Gift Wrapping Worker

Elf with wrapping paper, tape, bows as if wrapping presents.

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

Light Parade Puller

Elf pulling toy car or wagon decorated with mini Christmas lights.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Milk Mustache Display

Cotton ball dipped in milk as mustache with "Got milk?" sign.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Nutella Spoon Snacker

Elf next to Nutella jar with spoon taped to hand, chocolate on face.

Ages 3–10 Not pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Peanut Butter Diver

Elf in jar holding spoon (protected with plastic).

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●○○

Rice Krispies Chef

Scatter Rice Krispies and marshmallows; elf holding spoon cooking.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Bathroom ●●●○○

Shaving Cream Dad

Shaving cream on elf's face; comb in hand near mirror.

Ages 4–10 Pet-safe 0
Other ●●●○○

Silly Photo Tape Doodler

Tape silly eyes or doodles over family pictures.

Ages 3–10 Pet-safe 0
Kitchen ●●●●○

Spaghetti Dunking

Elf in bowl of pasta (protected in Ziplock), sauce on mouth.

Ages 3–12 Pet-safe 0

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Frequently asked questions

Who runs The Foreign Mom?
The Foreign Mom is a parenting blog. v2 crawl, 100 ideas
Are these ideas from a The Foreign Mom blog post?
Yes, each idea on this page is credited back to a specific post on https://theforeignmom.com/elf-on-the-shelf-ideas/. Click any idea's detail page and look for the "original post" link in the image caption or the Credit section at the bottom.
Can I use these ideas with my own family?
Absolutely, ideas are free to use. If you'd like to share or republish any of these specific scene write-ups, please follow the original source's usage terms; visit the linked post for details.

Source: The Foreign Mom. Each idea below links to the specific post on their site.