Wrapping Paper Stilts

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Living Room Difficulty ●●●○○ Messiness ●●○○○ Ages 4–10

How it's done

Your elf is ready to tower over the living room by strapping two sturdy cardboard wrapping paper tubes to his feet like makeshift stilts. Once you tape the tubes securely to his legs, lean him against a flat wall so he looks like he is practicing his balancing act for the morning. This setup is perfect for elementary-aged children who will find the height difference hilarious. The process takes about fifteen minutes and involves virtually no cleanup. This setup is Inspired by Make the Best of Everything.

You'll need

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Pets in the house?

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

Why this works

Living-room scenes are the most photogenic. The Christmas tree, the couch, the mantel all frame the elf beautifully for the family photo you'll actually take (and maybe post). 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 Canvas Self Portrait Art , 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 Make the Best of Everything . Visit the original post for more photos and the full backstory.

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