Friday, December 16, 2011

Funny & Creative Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Wow! In the last year the Elf on the Shelf's popularity has sky-rocketed across the US. Santa is sending out elves left and right to keep an eye after all the little boys and girls and make sure they are good this holiday season.

We were so pleased to give away an Elf on the Shelf to a lucky Holly at Nap Time reader earlier this holiday season. I really wish that I had 400+ elves to give away to all those who entered, but if you don't already have an elf, I can assure you that the $30 is a great investment. To learn more about Elf on the Shelf, click here.

My daughter is only two years old, and this is our first year with our Elf, Sam, so his hiding spots and antics are pretty obvious and don't really tell much of a story. My friends with older kids, however, are getting pretty creative, and moms all over are sharing their ideas on Pinterest, which begs the question: Is Elf on the Shelf more fun for children or parents?

I'll leave that up for you to decide. Some of these ideas have given me such a chuckle that I have no choice but to share.

Elf cutting a mattress tag! Oh no!!!


Sneaking items from Mom's purse.


Going on a candy binge!
Source: flickr.com via Lacey on Pinterest

Loading up on syrup - one of the elves four main food groups.

Candlelit date with Barbie... and I'm pretty sure there is alcohol involved!?

Building a snowman in the freezer!
Source: facebook.com via Erin on Pinterest

Being held hostage by Lego men!
Source: google.com via Erin on Pinterest

Elf replaces all family photos with pictures of himself!

Have your Elf leave the kids a note asking them to plant his magic seeds (Tic Tacs) into a bowl of sugar for a sweet surprise. When they wake up the next morning the seeds will have grown into cookies! ;)

Elf  gets locked outside!!


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Posted by Holly at 2:29 PM
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51 comments:

  1. I have not seen the one where he was locked outside. That is cute... but not tonight... it is a bit too wet.

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  2. Hello, I found you through Just Another Blog. Thought I would just check out what you have to offer. These pictures just made me laugh. We haven't done the Elf on the Shelf because we are trying to get Jesus through to our son first before we start anything mythological. However, this is too darn cute. I'll have to remember it for the future. :) Also, I'm a new follower.

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    1. They have a angel version of the elf called the Christmas Angel. She does good deeds but ours also does some silly things as everything is new to her down her, but she really is trying to help...in her own way:)

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    2. You can tie the Elf together with Jesus. The elf can come to visit because we all needs God's grace. Sometimes we do things but are forgiven. So does the elf. The elf can learn about good things through your kids example. Check pinterest. There's some ideas and even an example letter to explain that Santa knows Jesus and has God's grace and he knows your kids do too. Just an idea.

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    3. We have tied Jesus into Christmas everywhere. For example with Santa we tell them he brings the gifts to help celebrate Jesus' birthday and it is so good to give and then we can give as well. This year we did more of the giving now that they are getting a bit older (3X2 and 5) and they are really understanding.

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    4. In our house jeaus is mythological. Just have fun with it :)

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  3. These are hysterical!! I love them!!

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  4. My kids are older so this doesn't apply to them but my BFF has 2 young boys and she was saying last Christmas how it is getting harder and harder to find spots for him. She will love these ideas......

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    1. How much "older"? My teens get way into this. They are often the one to help the elf play his tricks...typically targeting one another...but it's way fun and everyone gets a kick out of what they come up with ;)

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  5. My kids are teenagers and will LOVE the elf this year!!! I am sooo excited!!! I also bought them for our grandchildren and it will be a great tradition to start this year!!! Thanks for sharing - these are great ideas and so much fun!!!!

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  6. My kids are teenagers and will LOVE the elf this year!!! I am sooo excited!!! I also bought them for our grandchildren and it will be a great tradition to start this year!!! Thanks for sharing - these are great ideas and so much fun!!!!

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  7. how much "older"...my teens get into this. They help the elf play the tricks..often targeting the other person! But it's way fun and makes everyone laugh what they come up with ;)

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    1. My grandparents had one when I was a kid, about a hundred years ago now lol. Hadn't seen one until one of my friends with a young one had one. I went right out and purchased one. At first my son, then about tbirteen thought it was creepy, but he and our grandson who stops in before and after school can't help themselves, they look everywhere...love it, my son is now 15 just shows you're really never too old for a little Christmas magic. These are some very fun ideas and will definately be using some!

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  8. I love these ideas. my kids were in kindergarten and first grade when we started and I had special journal books so that they can even ask the elf questions...or they drew pictures on how they found the elf. very nice ideas and great writing ideas too.... What do you think the elf will do next or how did your elf get there....

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    1. A great idea! Makes it educational too.

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  9. Great ideas! Our elf, Squidward he has been coined by my grandson, likes to get dizzy. He tends to do things like ride on the ceiling fan, run yarn across the room and be released for a "ride" when the door is opened, activate the cat toys. Of course, he can't do those things every day, lol, but he's been known to surf the internet and find goofy Christmas songs and pictures, which he's had various places, either on a USB drive in his hands, in the printer he was sitting on, or just on the screen with him proudly sitting in front of it.

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  10. i have had my elf since i was 6 yrs old and never thought about doing all these cute and funny ideas with him. going to start this year while we have our grandson here during the holidays..thanks for so many cute ideas..:):)

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  11. I would love to do this with my boys. Can anyone tell me where I can buy an elf like this? Thanks!

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    1. Just saw one at Nordstom in the Kids department today.

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    2. Most Hallmark stores carry them. Around $29.00 with the book.

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    3. We picked our Elf up a few years ago at Barnes and Noble books store

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    4. We picked up our Elf at Barnes and Noble
      http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elf-on-the-shelf-carol-v-aebersold/1018468021?ean=9780976990703

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    5. Books a million & target as well. Same price basically. I'm sure Barnes & Nobel carries it too!

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    8. Jc penny is carrying them this year.

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  12. You can order one online, like through Amazon, or you can get them at Hallmark stores. We got one last year and even though both of my children are older (9 and 13) they LOVE IT!

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  13. My kids still talk about the morning they found "Rainbow" driving barbies car, lol. I love all of these ideas! For sure going to use the elf drinking syrup.

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  14. These are amazing ideas. I cannot wait for 'Elf season'. Another idea that a friend of mine did was; her Elf tipped the flour over and made flour angels in it. (like snow angels).

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  15. Wrap him inside a present. Addresse it to the north pole. Put aprint of your dog or cat's paws on the tag.

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    1. very cute! my oldest would get a kick out of that one! last night ours decided he was going to "redecorate" the tree with a zip line going to the curtains, he decorated with my son's underpants!

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  16. A cute one I have seen is the elf sitting on the bathroom sink fishing for gold fish crackers.

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  17. Okay, and I thought my Elf on the Shelf ideas were good...you surpassed me by far!

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  18. We love our Elf and have one at our house and our grandchildren's homes. We love to compare what all of them have been up to!

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  19. Hi thank you so much for the fun ideas..My husband and I bought one for are 2 grandkids...I was wondering I was told too different stories...one person says the children should never touch thm and anoher says they canplay with them..can anyone help me on this..thanks

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  20. Never touch the Elf or he will lose his magic and not be able to get back to Santa to report on the children...incase of accidental touching, you can make a little bag of glitter and let them know that this will bring back his magic...but only this one time, so no more touching!!

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  22. We would love for you to come take a look at our blog with lots more Elf ideas!

    http://makinglifewhimsical.blogspot.com/2012/11/we-believe-in-christmas-magic.html

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  23. I actually made walmart has tiny little dolls for a dollar they have little hats on there cute I when to crafts and got red and green feelt for 23 cents and a small stocking for her bed we cute a little red outfit out and made a little hat and green elf shoes for her and she does walk climbing up the mirror with dry erase marks as footprint flour spilt n the kitchen with footprints of the elf she does misson impossible hanging from the candler we have so much fun we loved making her I paid less than 5 dollars for her

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  24. i laughed so hard at the family portraits :)
    janiene

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  25. This will be our second year, the first did not work out well!!!

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  26. I'm in my forties and when I was a child my mother hid elves during Advent to "keep an eye on us and make sure we were being good." To this day I find the whole elf thing creepy. This is one family tradition I have not passed along.

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  27. I'm in my forties and when I was a child my mother hid elves around the house to keep an eye on us during Advent. Her elves are much smaller and I think she had 4. To this day I find the whole elf thing creepy. This is one tradition I have not passed along to my children.

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  28. I don't have young kids in the house anymore...but bought an elf today for the fun of it and will be doing silly things with him to make my husband giggle, and will be posting the pics for my family and friends on facebook. You all have some wonderful ideas!

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  29. I shared this on my blog www.pieceofpieandadashofdiy.wordpress.com. We will be doing the tic tac seed/sugar cookies ASAP. Thanks! :)

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  30. Oh my those are HILARIOUS ideas!!! We barely get the Elf moved every night...so to think of doing these brilliant things is well...totally exhausting!!! Such a bummer, cause those would be a HOOT!!! :) I just posted an Elf story on my blog. I think you would see how it all unfolds when you kiddo REALLY gets into this whole deal...http://themomcafe.com/elf-on-the-shelf-part-2/

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  31. THese are great! Please come share these at my Everything Elf on the Shelf link up!

    http://www.shecookscraftsruns.net/2012/11/everything-elf-on-shelf-idea-party.html

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  32. In this crazy busy season.... It's hard just to remember to brush your own teeth and go to bed, let alone help an elf do it... Maybe the elf could come check on the kids once and week? like Sunday morning or something.... just a thought for those too busy but want to have some non-overwhelming fun. Happy Elving!

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  33. Love these! So cute! Definitely stealing some. =) I "hacked" our Elf, Eddie, to make him hang, bend, and climb! (Wire, magnets, velcro.) It was super-easy! If you wanna check it out, I made a tutorial on my blog at: http://lifesolovely.com/2012/12/01/elf-on-the-shelf-mod-in-easy-steps/

    -Nicole

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  34. I also write a blog on our Elf on the Shelf Dudley. If you need some ideas feel free to check it out.

    http://dudleytheelf.weebly.com

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