Elf on the Shelf has taken over as the hottest annual Christmas tradition and these cheeky chaps seem to be getting more adventurous every year. Not just for kids, adults around the world are getting into the festive spirit by creating amazing displays and helping their elves get into all sorts of mischief.
We've rounded up the most creative elf fun ideas to keep the kids on their toes this holiday season with official Elf on The Shelf ideas and a few extras from other enchanting elf toys. Click or scroll through for inspiration...
Why not mark the special occasion with a pop by bringing Elf into your home within a balloon? Event companies and independent party-balloon suppliers usually offer personalisation.
Or, craft platforms and marketplaces like Etsy offer DIY packs like this one from MadeByMower. For an environmentally friendly alternative, decorating and reusing a cardboard box will be an effective surprise too.
Little ones love to be good around their Scout Elf so they report back to Santa.
A Christmas tree made by your elf with colourful and delicious vegetables will spur on a healthy and nutritious diet to balance out all the festive sweet treats.
According to The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition story written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda, there is only one rule: they must not be touched by family members. If they do they will lose their magic. Seeing as nobody wants that to happen sometimes you'll find him in a jar or plastic container.
This costs next to nothing and can be a fun way to move elves around for the day without breaking any rules. This little dude isn't officially an Elf on the Shelf but he doesn't want to be held either.
Social media, it seems, is making elf ideas more and more competitive each year. If you are feeling the pressure maybe it's time to invest in a few itsy-bitsy additions to help stage a more imaginative elf scene.
Just a few fun accessories include sleeping bags, festive clothes and tiny games. Why not save some pennies, and raid the doll's house?
Naughty elves can get up to plenty of mischief while humans are sleeping. Just look at what this cheeky elf has got up to during the night.
You can find 10 hours of this TV screen elf prank on YouTube; it makes a handy last-minute solution. Another fun tech idea is to take an 'Elfie Selfie' on a smartphone to be discovered.
This is such an easy idea, all you need is an elf, elf-sized toy friends and a selection of shoes. Arrange the shoes in a line like a train and pop a toy in each one.
Place your elf at the front with a tiny handmade sign that says something along the lines of "All aboard the shoe-shoe train" like Cristie owner of The Traveling Red has done.
Toilet rolls are a prop hero! This idea from Heart Radio stacks three toilet rolls to make a snowman and hides an elf inside. To complete the frosty scene draw buttons and a snowman face on the loo roll with felt tip pens.
Heart adds a top tip: a cut-up red plastic bag makes the ideal snowman scarf to finish.
If crafty elf ideas aren't your forte there are books full of mischief and inspiration. Elf for Christmas Props Book is full of daily activities including North Pole newspapers, elf hide-and-seek stickers and Mrs Claus recipe books.
If you can't get your hands on a book of cut-out scene settings then take a look online as there are hundreds of free printable ideas and props available.
Celebs get in on the elf act too. This cute and super easy idea is from none other than Kourtney Kardashian. Just take a few rolls of toilet paper, pop the elves through the centre tube and roll them away.
Elves aren't the best at tidying, so once they've headed back to the North Pole for the night, simply roll the paper back and pop it back in the bathroom.
What could be more fun than an elf arriving through the letter box on December 1st via a postcard addressed personally to the adopter.
Four little holes punched through the wood or card will keep each elf safe and secure all the way from the North Pole.
There are lots of ways to introduce your first elf sighting of the year. She can creep out from under the furniture looking dishevelled or excitedly swing into sight like this cheerful elf from Pretty Providence. A used toilet roll holder and a piece of yarn or string are all you need.
Scout Elves love adventure. Perhaps he might abseil down from his year-round hiding place, where no one would ever spot him.
Or, a cabinet covered and decorated in Christmas gift wrap ribbons makes a colourful climbing wall.
Dressing your elf up in other toys' costumes has to be one of the more amusing ideas we've come across.
Or, if there are no tiny threads about how about this mischievous elf who's simply gift-wrapping himself, as seen on the Another Mommy Blogger website?
Prepping your place for elfin adventures is vital, not least because it gives you a few days' grace before the elf itself arrives.
Make a tiny home setup for your festive visitor, like this ultra-cute pad complete with a mini wreath and doormat.
If you're feeling a little more adventurous, it's time to get busy with a little Christmas DIY project. This cute igloo will make your elf seem quite at home (and it's pretty easy to construct too).
All you need is an empty milk carton, cotton wool balls and glue. For a how-to, check out Craft Create Cook.
This one's an easy win if you have some fruit in the house, just make sure you brand the fruit peel and not the flesh.
Transform a bunch of or a single banana into minion characters with permanent or chalk pens. Perhaps Banksy is actually an elf?
As the days of advent wear on, it can be tricky to find new places to hide your elf. Enter, the fridge...
Just wrap him up so he doesn't think he's back in the North Pole, like this guy who is 'chilling' next to the condiments.
Making snow angels is an easy and cute option for those mornings when you're not feeling super creative and time is of the essence, as the clever folks over at Next demonstrate!
A day or two after you've introduced your little elf, it's time to up the mischief factor. After all, that's what the cheeky creatures are best known for. We love the idea of getting him to interact with your child's other toys as The Gingerbread House has done – it'll make the daily surprise more magical for the kids.
Your elf will no doubt rule the roost, just like this cheeky little chappy who enjoys playing a bit of Star Wars Twister.
As elves are forbidden to talk to humans waking up to a personal message is all the more enchanting.
Peas, sweets, cereal or dried pasta, there are plenty of household foods that can be used to spell out a fun message. How naughty the memo will be is up to Elf!
This creation by @benn2ns has got to be one of the most creative ideas we've seen yet! It requires committing to the project wholeheartedly, as your poor elf will need a good four hours of freezer time.
Be warned though, some children did not take warmly to this frosty assault on their favourite seasonal sprite even if Elsa was responsible!
Depending on your sensibilities, you can go as heavy as you like with toilet humour. There's no doubt the bathroom is a good place to spot an elf. Try tucking yours into the loo roll dispenser and adding a chocolate drop as they make perfect elf poop.
Or, a more tame option is for elves to cut loo roll into snowflakes. Simply concertina a length of roll and snip triangles in the sides.
Here's another fun celeb idea. Elves are official pranksters so between 1st December and Christmas Eve be careful what you eat.
Cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch and family caught their cheeky elf raiding the biscuit barrel to replace cookie cream with toothpaste!
Just like his human friends, your elf is likely to come down with a winter cold during the festive season. Try setting yours up like this sick note scene by Living Locurto.
It's the perfect time of year to get all the family together to play games, so if you have a few elves, why not gather them for a game of Jenga?
Or, if your elves are super cheeky they may even play chocolate Jenga!
Just sometimes, you might want your elf to settle down to some good old-fashioned family fun, like helping finish the jigsaw that's been driving you all mad for weeks.
This elf can scale vertical surfaces like Ethan Hunt, thanks to his trusty suction pad. Try this little crafty hack to get your elf's hands to stick together: hot glue a small piece of Velcro to his hands and you'll have a whole new world of possibilities open to you.
Discover some more ways to make your home jolly in a jiffy!
It seems that even the North Pole has gone digital. Ensure your elf can keep in touch with his nearest and dearest with this amazing Elf on the Shelf video call template.
All you'll need is a phone, computer or laptop. Simply download onto your chosen device and watch the magic unfold!
It's not clear whether this elf is delivering marshmallows to his friends or stealing them in an ingenious hot-air balloon heist, but the kids are sure to love it nonetheless!
There are plenty of other ways to make your home feel extra festive this season too, no matter your budget.
Make tiny Christmas cards for your elf to write out to all their friends, your children included, of course!
If you enjoy a little bit of crafting, you could even whip up some miniature festive decorations to deck the halls on a budget.
Elves are busy so there's really no time for dawdling. The perfect means of escape, the Elf on the Shelf flying machine is sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike. For this one, you'll need slightly more materials: card, scissors, pipe cleaners, a Scout Elves Peppermint Plane Ride and Candy Cane Cables, all available from the experts at Elf on the Shelf.
Sure to banish any holiday blues, this fun-filled annual tradition just gets better every year!
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