First night
Jet-Lagged Elf
2 min · No mess · Needs: sock, paper, sticky note
“SHHH! Jet lag. I flew all night from the North Pole. I'll be wide awake tomorrow!”
Arrival season. The elf is packing.
Asleep at eight. Amazed at seven.
Easy Elf on the Shelf® ideas for the hours in between. Most take 5 minutes or less, use what's already in the house and come with a note from your elf.
I have
Different night?
142 ideas, each checked against a written safety list · Free printable notes · No sign-up, no pop-ups · How we check
Pictures: AI illustrations of Moss, our own elf.
First year? Four steps, one evening.
- Pick a name for your elf.
- Print the welcome letter.
- Choose an entrance.
- Plan the 24 nights.
No elf yet? The Elf on the Shelf® box set (Amazon) comes with the storybook, and every idea here works with it or any elf doll. Affiliate link: if you buy, we may earn a small commission. How we earn
More first nights, five minutes or less.
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Magic Carpet Arrival
Needs: aluminum foil
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No-Returns Gift Bag Arrival
Needs: gift bag, tissue paper
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Paper Airplane Crash Landing
Needs: paper, marker
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Pick My Name Arrival
Needs: paper, scissors, marker
More like these: Easy · Last-minute · Funny · Naughty (kid-friendly) · Toddlers · All ideas
Raid the house
The paperwork (free, no sign-up)
The By-Morning year
- December: the elf (you are here).
- Any night: the tooth fairy who works holidays.
- March 17: the leprechaun.
- March 28: the Easter bunny early this year, as usual.
Ideas for each arrive here a few weeks before their night.