55 Easy Elf on the Shelf® Ideas
Every idea here takes five minutes or less and uses things you already have at home. Pick one, set it up, go to bed.
55 ideas
Pictures: AI illustrations of Moss, our own elf. Yours will look a little different.
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Elf on Dish Duty
Needs: sponge, plate
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Houseplant Jungle Explorer
Needs: houseplant, stuffed animal
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Overnight Staring Contest
Needs: stuffed animal, sticky note
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Sock Sleeping Bag
Needs: sock, tissue, sticky note
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Stuffed Animal Rodeo
Needs: big stuffed animal, book
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Teddy Bear Sleepover
Needs: stuffed animals, blanket
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The Great Spoon Heist
Needs: spoons, mixing bowl
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A Candy Cane for Everyone
Needs: candy canes, sticky notes
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Candy Cane Bandit
Needs: candy canes, dark paper
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Candy Cane Hike
Needs: candy canes, couch cushions
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Candy Cane Limbo Under the Tree
Needs: candy cane, books, toys
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Couch Cushion Fort
Needs: couch cushions, blanket
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Dino Parade
Needs: toy dinosaurs, tape
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Fridge Art Gallery
Needs: kids' drawings, magnets
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Fridge Door Climb
Needs: magnets, ribbon, tape
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Fridge Magnet Message
Needs: letter magnets
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Gift Tag Inspector
Needs: wrapped gifts, paper, marker
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Marshmallow Bubble Bath
Needs: bowl, mini marshmallows
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Marshmallow Message
Needs: mini marshmallows
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Marshmallow Snow Shoveling
Needs: mini marshmallows, spoon
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Marshmallow Snowman Kit
Needs: marshmallows, pretzel sticks
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Marshmallow Star Map
Needs: mini marshmallows
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Marshmallow vs. Cereal Tic-Tac-Toe
Needs: mini marshmallows, cereal
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Ornament Ball Pit
Needs: bowl, shatterproof ornaments
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Snow in Your Boots
Needs: white paper, shoes, boots
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Story Time with Your Elf
Needs: book, stuffed animals
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The Great Elf-ini Magic Show
Needs: paper cup, white sock
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Toilet Paper Finish Line
Needs: toilet paper, painter's tape
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Toilet Paper Snowman
Needs: toilet paper rolls, sock
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Topsy-Turvy Morning
Needs: toys, books, cereal box
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Veggie Drawer Garden
Needs: vegetables, napkin
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Wrapped Like a Present
Needs: wrapping paper, gift tag
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Cinnamon Magic Fix
Needs: cinnamon, sticky notes
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Elf Takes Attendance
Needs: clipboard, class list
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Jet-Lagged Elf
Needs: sock, paper, sticky note
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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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Two-Elf Seesaw
Needs: ruler, thick marker, tape
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Bathtub Boat Arrival
Needs: takeout box, straw, paper
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Coffee Filter Parachute Landing
Needs: coffee filter, string
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Elf Rules Arrival
Needs: paper, marker, mug
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Message in a Jar Goodbye
Needs: jar, paper, ribbon
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North Pole Weather Forecast
Needs: whiteboard, marker, pencil
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Packed for the North Pole
Needs: box, ribbon, paper, marker
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Paper Airplane Crash Landing
Needs: paper, marker
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Pencil Parade
Needs: pencils, ruler
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Pick My Name Arrival
Needs: paper, scissors, marker
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Red Carpet Arrival
Needs: red towel, stuffed animals
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Sleigh Pickup Spot
Needs: painter's tape, marker
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Snow Angel Landing
Needs: cotton balls, baking sheet
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Snow Globe Arrival
Needs: clear bowl, cotton balls
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Sock Rope Window Arrival
Needs: long socks, hair tie
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Tangled in the Lights
Needs: Christmas lights
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Tiny Elf Door Arrival
Needs: paper, scissors, marker
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Two-Elf Tea Party
Needs: toy tea set, napkin
Nothing that quick and that tidy. Even elves have limits.
From the night shift
Keep a small "elf kit" in a drawer: tape, string, cotton balls and a few sticky notes cover most easy ideas.