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For years, I’ve managed to sidestep the entire Elf on the Shelf craze. At school, kindy, and playdates, I’ve seen those mischievous little elves make their rounds, but our house? A steadfast elf-free zone!
It wasn’t that I had anything against the concept; it just seemed like a LOT. Coming up with new ideas every single night while juggling all the other chaos that comes with parenting? Hard pass.
But..... Yesterday, while shopping for some cheeky pranks to slip into Christmas cards for my son’s cousins (sorry, cuzzy crew!), we stumbled across an elf display. My son lit up with curiosity: “Mum, what’s that? Why don’t we have one of those at home?” Cue my mental flashback to an end-of-season sale last year when I, perhaps optimistically, snagged one on clearance. (if you caught my Instagram stories, you' know the joke was on me here!)
My son has this contagious laugh—the kind that could thaw the Grinch’s heart—and he loves a good joke, especially if it involves spelling out naughty words (but never saying them, of course, because rules). I could see the gears in his head turning as I explained the elf tradition. “He spies on you for Santa,” I said. “He’s here to keep you off the naughty list.” But in the same breath, I warned him: “The elf himself can be a little naughty. And if he’s naughty, what if your teddy bears start acting up too? What if everyone goes rogue?” His laugh echoed through the store, and I started to feel a tiny crack in my no-elf resolve.
The Turning Point
By the time we got home, my son was all in. “When’s the elf coming? Can he come today? What’s he going to do? Can I play with him?” I caved. But then reality hit: 24 days of elf antics? Every. Single. Night? Nope.
There was no way I was spending $100 on pre-made elf kits or accessory packs. So, I turned to my trusty friend, Pinterest.
I copy-pasted every idea under the sun into a document, ruthlessly cutting out the overcomplicated ones that required power tools, a degree in engineering, or actual effort. What I was left with? A no-fuss plan tailored to what we already have at home—a mix of laughs, cheeky pranks, and easy-to-execute setups designed to spark joy, not stress.
24 Days of Easy Elf Magic
I’m sharing my plan for the busy mum who already wears a thousand hats: school pick-up pro, snack supervisor, taxi to after-school activities, chef, laundry folder, bath-time negotiator, bedtime storyteller... you get the gist. If you’ve got no brainpower left at the end of the day to think of yet another creative elf stunt, this guide is for you.
My setups are simple, funny, and most importantly, adaptable. Don’t have marshmallows for a snowball fight? Swap in cotton balls. No mini suitcase? I’ll show you how to fold one from a piece of paper. Whether you’re starting the elf tradition for the first time (like me!) or just looking for ideas that don’t break the bank or your sanity, I’ve got you covered.
Elf on the Shelf: 24 Days of Fun
This guide includes 24 easy setups, plus alternatives, a shopping list, and even instructions for making an origami suitcase in case you don’t have a toy one handy.
Elf on the Shelf: 24 Days of Fun
This plan includes 24 witty setups, notes, and alternatives to switch things up if needed. You’ll also find a helpful shopping/accessory list etc.
Day 1: Arrival
Setup: Place the elf sitting with a mini suitcase (I decided to go with an envelope after several failed origami attempts!) surrounded by teddy bears, as if just arriving from the North Pole.
Note: “Hi [Your Child’s Name]! I’m [Elf’s Name], straight from the North Pole! Your teddy bears told me to bring my funniest jokes, my suitcase, and snacks. Can you guess what I packed for Christmas adventures?”
Alternative Setup: If no suitcase is available, place the elf peeking out of a small cardboard box labeled “North Pole Express Delivery!”
Day 2: Snow Angel
Setup: Use sprinkles to create a snow angel with the elf lying in the middle. Pose a teddy bear holding a sprinkle shaker as if they’re “helping.”
Note: “I missed the snow, so I made my own sprinkles version! But don’t eat it—it’s elf magic. I’ll be ‘sprinkling’ fun everywhere this month!”
Day 3: Fridge Fun
Setup: Place the elf inside the fridge, sitting on a tub of yoghurt or holding a cheese slice. Add a note on the fridge door: “Open me!”
Note: “Brrr! This is my kind of weather. I tried to make a snowman out of butter, but it MELTED! Can you build one better than me?”
Day 4: Toasty Hideout
Setup: Place the elf under a slice of toast with a note sticking out. Teddy bears could be “searching” for them.
Note: “I’m on a mission to become the first ‘elf toast sandwich.’ Do you think I’ll be delicious or just a little nutty?”
Day 5: Colouring Fun
Setup: Set up the elf with crayons and a colouring book. Pose a teddy bear holding a crayon upside-down.
Note: “We’re creating a masterpiece! I think the teddy bears need some art lessons—can you help them?”
Day 6: Ziplining Elf
Setup: Use string and a candy cane to create a zipline, placing the elf mid-zip. Teddy bears can hold “signs” like “10/10!” or “Faster!”
Note: “I’ve been practising my ziplining skills. Do you think I could join the Elf Olympics?”
Day 7: Fishing Fun
Setup: Place the elf fishing in the sink with a pencil rod and paper fish floating in the water. A teddy bear could hold a net.
Note: “Reeling in my dinner… I hope it’s not a SOCKfish! Any advice before I end up catching the plug?”
Day 8: Toilet Paper Mess
Setup: Unravel a roll of toilet paper and place the elf tangled in the middle. Teddy bears can look “shocked.”
Note: “I thought your toilet needed some festive flair… but things got a little out of hand! Oops!”
Day 9: Cereal Message
Setup: Use cereal to spell out a fun message like “Hi [Your Child’s Name]!” or “I love breakfast!” Teddy bears can hold spoons.
Note: “I spelled this message out, but then I got hungry! Can you guess what it said?”
Day 10: Shoe Train
Setup: Arrange shoes like a train, with the elf as the conductor and teddy bears riding in the "cars."
Note: “All aboard the Christmas Express! Watch out for sneaky teddy bear stowaways!”
Day 11: Marshmallow Igloo
Setup: Build a marshmallow igloo with the elf “inside” and teddy bears stacking more marshmallows nearby.
Note: “I’m building a holiday home! But the teddy bears keep eating my bricks!”
Day 12: Fried Egg Fun
Setup: Place the elf in a “kitchen” scene with fried egg lollies in a frying pan. Teddy bears could wear aprons.
Note: “I made breakfast! Elf-style, of course. What do you think of my cooking?”
Day 13: Wrapping Chair
Setup: Wrap a small chair in wrapping paper, with the elf sitting on top holding tape and scissors.
Note: “Ta-da! This chair has been elf-approved for Christmas. Do you think Santa will like my wrapping skills?”
Day 14: Teddy Bear Hide and Seek
Setup: Hide teddy bears around the house with a note explaining the game. The elf can hold binoculars.
Note: “Your teddy bears and I are playing hide and seek! Can you find them before Santa does?”
Day 15: Board Game Fun
Setup: Pose the elf and teddy bears playing a board game mid-play.
Note: “I was winning, but then the teddy bears cheated! I think they’ve got secret moves… want to team up with me?”
Day 16: Folding Laundry
Setup: Place the elf sitting among a pile of clean laundry, holding a sock. Teddy bears can be tangled in clothes.
Note: “I thought I’d help fold the laundry, but now I’m stuck in a SOCK-storm! Can you rescue me and these silly teddy bears?”
Day 17: Breakfast Setup
Setup: Arrange the elf at the breakfast table with bowls of cereal, some spilled milk (use water for less mess), and teddy bears "helping."
Note: “Breakfast is ready! But the teddy bears spilled the milk... I hope Santa doesn’t find out about this food fight!”
Day 18: Mirror Message
Setup: Write a funny note on the bathroom mirror, like “Who’s ready for Christmas? This guy!” with an arrow pointing to the elf.
Note: “I tried writing on the mirror, but it kept looking back at me! Can you tell the mirror to stop copying me?”
Day 19: Candy Note
Setup: Use candy to write a fun Christmas-themed message, like “Merry Christmas!” or “Elf Magic!”
Note: “It’s not my best handwriting, but candy is hard to write with! Can you eat my mistakes?”
Day 20: Relaxing on the Couch
Setup: Set the elf up with a blanket and popcorn bowl on the couch. Teddy bears could join in with their own snacks.
Note: “Movie night! I told the teddy bears to save me some popcorn, but I think they ate it all! What’s YOUR favourite Christmas movie?”
Day 21: Santa Letter
Setup: Place the elf with a small letter from Santa addressed to your child.
Note: “Santa said I’m doing a great job keeping you company—AND he told me you’re on the nice list! (Phew, that was close for me!)”
Day 22: Toast Delivery
Setup: The elf serves toast on a plate with a funny face made of jam or sprinkles.
Note: “Breakfast is served! I made it smile, but now it won’t stop staring at me. Can you eat it before it tells Santa about my shenanigans?”
Day 23: Reading Time
Setup: Place the elf reading “The Night Before Christmas” with teddy bears sitting like an audience.
Note: “I’m practising my storytelling for Santa’s workshop. The teddy bears keep falling asleep though—do I need to be louder?”
Day 24: Goodbye
Setup: Place the elf with a small wrapped gift and a note saying goodbye. Teddy bears can wave or hold tiny "Goodbye!" signs.
Note: “Merry Christmas, [Your Child’s Name]! I’ve had the BEST time with you and your teddy bears. But Santa needs me back at the North Pole. Don’t worry, I’ll be back next year—maybe I’ll even bring snacks for the teddy bears!”
Elf Notes Made Easy
I created a Canva template for the elf’s notes to make things even easier. Simply download, edit, and print! No handwriting required. Here’s the link to the template.
Alternative Ideas for Swaps:
If you want to switch up any day, here are some extra ideas you can use:
Elf Makes a Drum Kit: Stack pots and pans like a drum kit. Use candy canes or spoons as drumsticks. Note: “Rockin’ around the kitchen drum! Do I need to keep it down?”
Elf Stuck in the Cookie Jar: Place the elf in a jar with cookies scattered around. Note: “Help! I fell in, but the cookies smell too good to leave!”
Elf Builds a Lego House: Use Lego bricks to build a small house.
Note: “I built a castle fit for an elf king! But it might need more rooms.”
Elf Hides Ornaments: Hide ornaments around the room. Note: “Finders keepers! How many ornaments can you find before me?”
Elf Plays Twister with Teddy Bears: Set up a mini Twister board for the elf and teddy bears.
Note: “Right hand on red! Uh-oh, I’m stuck!”
Elf Climbs the Christmas Tree: Position the elf mid-climb on the Christmas tree. Note: “I wanted a closer look at the star! Think I’ll make it?”
Elf Swims in Marshmallows: Fill a bowl with marshmallows and pose the elf swimming.
Note: “Best. Hot tub. Ever. Care to join?”
Shopping/Accessories List
Here are some supplies you might need for the activities:
Craft Supplies: Paper, crayons, scissors, tape, sprinkles, marshmallows.
Household Items: Candy canes, cereal, pots, pans, socks, milk.
Decorations: Wrapping paper, small ornaments, candy, or festive ribbon.
Optional Toys: Teddy bears, dollhouse furniture, toy action figures, or Lego.
Miscellaneous: Small blanket for the elf, popcorn, and hot chocolate.
Note.... I tried making multiple origami style suitcases and failed.... envelope might be the best bet for an easy, no fuss arrival.
Your Turn
Have you done Elf on the Shelf before? What’s been your best or funniest setup? Or maybe you’ve been avoiding it like I did—what’s been holding you back?
Let me know in the comments, or better yet, share your pics and ideas! Let’s make this holiday season fun, festive, and totally doable. 🎄
This is amazing! What a time saver