25 of the BEST Elf On The Shelf Ideas! Find fun posing ideas for moving your elf, cute free printables, elf arrival ideas and many more DIY ideas for your kid’s Christmas elf. Enjoy over a month of elf ideas!
25 of BEST Elf On The Shelf Ideas
When it’s time for your Christmas Elf on the Shelf to arrive, you might be either excited or dreading it.
We always get excited when our elf Peter comes to visit. He is a sneaky elf and always comes up with the funniest things to surprise us.
We always have lot of fun catching our elf doing wacky things like showing up in a Kissing Booth, with a doctor’s note because he’s sick and can’t move, or playing elf video games!
He also enjoys taking marshmallow baths and is always up to something silly!
Originally published on December 15, 2011
Over a Month of Elf on the Shelf Ideas
I’m happy to have over a MONTH of super fun ideas here for your Christmas Elf on the Shelf!
Click here for all of our Elf on the Shelf Ideas <–
Recently, I asked those of you on the Living Locurto Facebook page to send me your Elf on the Shelf photos. In about five minutes, my in box was loaded with hilarious Elf photos!
Apparently, there are a ton of crazy little elves out there watching over little boys and girls. I got so many photos, that I couldn’t feature them all here, so I chose 25 photos to feature in a “Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Posing Guide” e-book.
A few of my favorite Elf on the Shelf ideas
Here are a few of your Elf on the Shelf photos that made me laugh out loud!
Dana’s Elf on the Shelf, was caught texting in the middle of the night. Shame on him!
Shannon’s elf, named Shelf, was a good little guy and delivered donuts all the way from The North Pole! Yum!
Ginger’s Elf on the Shelf tried trapping her kids in their bedrooms! What a prankster!
Does your Elf get wacky too? Share your photos with us.
Get featured by sharing your Elf on the Shelf Photos on Instagram with the Hashtag #LLBlogElf. We’d love to see you photos if you use any of our ideas and printables. It’s so much fun!!!
Get more fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas!
–> Find more of my favorite elf printable designs in The North Pole Elf Shop!
Our Favorite Elf on the Shelf Ideas
Along with your 25 Elf Ideas (Get the free printable book below), I’ve rounded up some of our favorite ideas over the years. I know you’ll find lots of cute ideas for your elf here. Enjoy!
Elf Arrival Letter that Encourages Kids to Give Back
This simple Elf arrival letter is a great way to encourage kids to give!
Elf Letter Board Signs
With cute signs for an elf arrival, departure and fun in between, these elf sized printable letter board signs give you days of hilarious ideas for your Elf on the Shelf.
Elf Doctor’s Note
Every parent needs this Printable Elf Doctors Note that says No moving for 3 days… it’s the doctor’s order.
Elf Kissing Booth
I Love this ADORABLE Elf Kissing Booth that my Elf showed up in one day! He’s so original and creative:-) Click over here for the printable file.
Plant “Magical North Pole” seeds and watch cookies grow!
Get this free printable letter from Santa with magic seed planting instructions. Our kids loved when our Elf on the Shelf Peter did this!
Elf Photo Booth Printables
Get our Elf’s printable “elf sized” photo props. Watch out though, Barbie can get wild!! See the elf and Barbie antics here.
We had a Lego Ambush!
A LEGO Ambush is what happens AFTER the photo booth party with Barbie. Oh oh! Better invite everyone to the party next time!
Elf Appreciation Party Photos from The North Pole
Elves LOVE to party! Our elf Peter brought these fabulous photos from the party to my kids. They got wild! Get the printable Elf Party photos for yourself here.
Top 10 Reasons Why Your Elf on the Shelf Did Not Move
These Top 10 Reasons Why Your Elf on the Shelf Did Not Move is the perfect read for kid! It explains it ALL!
Dreaming of Summer Elf
Peter was sick of the cold weather and we found him laying out in our window getting a tan one day. He’s so silly! See more and get the printable beach towel and elf sunglasses here.
Disney Frozen Elf on the Shelf Free Printable
If your kids love Disney’s Frozen, this free printable Frozen Elf Idea is super fun!
25 Elf on the Shelf Ideas
For more great Elf on the Shelf Ideas from Living Locurto readers, download the free printable book, 25 Fun Elf on the Shelf Photos. Well it’s not really a book, but we’ll just call it that okay? Thanks to everyone who submitted such fun photos!!
Download the free printable 25 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas below
–> Click here for 25 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas
© 2019 LivingLocurto.com
We love if you share on your websites! But, please ask permission to use photos.
More Adorable Elf Ideas
- 5 Adorable Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas
- How to Make an Elf Hair Bow
- Elf Munch Snack Mix
- Elf on the Shelf Printable iPhone Arrival Idea
To See ALL of our Elf on the Shelf Ideas, click the photo below.
Hi Amy!
I love your website. May I use the picture of the elf on the shelf who does the prank? The title is “Ginger’s Elf on the Shelf tried trapping her kids in their bedrooms! What a prankster!”
I would love use it for my french-class.
Thank you for a quick response and greetings from Germany!
Julian
These are the cutest ideas Amy! I especially love the marshmallow bed.
CUTE
This may be an unpopular stance, but i feel compelled to share. While I commend the creativity, how is an elf that is reporting naughty/nice behaviour back to Santa being a good behaviour model if it’s doing all these “mischievous” pranks. Our elf does his share of fun in the places it appears, (in the closets, hanging out near the shower faucet, in the fridge…) but only models behaviours appropriate of a sprite helping Santa. We also keep it handy year ’round, in case small ones need to be “reminded” that Santa’s always watching, even in summer…
What a wonderful ideas. I will keep them in my mind…as Christmas time approaches. You gave me great ideas for entertaining kids better. Thank u.
Is it time for your Elf to go North ?
We can help make the trip safe and enjoyable.
Christmas is over and the big guy needs his rest. Let Elf Express travel take care of the arrangements for your elf. We will make sure they make it North safely and guarantee they arrive back at your home next holiday season. The first class travel North and return to your home next year is only $40.
This includes a cozy magic travel package delivered to your door by the postman and fantastic elf quarters for them to rest and relax until the perfect time next year when they return to your home. They will arrive within 5 days of the date you provided. They will be ready to work with all magical powers restored. Be sure to pass this along to all the elf owners you know !! http://www.jaxnotary.com/ElfExpress.php
very cute
CUTE!
This will be our first year for Elf on the Shelf with our first grandchild and was trying to download the link to your ebook but it is not working for me. HELP
Thanks Lisa. We love Peter our Elf:-)
We love the ELF of a Shelf – and it is now part of our holiday traditions. Really cute ideas, so much so I had to share it. THanks for posting!
Today I am posting a round up of Elf of the Shelf ideas on my blog. I will be including some of your ideas and link to your blog. If that is not ok with you please me know. Thanks.
I found your post via Pinterest. I’d love for you to come share your ideas at my Everything Elf on the Shelf link up!
http://www.shecookscraftsruns.net/2012/11/everything-elf-on-shelf-idea-party.html
Thanks for the ideas and inspiration! Our Elf, Scout, has been more active this year than prior years. Our daughter is 9, so he’s apparently pushing the boundaries a bit more than just playing hide and seek. His first day here, he was hanging out with Hello Kitty. Snuck in to the Cocoa Puffs and was having cereal in the kitchen when he was caught. He tp’d our Christmas Tree and has hung by the dining room chandelier. I wonder what he’ll get up to next! Great blog and site…new visitor and quick fan! Merry Christmas!
Do you and or could you come up with a template for the donuts box?
Hey there! Thank you so much for this! I added a link to your page on mine for an Elf on the Shelf idea compilation that I made. Here is the link: http://kindacrunchymamalife.blogspot.com/2012/11/elf-on-shelf.html I hope that’s ok?! Thanks again so much!
I have a picture of my Elf on the Shelf sitting on a John Free bronze horse I think it is still my favorite one.
These look awesome – we are loving The Elf on the Shelf here, thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I love finding new elf posing ideas too.
Came over here via Pinterest, and I love this post! I was so boring with him last year, but I’m definitely using some of these this year. Thank you!
These are wonderful ideas! Like the reports I’ve seen at http://www.ShelfTheElf.com
Super cute! How cute is the elf phone holder! Awesome.
Jarrod
so these things aren’t really magic? 🙁
So, for those of you who have Elves who sit on the floor or in the middle of the dinner table – how do you coax them to move so they aren’t trampled by the kids or pets? Just wondering.
This is great, it’s a job remembering to move this booger every night
Thanks so much for posting these ideas. We have done the tee-peeing idea and the snow angel and they were a huge hit! My girls think that our elf, Jingle has been eating too much sugar and it is making him more mischievious!
What about a bath in Jelly?! that would be a good shot! make it happen please!
I tried to download the posing guide but it’s not working?
The elf kind of looks like Pinocchio. 🙂 Awesome creativity! He’s doing pretty clever things as well. Thanks for the pictures.
I heard the cutest idea yesterday where the Elf made a snow angel out of sprinkles. And then one where he was hiding in the cupboard sitting with a bottle of syrup.
I love this! This is the cutest idea!
Thanks for some cute ideas! You can check out what our elf, Manny has been up to this month! http://my-scraps-of-life.blogspot.com/2011/12/elf-on-shelf.html
How cute- wish I had one…..perhaps next year. =)
I want to see more Please!! Too Cute!!
love your ideas!! so fun to see what other families come up with. thank you for sharing– and providing some inspiration for the next 10 days!! if you would like to see what ours has been up to too, here’s the link to our elf antics: http://fullplatecookinglessons.blogspot.com/search/label/elf%27s%20antics
SO cute Amy!!! I wish he was around when my girls were little