Whimsical is how I describe this time of year, when hot cocoa is served and sweaters are warmed. It’s a beautiful time of year, but sometimes it misses the magic that all kids love. That’s where Elf on the Shelf comes in.
If you’ve clicked on this blog post, you’re a fan of the cute little creatures, with even cuter ears, but it can be hard to make them seem magical and funny. That’s why I’ve created 20 Elf on the Shelf ideas that will make your whole family laugh out loud, and tips on how to recreate them.
I made you eggs Elf on the Shelf idea
This idea is as funny as it gets, yet charming. It’s perfect if you’ve guests over. To recreate this, you’ll need a frying pan and a wooden spoon and chocolate Kinder eggs. Place the pan on the hob. Make sure the hob is turned off, because we don’t want any major accidents, especially during this time of year. Add a wooden spoon and, of course, the Christmas Kinder eggs. Add a cardboard sign with writing on it: I made you eggs, and there you have a cheerful and funny and exciting surprise for kids to wake up to.
Toilet joke Elf on the Shelf joke
You can’t beat a good old toilet joke, and Elf on the Shelves are a great excuse to make one. To recreate this, add a stack of toilet rolls, add them to the back. Add the outline of the back of an elf with a Sharpie and stick an elf on the top on the other stack with the sign, Don’t forget to wipe your bum, on a piece of written cardboard.
Grating the rainbow Elf on the Shelf idea
If you’re a fan of anything Irish or leprechauns, this Elf on the Shelf idea might be the one for your family to recreate. This hilarious idea, you’ll need a cheese grater, a pack of primary-coloured Crayolas, and a large packet of Skittles. The concept is that the elf on the shelf is grating coloured pencils that turn into rainbows; once grated, the rainbows become Skittles.
Mischievous with the Hoover Elf on the Shelf idea
If you want your elves to be up to no good this Christmas, this Elf on the Shelf idea is a great one to choose. To recreate this idea, place two elves on either side of the Hoover and add one at the top where the engine is, and the other at the suction pipe. This will give the impression that the elf is trying to Hoover the other elf up.
Creating Egg friends elf on the shelf idea
Ever wonder what an elf would get up to if it snuck into your fridge? Well, this picture explains it all. To recreate this Elf on the Shelf display, you’ll need a dozen eggs, an egg carton, and a Sharpie. Begin by sketching a variety of different faces onto your eggs. Position the elf with a Sharpie in their hand, and it will give the impression they’re doodling on the eggs.
Marshmallow buddy wars elf on the shelf idea
If you think your elf is lonely and want to give him a friend, Woody is by far the best candidate to recreate this scene, with the elf and Woody throwing snowballs.
All you need is a packet of small marshmallows and a packet of large marshmallows.
These act as the snowballs. Add icing sugar to the countertops and add two walls of large marshmallows on top of the icing sugar.
Add small marshmallows on the sides and place Woody on one side of the marshmallow wall and the elf on the shelf on the other side of the marshmallow wall.
The characters’ hands. Place marshmallows in the characters’ hands to give the appearance that they are having a snowball fight.
This DIY is perfect if your kids love snow.
Escaping by the candy ladder elf on the shelf idea
If your kids have a sweet tooth, this scene might be the one. The premise of this DIY is that Mr. Elf is trying to go up the wall to play with the kids, but instead of using a regular ladder, he climbs up the Kinder bar steps. To create the scene, you’ll need Kinder chocolate bars, a piece of furniture, and sticky tape. Add sticky tape to the back of your Kinder bars and place them in a pattern on the furniture, one to the left and one to the right, and repeat this until you get a zigzag line that will impress any chocolate lover for sure.
Rainbow snow angels elf on the shelf idea
If you’re a fan of anything quirky, this Elf on the Shelf scene is one to recreate. To recreate the scene, add sprinkles to your chosen flat surface and spread them out in an angel-shaped position, with the elf on the shelf in the middle, and you have an elf on the shelf making snow angels out of rainbow sprinkles.
Friends on a roller coaster elf on the shelf idea
If your kids love adventure, this scene might be one to recreate. To recreate the scene, you’ll need masking tape and three Barbie dolls, and of course your iconic elf. Use a washing machine or dryer, position the dolls on the divot in the washing machine, and tape them to secure them in place.
Breakfast of champions Elf on the Shelf idea
To recreate this scene, you’ll need rainbow fruit loops, milk, and a bowl, spoon, and your elf. Position your elf in the middle of the cereal, and it spilled all over the place. Add milk to the bowl and more cereal. Add a sign with text: Breakfast for champions. If you’re feeling extra, this is the one for you.
Elf got the chocolates elf on the shelf idea
This scene is a brilliant one if you’re staying with your friends and only have a box of chocolates and an elf and hope to create some laughter. To recreate this, you’ll need an empty box of chocolates and an elf. Place the elf with his hands positioned in the box and empty wrappers around him.
Giant elf in trouble elf on the shelf idea
This scene is very Gulliver’s Travels coded. To recreate this, you’ll need a set of Lego characters, some masking tape, and an elf. Position the elf, taped to the wall, surrounded by the tiny Lego characters, and then you’ll have a literary scene to remember.
Bubblegum elf on the shelf idea
This one is so funny, so let’s recreate it. You’ll need bubble gum balloons and an elf. Position the elves in a squashing position, one behind the other. Add tiny pink balloons stuck to their behinds, and then add the wrapper of bubble gum in front, and you’ll have a slightly dirty joke.
Elves kidnapping each other elf on the shelf idea
Have you ever wondered how to create a scene with two elves? Well, this is. Well, the scene is one to note. To recreate this, you’ll need masking tape and two elves. Stick one elf to a fridge or wall with masking tape and have the other elf be the culprit, with masking tape in his hands.
Elf in shiny shoes elf on the shelf idea
If you love a good old pun, this scene might be the one to try to recreate. Get a pair of slippers and cover them in tin foil. Add a note saying, I shined your shoes, before positioning your elf between the two shoes, aka one leg in each shoe.
Miley Cyrus-inspired elf on the shelf idea
If you’re a Miley fan, or perhaps just love a good pop culture reference, this one is one to recreate. To recreate this, add twine hanging from the ceiling, attach using masking tape and tin foil. Add a tin foil spear and your elf, and a note saying, I came in like a wrecking ball. It should look like your elf is swinging on a tin foil wrecking ball.
Zipline elf on the shelf idea
If you love a good joke that also gives kids the option to play, this zipline Elf on the Shelf idea is a great one to recreate. To begin, attach a ribbon to the Christmas tree, add a toilet roll, and attach the elf to the toilet roll. It should end up looking like an elf is swinging from the top of a tree on a zipline.
The milk is bad elf on the shelf idea
I love a good old play on words, and this milk has gone bad is just that. To recreate it, draw an angry face on a milk carton, add a sign, help me, the milk has gone bad, using a string, and tape the elf’s mouth and tape his legs to give an illusion that he’s been captured.
Mummy jokes Elf on the Shelf idea
If you’re a lover of anything that’s crossed between Christmas and Halloween, this might be the one. Or love a good mummy joke on a piece of cardboard, write Why does Santa like mummies? Because they’re good wrappers. Wrap the elf in tissue to give it a mummy look.
Grinch joke elf on the shelf idea
You can’t do an elf on the shelf joke without mentioning the Grinch. I mean, that wouldn’t be the festive thing of me to recreate this scene. Add a sign, The Grinch was here, and then forgot to flush, and add green food colouring to the toilet and have your elf sitting on the side of the loo.
Apple watch elf on the shelf joke
If you’re a tech lover, this might be the one for you, especially. You might find this one especially funny to recreate this. Write on a note saying, I got you a new Apple Watch in Sharpie. Write clock on an apple. Place the apple on the elf’s wrist, and there you go. You’ve a funny joke that will last decades.
Gummy bear joke elf on the shelf idea
This one is so goofy. I love it. On a piece of paper, write: What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear. Add a handful of gummy bears on a chopping board and position the elf’s mouth so it looks like he’s laughing.
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