Need a fun way to say goodbye to the Elf on the Shelf?
You may feel like you need the last day of Elf on the Shelf to go out with a bang and you’re stuck for ideas on what to do.
I’ve found myself totally stuck many times and needing to come up with a better option than just putting the Elf on the tree!
So my last day ideas for the Elf will take the stress out of it – because the last thing you need at this time of year is more to plan/worry about/think about/do.
I’ve got a great variety of options – including some last-minute goodbye to Elf on the Shelf ideas – to say farewell to the little rascal.
If you need more ideas for other days of the month then you could check out my Elf on the Shelf cheat sheet or my easy Elf on the Shelf ideas.
You may also like my tips for how to welcome back your Elf on the Shelf!
This post contains affiliate links.
When is the last day for Elf on the Shelf
Your last day for Elf on the Shelf is Christmas Eve – so December 24.
That’s because by Christmas Day the Elf has filed his last report back to Santa about how the kids have been doing. Have they been good? Should they be on the nice list?
Of course the Elf can still be present on Christmas Day if you want. I tend to just leave him on the tree on Christmas Day so he can watch the fun unfold.
But because the morning of Christmas Day will be all about rushing to the tree to check out the presents that Santa has left, you don’t really need to do Elf on the Shelf that morning too.
The kids will be all about the presents!
How do you say goodbye to the Elf on the Shelf?
You want the last day of Elf on the Shelf to be a proper send-off and stand out a little from the other days.
This doesn’t mean it has to be a super high maintenance idea! It could be something simple, but just a little unique to the rest of the month.
One super easy idea is to print off my farewell letter to place with your Elf – this will take you just two minutes to download and print!
Or you could print my last day Elf signs, which you just need to stick to something like a cocktail stick so Elf can hold them up.
So if you’re doing this last-minute then I hope it will save you a lot of stress!
A note really helps to round off the Elf’s visit to your home for another year. You could write it yourself – it doesn’t need to be long.
Something simple like: “It’s been fun, but I’ve got to run. Have no fear, I’ll be back next year!”
Last Day Elf on the Shelf ideas
When it comes to last day Elf ideas, you can put something together that’s pretty eye catching without too much hassle.
As with other days, look to props around the house that can help you.
A written message can really help to end the Elf’s visit to your home, and it’s something the kids can keep to!
Elf writes a goodbye with shaving foam
Writing a fun message on the mirror with shaving cream takes just a couple of minutes to put together but it is really effective at delighting the kids.
All you need to do is get a couple of decent blobs of shaving cream and apply to the mirror in a layer of around half a centimetre thick. It needs to be a dry mirror or the cream will just melt away.
Next write a short and simple message (a long one won’t work with this idea), saying something like “Merry Christmas” or “Goodbye, Happy Christmas”.
Elf writes goodbye with lipstick
This is along a similar line to the previous idea, however it is much less messy and easier to clean up.
Write a short message using lipstick on the bathroom mirror your kids use.
Leave the Elf on the sink by the mirror and have him holding the lipstick in his arms. You could smear a little lipstick on his mouth too just for fun!
Elf has cooked a Christmas Eve breakfast
Why not treat the kids to a Christmas Eve festive feast?
You could have the Elf sitting on the counter with the ingredients ready to cook. If you can get up before the children, then cook some pancakes, or bacon and eggs, and have Elf sitting at the breakfast table.
You could always add a little chefs hat to the Elf too for fun. You can do this really quickly just by cutting a white chef’s hat out from a white piece of paper, then stick it on his head using tape.
If you’re cooking pancakes, you could dot a couple of small blobs of batter into the pan and quickly fry them, then you’ve made Elf his own little pancakes!
Elf has the children’s Christmas Eve boxes
If you do Christmas Eve boxes then this is a great way to see the Elf off for another year.
Have Elf sitting on top of the children’s boxes – he could be holding a note or a little sign saying Merry Christmas.
If you’ve never done a Christmas Eve box before, they tend to contain a few small but fun items for the kids to enjoy ahead of Christmas Day. This might include:
- A Christmas movie
- Christmas book
- Festive PJs
- Socks
- Hot chocolate set with marshmallows
- A fun festive toy – such as a small stuffed cuddly snowman
- Chocolate coins
Elf is in a sleigh ready to fly to the North Pole
We absolutely love our Elf sled prop – it is so good for putting together last-minute Elf on the Shelf antics!
We’ve tied the kid’s Paw Patrol toys to it and all sorts!
For the farewell, you could pop all of Elf’s props that he’s used during his visit into the back of the sleigh.
Have him holding one of my free printable Elf goodbye signs to complete the look.
Spell out a goodbye with newspaper cuttings
Use newspapers or magazines to cut out letters that you can put together to spell out a message.
Leave the Elf out somewhere the kids will see – such as the dining room table or wherever they eat breakfast.
Arrange the message out of the letters you have cut out of your papers.
The message should be short – something like “Goodbye, I’ll miss you”, or “see you next year”.
Elf has cookies and a carrot
Your Elf could say goodbye by providing the items that your kids will leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Have a pack of cookies and a carrot ready to go. Your kids just need to arrange them all on a plate and pour out the milk for Santa before they go to bed later.
Free Elf on the Shelf Last Day Letter
To help say goodbye to the Elf on the Shelf for another year you can download and print this sweet goodbye letter from the Elf to your child.
Where you put the Elf is up to you, but as it’s the last day you could just pop him on the tree, roll up the letter and put it in his arms ready for your child to discover.
Roll the letter up and tie it with a ribbon so that it looks great and is easier for your to prop into Elf’s arms.
Free printable Elf on the Shelf Goodbye Signs
Alternatively use these simple goodbye signs which are great for kids who are just learning to read!
There’s a selection for your to choose from. You could choose just one or use all three.
I like to stick them to cocktail sticks with tape, and then Elf can hold them much easier.
