Life is busy, but December life is just a whirlwind of gift-buying, parties, school events and food prep. For that reason, moving your Elf on the Shelf at the end of a busy day can become a struggle to come up with something creative.
Worry not, because I’ve got easy Elf pranks and ideas that take just minutes to put together. They’re bound to raise laughs with your kids, but you won’t have to spend forever putting together something elaborate.
These creative and funny Elf on the Shelf ideas will get you all the way through to December. Easy!
Quick Elf on the Shelf ideas
We all run low on time during December! These quick Elf ideas can help you in case of emergencies, so save this post and refer back to it when you’ve left the Elf on the Shelf until the last-minute.
Elf is photocopying himself
If you have a printer that also doubles as a copier then just stick Elf inside the copier section. You could even do some copies and see if you can get a funny printout of Elf’s face inside the copier.
Elf is frying an egg
This is a brilliant last-minute idea that you can put together as long as you have some gummy eggs, like from Haribo, in the house.
Put the egg in a frying pan – or add a few eggs – and then have Elf sit next to the pan holding a spatula as if he is frying the egg for breakfast!
Elf is texting Santa
Get your smartphone and have it open on a text message being sent to Santa (just add a fake number to your phone and call is “Santa”).
Elf could be saying: “Nice list confirmed. Please send candy canes.”
Labubu kidnapped Elf
Your child’s favourite toy has kidnapped the Elf and used tape to stick him to a wall or door.
I used the Labubu here and some Christmas tape, but you can use your child’s favourite toy as an example. It takes just seconds to tape the Elf to whatever surface you choose.
Elf’s code
Elf has written out the “Code of Elves” on a piece of paper or chalkboard.
You can make up your own “Code” or use this one:
The Code of the Elves is three simple rules:
1. Treat every day like Christmas.
2. There’s room for everyone on the nice list.
3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
Elf drew on the eggs
This is such a simple but really funny idea! Grab your box of eggs from the fridge and doodle faces on them.
You could stick with a theme – such as drawing only animal faces or Christmas elves – or just draw a range of emotions. I did a mixture for ours.
Elf is playing video games
Sit Elf on the sofa and put your child’s video game controller in his lap. Easy!
To make it more real, get the game on the TV screen and pause it mid-game play.
Elf found a snowman
Elf has found a snowman, but he melted. You need the tip of a carrot, a couple of small twigs and some chocolate drops to do this one – as long as you have those things you can put it together in a small dish with some water very quickly. Add a note saying: “I brought you a snowman but he went away.”
Elf gets creative with toilet paper
Elf has cut some shapes into toilet paper.
All you need to do is fold around 20 sheets of toilet paper back on themselves, keeping them attached to the role, then cut some triangles out of the sides. When you unravel, there’s a cool pattern.
Elf is drinking maple syrup
Grab a jar of maple syrup, open the lid and stick a straw into it. Then place Elf so he looks like he’s slurping up the syrup through the straw. Takes seconds to do, guaranteed to make them laugh.
If you don’t have syrup then try hot sauce or another condiment you can leave open overnight.
Elf has rolled down the stairs in toilet paper
Elf has rolled down the stairs inside a toilet roll, leaving toilet paper trailing down the steps!
You can also write a message on the toilet paper for an extra twist – maybe a Christmas joke or just “ho ho ho”.
Elf is trapped in the wash
Uh-oh, Elf is stuck in the washing machine! Simply throw Elf in there with some laundry and shut the door.
You could also use glue dots or tape to fix him to the inside of the clear door, so your kids can see him trapped in there.
Elf is hanging out with the dolls
If your child has a row of toys or dolls on a shelf then pop Elf in the middle of them as if he is hanging out.
Elf is taking photos
Grab your camera or your phone and set Elf up as if he is taking a photo of a group of dolls or toys in front of the Christmas tree.
Elf is having a bath
If you have some cotton balls handy, or lots of marshmallows, put them into your sink and then nestle Elf in there so he looks like he’s having a bath.
Elf is hiding in the fridge
Tuck your Elf in the fridge, and maybe cut some small cubes of cheese to leave next to him
Elf is hiding in the food
Tuck Elf into a food jar – some containers that may work include glass jars with pasta and rice or jars containing cookies and candy.
Elf has gotten carried away with stickers/plasters
Elf is covered in stickers or plasters. You can raid your child’s stickers or your own medicine cabinet for this one.
Elf replaced toilet paper with duct tape
Take the toilet paper off the roll and replace it with a roll of duct tape instead.
Write a note on the top of the duct tape with black marker – saying something like “careful, sticky”.
Elf is playing a board game
Grab your child’s favourite board game, get it set up and then sit Elf next to the board along with several of your child’s toys, such as dolls.
Elf tortilla
Elf is wrapped up in a tortilla. Add some ingredients to make fajitas or burritos next to him so it looks like he was doing some cooking.
Elf wants to play tic tac toe
Elf is sitting with a mini game of tic tac toe and is challenging your kids to have a go.
You can use my free printable elf notes for this, or just draw a game grid on a piece of paper for a quick option.
Elf is hanging up clothes
Elf has either stolen your family’s underwear and hung it on the tree, or has got himself stuck on the line with all the other clothes.
Elf is feeding the dinosaurs
Grab your child’s toy dinosaurs – or any kind of animal figures they own – and place a sign saying “do not feed the dinosaurs”.
Get out your child’s toy dinosaurs and make it look as if Elf is feeding them. I used mini marshmallows but you could use sweets or chocolate.
Elf is reading a book
Get your child’s favourite book and have Elf sitting with it on the sofa or your child’s favourite reading corner.
Elf ate the candy
Elf is surrounded by empty candy wrappers. Smear chocolate on his face too.
Shopping on the computer
Leave your computer open to a shopping page – maybe even a holiday books page for somewhere fun like Hawaii. Then place Elf on the desk, possibly leaning on the keyboard, as if he is browsing.
Elf drew on the bananas
You could draw Minion faces on the bananas or maybe print off some Minecraft character faces and stick those on there for Minecraft fans.
Either option takes less than five minutes to do.
Upside down on the Christmas tree
This is a really simple one. Elf is hiding in the Christmas tree! You could try tucking him away in the branches so that the kids have to really hunt to find him.
Elf is napping
Make sleepy elf a bed out of a box of tissues, using some folded up tissues as a pillow and a tissue as a duvet.
Swinging from the ceiling
Use a toilet roll and some string to make a swing and hang from the ceiling ( a light fitting can do the trick) and pop the elf on it!
Time to hydrate
Thirsty Elf is getting a drink of water from your fridge/freezer’s water dispenser.
Writing with toothpaste
Elf has used toothpaste to write “2 days until Christmas”, or just a simple “Hi”, on tiles in the bathroom.
Elf wrote a note
Use lipstick to write on the mirror with a short message.
