These easy Elf on the Shelf ideas are quick to set up and take a few simple supplies that you probably already have on hand. Great last-minute ideas for your elf – with free printable notes and props!
I have a confession: Last December, I stayed up until 1:00 a.m. constructing an elaborate Elf on the Shelf scene complete with a hand-built zipline, tiny marshmallow snowballs, and what I can only describe as an engineering feat involving fishing line and three different rooms. My daughter woke up, glanced at it for approximately 2.5 seconds, said “Cool!”, and moved on with her morning. That’s when I realized – I’ve been doing this all wrong.
Listen, I love the magic of Elf on the Shelf as much as the next mom, but between work, school pickups, helping with homework, making dinner, and trying to remember if I brushed my teeth that day… who has time for Pinterest-perfect elf scenes that require an architecture degree? Not me. And I’m guessing not you either!
That’s why I’ve rounded up 50 super easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that you can set up in under 10 minutes!
Most of these require just a quick trip to Dollar Tree or printing out the free printable elf props. No more running to the convenience store at midnight because you forgot that one random supply you needed!
These ideas will keep the magic alive without keeping YOU up past midnight. Because let’s be real – the only thing magical about 1:00 a.m. is that you haven’t fallen asleep standing up yet.
So grab your elf, take a deep breath, and let’s make this December a little less stressful and a lot more fun with these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas and free printable props! *And be sure to check out my easy Elf on the Shelf arrival ideas here!
Take an “Elfie” Bathroom Scene
Cut a life-size elf hat and zig-zag collar out of colored construction paper. Tape each piece on your kids’ bathroom mirror with the hat and collar spaced out a bit (enough to fit your child’s face in between). Hang your elf from the bathroom lights with the free printable elf note that says “Let’s take an elf-ie!”.
Family Photo Prank
The sneaky elf did it again… but this time, he messed with your framed family photos! Cut out mini elf hats and Santa hats (included in the free printable Elf on the Shelf ideas at the end of this post), and tape them to the glass of your photo frames. You can also use mini glue dots to attach red pom pom noses. Set up the elf with a sign that says “I fixed your family photos.”
Pringle Bells
Cut a hole in the upper part of an empty Pringles can (where the Pringles man face is), and slide your elf in the can so his face peeks through instead. You can cut out arm holes and a slit for his hat also. Jingle bells scattered around the Pringles can match the “Pringle Bells” sign!
Snow Angel in Flour
Let your elf make a snow angel right on the kitchen counter! Pour some sugar or flour on a baking sheet and position your elf in the middle with arms and legs spread out. Use your finger to create the “angel wings” pattern around them. You can also write a message in the “snow”.
Honey Bunches of Elves
This funny Elf on the Shelf idea is easy to set up with just a box of cereal. Cut a hole in a Honey Bunches of Oats cereal box, right in the middle of the circle. Poke your elf’s head through, and cover the “Oats” part of the cereal name with “Elves”. You can either use the free printable sign or simply write in Elves with a Sharpie marker.
Let’s Write Santa a Letter
Print out some of these free printable Santa letter templates or these printable Christmas wish lists, then set them up next to your elf. Takes less than 2 minutes!
The Elf Finds the Soda
Position your elf on the counter surrounded by 4-5 cans of soda or energy drinks with a sign that says “I’m wide awake now!” It’s the perfect excuse for why they have so much energy to get into mischief!
Friendship Bracelets with Cereal
Set up your elf making friendship bracelets using Froot Loops! String some colorful cereal loops on pipe cleaners or string, and have a few scattered around like they’ve been crafting all night.
Elf on the Shelf Goes for a Ride
This funny Elf idea is great for the last-minute! Just tuck the elf inside the hood of your hoodie sweatshirt or use packing tape to tape him to the back of your shirt with a note that says “Shhh! Don’t tell Mom!”. Just be sure to remove him before you head out for your errands, or you may get some weird looks!
Magic Reindeer Food
As Christmas gets closer, you’ll need to make some magic reindeer food to attract Santa’s reindeer to your house! So why not incorporate that into your Elf scene? You can set the elf next to the supplies needed to make the magic reindeer food for an easy Christmas activity – grab the magic reindeer food printable tags here!
Toilet Paper Snowman
This fast Elf on the Shelf idea takes less than 2 minutes! Grab a few rolls of toilet paper and some colored markers. Draw a snowman’s hat and face on one roll and a scarf and buttons on the other roll. Stack them on the back of the toilet, and position your elf so he’s peeking out the top of the toilet paper. Easy peasy!
Banana Minions
Grab a bunch of bananas and a Sharpie marker. Draw minion faces and square shaped outfits on the middle of the bananas, and set up your elf next to his new Minion friends. Easy elf idea, and you can reuse the bananas in your kids’ lunchboxes!
Banana Bread Snack
Place a whole banana in between two slices of bread, and set your elf next to the “banana bread” with the free printable sign. You can even reuse one of your Minion bananas for this easy Elf on the Shelf idea!
The Elf is Toasty Warm
Toast a slice of bread, and then cut two small holes in the toast. Insert your elf’s arms through the holes and set him up with a sign that says “It’s chilly outside, but I’m warm and TOAST-Y”. You can reuse your two slices of bread from the “banana bread” for this scene!
Elf on the Shelf and Friends are Watching You
Set your elf up with other small figurines or stuffed animals – like GI Joes, Barbies, My Little Ponies, etc. Use temporary glue dots to attach googly eyes to all of the toys and the Elf on the Shelf. Set up all of the big-eyed friends with the sign that says “We’re watching you”. This scene is a great way to remind your kids to behave during the month of December.
Snowman Paper Towels
Use markers to draw a snowman on the front of a roll of paper towels in your kitchen. Set the elf on top of the roll holding a few markers.
The Giant Cereal Bowl
This elf scene is one of the funniest Elf on the Shelf ideas on this list, but it takes a few more minutes to set up. Just use plastic food wrap to cover your toilet bowl, and then put the seat down so that you can’t see the wrap. Place colorful cereal on top of the plastic wrap to cover it up, so it looks like the toilet bowl is full of cereal. Set the elf on the toilet seat with a giant spoon and a sign that says “Fixed you breakfast using the biggest bowl I could find…”!
*TIP – I recommend doing this idea in a guest bathroom or other bathroom that you won’t need to use for 24 hours!
The Elf Makes an Apple Watch
Cut an apple in half, and use a black permanent marker to draw a clock face on the skin. Place the apple on top of the printable watch band (Included in the printable Elf on the Shelf pack at the end of this post!) to make an “Apple watch”!
*TIP – This works best on a Granny Smith apple because the marker shows up better on the lighter green color.
Minty Oreos
Your Elf on the Shelf is known for his mischievous antics, and this easy elf idea is right up his alley! Just grab a few Oreo cookies, open them up, and scrape out the cream filling. Set up your elf with a tube of toothpaste, and have him filling the Oreo cookies with that instead. Gives a different meaning to “Mint” Oreos!
Frosted Flakes Elf Joke
When all else fails… tell a joke! This easy Elf on the Shelf idea involves a bowl of Frosted Flakes cereal and a little humor! What do snowmen have for breakfast? Frosted Flakes!
Crafting with the Elf
Set your elf up next to a craft kit or free printable Christmas crafts – like these free Christmas hand puppets or these paper cone Christmas tree crafts. You can also find inexpensive craft kits at Dollar Tree or Hobby Lobby. Add the printable elf note, and you’ve got an elf scene and a fun Christmas activity in one!
The Milk Has Gone Bad
Use a Sharpie marker to draw a mean face on the milk carton. Then tape the Elf’s hands and feet and set him in the refrigerator near the milk with a sign that says “Oh no, the milk has gone bad!”. The kids will love searching for the Elf and discovering him trapped in the refrigerator!
The Elf Climbs Mt. Elf-erest
Stack red Solo cups up into a pyramid shape – we used a pack of 50 cups here. Then tape on the “Mt. Elf-erest” sign and add a few smooshed cotton balls to look like snow. Sit your elf on top of one of the cups to make it look like he’s climbing the mountain of cups.
Keeping Santa Posted
Stick a bunch of post-it notes somewhere in your house, and set up the Elf with a play cell phone and the sign that says “Keeping Santa posted”. You can even print and cut the screenshot of Calling Santa to tape to the front of the cell phone. *TIP – The “Calling Santa” screen is available for FREE in the printable Elf on the Shelf set, and it’s perfectly sized to fit the play cell phones that you can find at Dollar Tree!
Smells Like Balls
Grab a bag of cheese balls and an empty jar – I used an old mayonnaise jar here. Sit the Elf on the Shelf in the jar so that you can still see his face, and fill the jar with some cheese balls scattered around him. Add the free printable elf note that says “Smells like balls in here!”. Easy peasy!
Giant Tic Tac Toe Game
Draw giant X’s and O’s on paper or styrofoam plates using a permanent marker, one letter per plate. Then tape a giant tic tac toe board on your kitchen floor using masking tape or painter’s tape. Lay the elf on the floor like he’s playing the game with another stuffed animal or action figure.
Climbing up the Fridge
Attach gift bows to the front of your refrigerator, spaced out a bit like they’re a rock wall. Tape the elf to the fridge, positioning his hands and feet like he’s climbing up the bows.
Rolling Down the Couch
Set some throw pillows up on your couch to look like a bumpy ski slope. Then place your Elf on the Shelf inside a roll of toilet paper, and have him rolling down the couch pillows onto the floor inside the toilet paper tube. Super easy – this Elf on the Shelf idea takes less than 3 minutes to set up!
Letter from Santa
Grab one of these free printable letters from Santa, and have your elf sitting next to it on your kitchen counter with a sign announcing “Look, you got a letter from Santa!”. Takes less than 2 minutes to set up!
Sponge Cake
Grab a kitchen sponge and spread on store-bought icing. Top the “sponge cake” with sprinkles, and set your Elf on the Shelf up with a sign that proudly proclaims the elf made a sponge cake for your kids!
Sprinkles in the Faucet
Who needs water when you’ve got sprinkles?! Add some colorful sprinkles or Nerds candies to the bowl of the bathroom sink (be sure to put down the drain stopper first!). Then roll a piece of packing tape into a tube shape with the sticky part facing outward, and roll it in the sprinkles. Attach the sprinkle tape roll to the faucet using a small piece of the tape. It should look like there’s sprinkles coming out of the tap instead of water!
Countdown to Christmas
Grab my free printable Christmas countdown sign, pop it in a picture frame, and use a dry erase marker to countdown the days until Christmas. Set your Elf on the Shelf next to the sign, and have him holding the marker. This is a great elf idea for December 1st or 2nd so you can countdown all month long!
Movie Night with Elf on the Shelf
Set your little friend up on the counter with some microwave popcorn, movie theater candy boxes, and a sign that says “Do you want to watch a movie?”. This easy Elf on the Shelf movie night is great for a Friday night family date or anytime you want to enjoy a chill night in during the busy holiday season!
Wrapping Paper Stilts
The sneaky Elf is trying to get to the sweets on the kitchen counter! Set up a pair of boots on the floor near the cabinets, and stick one roll of gift wrap in each boot (taller boots work best for this). Then stand your Elf on the Shelf with one leg in each roll of gift wrap, like he’s using the rolls as stilts. You can set up some sweet treats on the counter to show that he was trying to reach them.
The Elf Wants a Microwave Snack
Pop a bag of microwave popcorn, open it up, and scatter it inside the microwave. Then set the Elf in the middle of the salty snack mess. You can leave the microwave door open for the kids to find the elf in the morning, or close it and have them play a mini game of hide-n-seek to find him.
Unicorn Bubble Bath
Blow up a pack of 24 balloons, and place them in the bathtub. Set your Elf on the Shelf and a toy My Little Pony next to the tub with the free printable sign that says “This is what happens when a unicorn takes a bath!”. *TIP – You can find generic unicorn toys at Dollar Tree for this easy elf idea.
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping
Take a cue from the popular Christmas song, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and tuck the Elf under your blanket in your bed. Print out the free printable Elf sign that says “He sees you when you’re sleeping…” A nice subtle reminder for your kids to be on their best behavior!
Have a Jaw-some Day – Sharks in the Toilet!
Place Saran wrap over the toilet bowl, and tape on cut-outs of sharks and shark fins. Set the elf up on the toilet seat with a straw for a fishing pole, and place a sign near him that says “Have a Jaw-some day!”. *TIP – Better to do this in a bathroom that gets little use. The shark printables are included in the free printable Elf on the Shelf props at the end of this post!
Toilet Paper in the Doorway
String toilet paper across your child’s bedroom doorway, and have the mischievous Elf on the Shelf sitting near the bottom of the door holding a strand like he was caught mid-prank!
Caught in a Booby Trap
Hang one of your bras from a clothes hanger, and dangle the Elf inside it like he got trapped. Then tape the “Help!” sign on to the top of the coat hanger. Funny and takes less than 2 minutes!
Don’t Give These to Santa!
Set up your Elf on the counter with a bunch of dog treats or dog biscuits, like Milk Bones. Place the sign that says “Worst cookies ever” near him. *Optional – the Chef’s outfit that I found at Dollar Tree.
Ginger Bread House
Stack 3-4 slices of bread in a house shape, and place a spice jar of ground ginger inside – instant ginger bread house! You could also print out these free printable gingerbread house crafts to go with this elf idea.
Ironing Out Potato Chips
Grab a bag of straight-cut potato chips and a bag of crinkle cut chips. Set your elf up with the iron and the free sign that says “Your chips were wrinkled so I fixed them…” *TIP – You can purchase smaller bags of chips at the registers in the grocery store or at a convenience store if you don’t usually have potato chips in your pantry.
It’s Taco Night
If there’s a day in December that you’re planning to make tacos for dinner, then use the ingredients to set up an elf taco night! Wrap the Elf on the Shelf in a flour tortilla and tear out a small hole for his face to peek through. Set up the elf burrito with some other shelf-stable ingredients for tacos and the simple sign that says “Taco Tuesday!”.
I-C-U-P Potty Humor
Grab a pack of scrapbook stickers from Dollar Tree, or print out some simple letters at home. Stick the I-C-U-P stickers to the underside of the toilet seat, and have your elf sitting on the back of the toilet. An easy Elf on the Shelf idea if you don’t mind a little potty humor!
Let’s Have A Spa Day
If you have girls, use this elf scene to let them know it’s a spa day! Buy some sheet face masks and get out the nail polish. You can purchase a toy bathtub that’s Barbie-sized at Dollar Tree during the month of December – probably for all of the moms looking for easy elf ideas! Wrap the elf in paper towels or toilet paper (to look like towels) and set him in the tub with mini marshmallows or white pom poms.
The Poop Museum
This is one of the easy elf ideas that I’ve seen all over social media, so I decided to include it in my free printable Elf on the Shelf pack! Grab 6-8 mini bowls or muffin liners, and fill each with different small candies or sprinkles. Things like mini marshmallows for snowman poop, Raisinettes for Santa poop, green M&M’s for Grinch poop, and more. Print out the signs and set them up on the counter for a stinky-sweet idea!
Watching U-Tube
Most kids these days love watching YouTube, so have the elf join in! Draw “U” and “You” on empty toilet paper tubes and set them up on the counter. Then set the Elf on the Shelf in front of the tubes like he’s watching “YouTube”.
Elf is Trapped in the TV
Speaking of YouTube, this is one of the easiest Elf on the Shelf ideas on this list, because all you need is a TV and YouTube. Go to this video on your TV and push play. It will look like the elf is trapped in the television!
The Elf TP-ed the Bathroom
Toilet paper your bathroom, hanging strands of TP all over from the vanity light, door handle, and more. You can also stack up a bunch of rolls of toilet paper on the bathroom counter. Wrap the elf up in the paper and hang him from a light. Easy!
Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Signs and Props
To make your elf season even easier, I’m sharing my printable Elf signs and props with you! Just click the button below to download the full pack of Elf on the Shelf notes that I used in these ideas. That way your kids can’t pick out your handwriting on the elf notes.
Download The Printable!
Click below to download your FREE Elf on the Shelf Props and Signs
If you loved these ideas, then be sure to check out our other easy Elf on the Shelf ideas:
- Elf on the Shelf Adoption Certificates – Great for when your family gets a brand new elf!
- Free Printable Elf Arrival Letters – A great way to welcome your elf back on December 1st!
- Printable Elf Magic Dust Sign – For when the elf is accidentally touched!
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