25 Quick & Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

If you have an Elf on the Shelf in your home, chances are you're always on the lookout for new and simple hiding places for your elf. Last year we had ROCmomma's 25 Days of SIMPLE Elf on the Shelf Ideas. This year, we're back with more! I have been pouring over Pinterest and blogs to come up with a 2013 schedule for our elf, Alvin.

Here is an easy breakdown of supplies you will need to follow this schedule.

WEEK 1:

• December 1: art supplies, glue stick, sign that reads, "I missed you!"
• December 2: Angry Birds toys (or other favorite toy set)
• December 3: bathtub basketball nets (or other tub toys)
• December 4: candy canes and ribbon to tie them together
• December 6: white string and black paper to make a small eye patch
• December 7: marshmallows, toothpicks, cotton balls, another toy/figure for a "snowball fight"

WEEK 2:

• December 8: fishing pole (e.g., Let's Go Fishing game), Goldfish crackers
• December 9: new ornaments, wrapped
• December 10: Spider-man web (e.g., from a Lego set)
• December 11: toy tractor, toy farm animals
• December 12: dominoes
• December 13: toy dinosaurs, string or ribbon
• December 14: Christmas wrapping paper, tape, safety scissors

WEEK 3: 

• December 15: favorite snack bag for each child
• December 16: Lego fire truck (or other favorite toy)
• December 17: Lego Star Wars ship (or other favorite toy)
• December 18: child-size knife and fork, plate piled with Hershey's Kisses (or other favorite candy)
• December 19: small washcloth, bowl, water, mini shampoo bottles
• December 20: toilet paper roll
• December 21: Christmas book, stuffed animals or other toys/figures

WEEK 4:

• December 22: Christmas stocking
• December 23: mixing bowl, flour, sugar, cookie sheet, packs of Mini Chips Ahoy
• December 24: Reindeer Food (glitter & oatmeal) to sprinkle on the lawn
• December 25: goodbye letter

Other materials to keep on hand for posing your Elf during the next few weeks include: 

• glue dots
• double-sided tape
• twist-ties (the kind to close a plastic bag)
• string

Check back throughout the next few weeks to check out pictures of our Elf in these poses.

One more thing! We are not using an Advent Calendar this year because I have a different idea. Our elf will hold a note each day of December instructing the kids to do a different holiday activity. For example, one says to make and decorate a gingerbread house. Another says to read a Christmas book. Each day is a different, simple activity to help us celebrate the season as a family.

If you would like to do the same, simply print these out on card stock, cut out the cards, and tuck one into your Elf's hands each night.

• Elf on the Shelf/Advent Calendar tags - 1 of 2
• Elf on the Shelf/Advent Calendar tags - 2 of 2

I hope you and your family enjoy these Elf on the Shelf ideas. There are some anti-Elf people out there, and that's okay. I just know that there is an expiration date on my kids' belief in Jolly Ol' Saint Nick. These few years when they believe in Santa Claus are short-lived and personally I would rather make the most of them, and watch my kids enjoy the magic. 

Please Post a Comment to share your Elf on the Shelf's favorite hiding spot! As always, thanks for reading.

Leprechaun On The Shelf

Leprechaun on the Shelf? Now, why didn't I think of that?!?

A few days ago, my kids and I put up our St. Patrick's Day decorations. One of the boxes contained this prosperous poppet. As I was hanging it up, my five-year-old looked concerned and asked, "How are you touching him?" Confused, I asked what he meant. He wanted to know if the leprechaun would lose his magic. Then my three-year-old chimed in and asked, "Does he move at night?"

They were thinking of the Elf on the Shelf.

Little geniuses! If only I had some forethought on this. Instead I have remorse over my missed opportunity. On December 26, I recall wishing we could use Elf on the Shelf all year long. For the 25 days prior, discipline was so easy. It really came down to five little words: Do you know who's watching?

My boys are usually well behaved. But let's face it, combine a sleep-deprived ROCmomma with energetic kids, keep them in the house all day because it's ten degrees (Fahrenheit) outside, and even the most angelic child can grate on your last nerve every once in a while. Yet somehow that creepy little red-suited guy with the goofy grin can silently enforce good behavior in a nanosecond. He really is magical. Even if he does steal your pretzels.

So let's prolong the magic.

• In January, we could be visited by the Snowman on the Shelf. 
• In February, we could have Cupid on the Shelf, or Presidents on the Shelf (available in Washington, Lincoln, etc.) for non-Valentiners.  
• Leprechaun on the Shelf could check up on us in March. Or the secular Lion on the Shelf ("March comes in like a lion; goes out like a lamb").
• Easter Bunny on the Shelf in April, or the second half of March as the case may be. Alternately, we could have Umbrella on the Shelf ("April showers bring May flowers") - a plush umbrella with a cute face.
• In May, we could have Flower on the Shelf. Remember those dancing flower pots? Those could make a comeback.
• Celebrate Flag Day in June with Flag on the Shelf (with cute facial features, of course).
• Uncle Sam on the Shelf wants YOU to be good in July.
• In August, welcome the Lobster on the Shelf. (Yeah, this one is a stretch. August...vacation...beach...ocean...lobster. That's how I got there.)
• September's watchdog could be Johnny Appleseed on the Shelf (his birthday is September 26th).
• October could bring us Jack-o-Lantern on the Shelf, or the patriotic Columbus on the Shelf.
• We could have a Turkey on the Shelf in November.
• Of course, December brings our trusty ol' Elf on the Shelf. Or maybe extend January's Snowman on the Shelf? Hmmm. Need to work on this one.

The Character on the Shelf is Fun.

Kids love waking up in the morning and finding where their watchful friend has chosen to perch for the day.

The Character on the Shelf is Educational.

These icons could be learning tools used to help teach children about U.S. history, the four seasons, and the calendar in general. 

The Character on the Shelf is Motivational.

Simply pick an incentive for the end of that month - a family outing, a special meal, or a coveted prize. Then let your kids know they can earn that reward at the end of the month if they are on their best behavior. Remind them that the Character on the Shelf will be watching at all times. (Evil laugh optional).

Now, if anyone works in the merchandising industry, let me know. We can partner on this: picture books, plush characters, DVDs, and more. The possibilities are endless; we'll just change "On The Shelf" to avoid copyright infringement. Also, please Post a Comment if you have any better ideas for a month. We'll reward the best ideas with a percentage of the profits.

As always, thanks for reading. And in this case, for laughing along.

25 Days of SIMPLE Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Do you know about Elf on the Shelf? Chances are that if you are on Pinterest, read any blogs, or just talk with other parents, you do.

Elf on the Shelf is an elf doll plus a book to explain it all: the elf watches and listens during the day but does not speak or move; at night while we sleep the elf flies to the North Pole to report to Santa Claus whether the kids have been naughty or nice; then he flies back to the home and chooses a new spot to perch for the next day. The kids have fun trying to find the elf each morning! This repeats from December 1 through Christmas Eve. When Santa delivers the goods on Christmas Eve, the elf goes back to the North Pole with him until next December 1st.

An extra incentive for kids to behave? Sounds beautiful to me.

You can even choose your elf's gender, eye color, and skin color. If you really want to go all out, there is a DVD and a plush doll, plus other goodies to get your kids super-pumped about your Elf on the Shelf.

Last year was our first time with Alvin in our home. Each family gets to name their elf, and yes, ours is Alvin. I was not on Pinterest last year, so I didn't know how crazy people were getting with their elves! Ours perched in the fruit basket, in the tree, on the mantle, on the bookshelf, blah, blah, blah. Boring. But now I KNOW! And this year, Alvin will do amazing things.

Well, Alvin will do amazing things that can be set up quickly, without much preparation. Alvin will also do amazing things that allow him to remain out of reach of the kiddos - for the most part. If the kids touch the elf, he or she loses all magic. What will you do if this catastrophe happens? You can find that solution on Southern Disposition. Have Santa Claus send some Magic Elf Dust (a.k.a. glitter) to sprinkle on your elf and restore his or her magical powers. Brilliant! You can even download "From the Desk of Santa Claus" stationery to make it more authentic.

After scouring countless blogs and photo sites, I have devised my quick-and-easy plan for the 25 Days of Alvin the Elf!

WEEK ONE
Supplies needed:

• double-sided tape
• toy truck

December 1: hanging from a ceiling fan blade in one child's room; the Elf on the Shelf book will be in the book basket where we read bedtime stories

December 2: driving a toy truck on the dresser of other child's room

WEEK TWO
Supplies needed:

• marshmallows
• string
• thumbtacks
• candy jar filled with candy
• goldfish crackers in a bowl
• fishing pole from "Go Fishing" game
• toy chair (from a dollhouse, or in our case a fire house/police station)
• string
• LEGO mini-figures
• juice box

December 3: on the picture shelf in our hallway

December 4: building a marshmallow snowman, in the kitchen

December 5: zipline across the toy room (tied on a string, secured with thumbtacks)

December 6: reaching in to the candy jar (dining room table)

December 7: sitting on a toy chair, holding a fishing pole, fishing for goldfish crackers (in the pantry closet, where we keep the crackers)

December 8: "tied up" and surrounded by LEGO guys (on the mantle)

December 9: in the fridge, drinking a juice box

WEEK THREE
Supplies needed:

• toilet paper roll, mostly gone
• coffee mug
• coloring book
• crayons
• safety scissors
• white paper
• toy toilet (from from a dollhouse, or in our case a fire house/police station)
• clean pair of underpants from each member of the house
• tissue box

December 10: rolling downstairs inside the toilet paper tube (unravel the toilet paper so it goes down the stairs)

December 11: in a coffee mug (next to the coffee maker, in the kitchen)

December 12: coloring in a coloring book (on a table)

December 13: cutting paper snowflakes (dining room table)

December 14: sitting on the toy toilet (place on top of the real toilet)

December 15: sitting on the mantle with underpants hanging from the stocking-hooks instead of the stockings (that sneaky little elf!)

December 16: sleeping in a tissue box

WEEK FOUR
Supplies needed:

• powdered sugar
• a puzzle
• remote control
• small bowl of popcorn (popped)
• blocks, any kind
• Christmas stocking
• deck of cards
• stuffed animals
• slinky
• thumbtacks
• small envelope labeled "Magic Elf Seeds"
• white or green Tic Tacs, or Christmas-themed decorative sprinkles 
• a note from the Elf about Magic Elf Seeds

December 17: making "snow angels" in the powdered sugar (kitchen counter)

December 18: doing a puzzle (in the play room)

December 19: sitting in the living room, with the remote control and a bowl of popcorn

December 20: sitting on a tower of blocks (under the tree)

December 21: hanging in a Christmas stocking

December 22: playing cards with stuffed animals (on the dining room table)

December 23: hanging from a Slinky (tacked to the ceiling), holding the packet of Magic Elf Seeds and the note - click the link to see an example of a note that instructs the kids to "plant" the magic seeds in a bowl of sugar to see what will grow

WEEK FIVE
Supplies needed:

• mixing bowl that the kids filled with sugar, in which they planted the Magic Elf Seeds
• Christmas cookies (homemade or store-bought; either way, DON'T LET THE KIDS SEE THE COOKIES AHEAD OF TIME!!! Or the packaging afterward.)
• lollipop sticks
• goodbye-letter from the Elf (click the link to see a great example)

December 24: sitting next to the sugar bowl, which has now sprouted Christmas cookies on lollipop sticks

December 25: the Elf is gone, but s/he left a note to say goodbye


I hope these ideas help you - or inspire you! - to do some creative, easy things with your Elf on the Shelf this year. Have fun and as always, thanks for reading.