Elf on the Shelf season will be here again shortly — and if you’re running out of fresh ideas, don’t worry. We’ve pulled together 24 new, funny and original (not to mention easy and affordable too) Elf on the Shelf setups that you can actually create at home with everyday bits and bobs. No faff, no panic, just cheeky elves and fun for idea and no stress for you.
Here are 24 ideas to carry you right through December.
⸻
Day 1: I’m back and I’ve hid the Candy Canes!
Elf hid the candy canes!
Hide candy canes around the house and leave the elf holding a sign and a candy cane.
What you need
- Pack of candy canes
- Mini sign stating 24 sleeps to go!
Day 2: North Pole Snowflakes
Elf is missing the North Pole so has decorated the room with paper snowflakes.
Cut and hang paper snowflakes around the room. Leave scissors (safety scissors for younger children) and paper cuttings around the elf.
What you need:
- Mini sign stating 23 sleeps to go
- Plain A4 paper
- Scissors
- Cellotape
- Thread
- Snowflake template (link)
Day 3: Snowball Fight
Elf started a snowball fight… and lost badly.
Bury your elf waist-deep in mini marshmallows to set the scene.
What you need:
- Mini sign stating 22 sleeps to go
- Mini marshmallows
Day 4: Time Travel Trouble
Elf went back in time… and found dinosaurs!
Keep hold of one of your empty cereal boxes. Open up one side, cut a hole in one side and turn it inside out and fix it back together so you can draw some dials on the Time Machine. Pop your elf in a cardboard “time machine” box, and add a toy dinosaur nearby for chaos. Alternatively if you have some of your old toys – you can use these.
What you need:
- Cereal box
- Toy dinosaur(s) or some of your old toys or Barbie’s in retro clothing
- Mini sign stating 21 sleeps to go
Day 5: Toy Takeover
Elf declared themselves the new king of toys. Place your elf high above all the other toys, surrounded by unimpressed action figures, dolls, teddy bears or cuddly toys. For extra impact the elf could be wearing a mini foil crown and be sat on a throne!
What you need:
- Foil
- Other toys
- Cardboard for throne
- Mini sign stating 20 sleeps to go
Day 6: Cereal Bath
Elf ditched the milk and went for style.
Lay the elf in a bowl of cereal.
What you need:
- Bowl
- Cereal
- Mini sign stating 19 sleeps to go
Day 7: The Great Wrapping Paper Disaster
Elf tried wrapping random objects (a banana, the TV remote, a shoe) in wrapping paper and tape—very badly. He has also ended up as a present. He wanted to give Santa a present.
Roll your elf up in wrapping paper with his face sticking out a hole and stick a bow on top. Cheeky.
What you need:
- Wrapping paper
- Cellotape
- Optional bow
- Mini sign stating 18 sleeps to go
Day 8: Balloon Chaos
Elf threw a party before breakfast.
Blow up some balloons and scatter them about with the elf tangled in the strings. Or contain them all in the bath or shower! For bath toy ideas visit our handy guide.
What you need:
- Red, white or green balloons
- String
- Mini sign stating 17 sleeps to go
Day 9: Elf Taste Test Challenge
Elf set up a fun game with some yummy bits and not so yummy! Place your elf at the kitchen table with little cups or bowls already set up. The elf leaves a note with the challenge for the kids. Pop 5–7 small samples in tiny cups, labeled with numbers. For example: chocolate syrup/honey/jam/ mini marshmallow, sprinkles, whipped cream, cheese, ketchup or soy sauce. Guess the flavour correctly and win a chocolate prize or guess the elf’s favourite and get a prize. Add a candy cane as a “palette cleanser” between flavours.
What you need:
- Mini cups – consider collecting milk lids
- Selection of foods such as chocolate syrup/honey/jam/ mini marshmallow, sprinkles, whipped cream, cheese, ketchup or soy sauce.
- Mini sign stating 16 sleeps to go
Day 10: Ice cream magic
Elf has used his magic on you. Let the kids know that he has used his magic on you and that if they ask for ice cream for breakfast they will get it!
Sit elf out with an ice cream scoop and some sundae glasses if you have them. What you need
- Ice cream
- Ice cream scoop and sundae glasses
- Ice cream sauces and sprinkles for the win!
- Your best acting!
- Mini sign stating 15 sleeps to go
Day 11: I painted you a picture
Elf channeled their inner Picasso and created an array of funny paintings.
• “Self-Portrait of a Genius Elf” (big ears, tiny hat, smug grin)
• “Santa After Too Many Cookies”
• “Mona Elfa” (elf version of the Mona Lisa)
• “Abstract Candy Cane No. 5” / striped red and white painting
• “Reindeer in Sunglasses at Midnight” – piece of paper painted black
• “Snowman Doing Downward Carrot”- plain white paper
• “The Family in Elf-Mode” (each member with pointy ears and hats)
What you need:
- Paint
- Paper
- Paint brushed
- Mini canvas and easel
- Mini sign stating 14 sleeps to go
Day 12: The Elf Science Fair
Elf is standing with a “science project, if you have one that you haven’t used from last year’s gifts or you can try the Coke and mento experiment – maybe outside or in the bathroom!
What you need:
- Unused science experiment or Coke and mentos
- Mini sign stating 13 sleeps to go
Day 13: Sticky Notes
Elf left reminders nobody asked for.
Cover your fridge, cupboards, or even your elf with sticky notes saying things like “Be good!” or “No peeking”, “Buy reindeer food”, “Remember he’s watching”, and anything you think your kids don’t think you know!
What you need:
- Post it notes
- Mini sign stating 12 sleeps to go
Day 14: Games Night
Elf and his friend had a games night – what a ruckus!
Scatter board games, boxes, boards and pieces over the floor or kitchen table along with some Barbie’s and teddies around and sit the elf mid-play with a very smug grin.
What you need:
- Board games and games
- Teddies and/or Barbies
- Mini sign stating 11 sleeps to go
Day 15: Sock Swap Parade
The elf has dragged mismatched socks from drawers and lined them up like parade floats. He leaves a note: “Sock Parade in town! Do you know I pop back and take socks throughout the year just to keep the mischief up!”
What you need:
- Odd socks
- Mini sign stating 10 sleeps to go
Day 16: Elf Igloo
I missed the North Pole so I brought a bit of it to you! Make a mini igloo from marshmallows (or sugar cubes). Stick them together with a bit of icing. Or use a large yoghurt tub, turn it upside down and cut a little archway for a door. Place the elf sitting inside with a scarf or blanket.
✨ Extra touches: sprinkle flour or powdered sugar around for snow, add a Lego penguin or polar bear if you have one.
What you need:
- marshmallows/icing/sugar cubes or a large yoghurt pot
- Icing sugar if you have it
- Mini sign stating 9 more sleeps to go
Day 17: The Great Elf Census
Your elf has made a chart or graph counting toys, pets, or sweets. If you use sweets you can scatter sweet wrappers everywhere and leave the elf clutching the last sweet. With the graph stating 99% for elf, 1% for you! He’s pretending to gather “important data” for Santa’s list.
What you need
- Sweets, socks or Lego etc
- Chart or a piece of paper with tally marks
- Mini sign stating 8 sleeps to go
Day 18: 🎁 Elf’s Mystery Box Challenge
Place your elf next to a decorated shoebox, tissue box, or small Amazon box. Cut a hole big enough for a child’s hand to fit in, then cover it with a flap (felt, paper, or tissue paper works) so they can’t see inside.Put different mystery items in the box. The elf leaves a note:
“I brought the Mystery Box Challenge!
Stick your hand in, feel around, and try to guess what’s inside.
No peeking! Can you beat the elf?”
What you need:
- Cardboard box
- Wrapping paper
- Christmas-themed content- mini ornament, candy cane, pinecone, jingle bell, ribbon bow
- Gross-but-safe: peeled grape (“eyeball”), cooked spaghetti (“worms”), slime or playdough.
- Funny household items: toothbrush, sock, Lego, toy car.
- Mini sign stating 7 sleeps to go
Day 19: Top of the tree – green eyed monster
Elf wants to be top of the tree.
Build a Lego tower or a card board ladder propped against the Christmas tree. Pop the elf at the top of the tree and lay the star or fairy at the door of the tree. Elf engineered chaos.
What you need:
- cardboard for ladder or Lego to build a tower
- Mini sign stating 6 sleeps to go
Day 20: Cookie Guard
Elf says save these for Father Christmas!
Position your elf guarding the biscuit tin. 8f you have a padlock or bike lock use that to make the biscuits look secure.
What you need:
- Biscuits/cookie
- Padlock/mini safe or bike lock
- Police car
- Mini sign stating 5 sleeps to go
Day 21: Floor is lava /Obstacle course
Create a floor is lava game and give your kids cushions to get across the floor to win some chocolate treats. Or create an obstacle course with chocolate prizes at the end.
- Mini sign stating 4 sleeps to go
Day 22: Pants!
The elf is testing your pants work better than stockings! Having up pants around the house with random bits inside them like bananas and toys etc!
What you need:
- Pants
- Fruit/Biscuits/toys/baubles etc
- Mini sign stating 3 sleeps to go
Day 23: Hide and seek
Elf’s playing hide and seek. Can you find me?
What you need:
- mini sign stating 2 sleeps to go
Day 24: Elf’s Farewell Note and gift
Write a note from elf saying he is going to back to the North Pole to report back to Father Christmas. I can’t wait to see you again next year etc. you have been so good and so much fun that I have left you a little gift.
What you need:
- Note
- Gift
- Mini note stating 1 more sleep to go
Wrap-up:
There you have it — 24 new and original Elf on the Shelf ideas that are funny, simple, and totally doable with easily available props. Whether it’s cotton buds, biscuits, or post it’s, your elf is ready for a month of mischief.
👉 Need gift inspo while you’re here? Have a peek at our handpicked Christmas gifts for kids and teens.
Search Less. Gift smarter. 
Leave a comment