• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Word To Your Mother

Not Just Another Mom Blog

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Coaching
  • Shop
  • Keto & Low Carb
        • Recipes
          • Breakfast
          • Lunch
          • Dinner
          • Appetizers
          • Side Dishes
          • Snacks
          • Desserts
          • Drinks
        • The Best Keto Recipes & Easy Meal Ideas
          • How To Start A Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan Free
          • Meal Plans
          • Meal Prep
        • Low Carb
  • Clean Eating
        • Recipes
          • Breakfast
          • Lunch
          • Dinner
          • Desserts
  • Health
        • Fitness
        • Weight Loss
  • Lifestyle
        • DIY + Crafts
        • Holidays
        • Gift Guides
        • Autism
50 Insanely Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas + The Ultimate Elf on the Shelf Hack That Will Save Your Sanity

50 Insanely Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas + The Ultimate Elf on the Shelf Hack That Will Save Your Sanity

by Heather Burnett |

Tweet
Pin70K
Share26
70K Shares
elf on the shelf
elf on the shelf
elf on the shelf
elf on the shelf
elf on the shelf
elf on the shelf

Did you remember to move the Elf on the Shelf? Christmas is a busy season for parents, but for kids, Christmas is pure magic.  These easy and creative Elf on the Shelf ideas, printables, and tips will help save your sanity and make the Elf on the Shelf a fun family Christmas tradition!  

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas #elfontheshelfprank

This post may contain affiliate links that help keep this content free. [Full Disclosure]

What Is Elf on the Shelf? 

Due to its mass popularity you may think the Elf is the creation of a big-brand toy distributor, but the favorite brand is a Georgia family’s tradition that a mother-daughter team made into a real-life All-American style success story. And no, they didn’t create the elves to make parents miserable-or stressed out. Here’s the low down: The Elf on the Shelf usually arrives around December 1 and reports back to Santa every night at the North Pole. When the Elf returns, he is always in a new spot. This adds excitement to every day throughout the holiday season-unless, of course, you forget to move the Elf. Guess what? I have three kids, two elves, and I’ve had to come up with a ton of ideas/stories/and flat out lies over the years. Here are a few tips I wish someone would have told me sooner! 

Top Elf On The Shelf Tips (& The Hack Every Parent Needs To Know) 

  1. If you don’t have the book grab it here & then come on back ASAP! 
  2. Take a deep breath & don’t stress! Remember this is all in fun! Your kids do not care if your Elf looks Pin-worthy perfect every morning!  
  3. Do a little Elf planning. Peruse Pinterest for ideas & stock up on props you may need ahead of time. (You can find these in your child’s toy organizers/under their beds/everywhere they leave stuff: Think Barbie cars, toy soldiers, plastic dinosaurs, model planes, fake snow or cupcake sprinkles.) Some of the ideas below use household items like (used) toilet paper rolls & soup cans so don’t throw these away! 
  4. Know the Elf on the Shelf Rules before an Elf 911 happens! Read & Save: Top Ten Reasons Why Your Elf on the Shelf Did Not Move
  5. Know that Elf on the Shelf letters are a thing (But Not Mandatory)-Just because your Elf can’t speak doesn’t mean he can’t communicate! The Party Artisan has a cute shop on Etsy where you can get an instant download of the cutest miniature elf letters you’ll ever see! 
  6. Consider setting an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to move your Elf-just in case life gets busy. Do not set it as “Move Elf” – My husband made this mistake a few seasons ago & thankfully we caught the mistake before we got burned.  
  7. Get creative with everyday household items! You don’t have to spend a lot of money or time or be Martha Stewart to make a significant impact. You’ll notice in the following projects that some of the best Elf on the Shelf ideas are very simple, easy, and cheap!

What you do need to know is how to HACK your Elf! 

How to Hack Your Elf 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas #elfontheshelfprank

Hands down the most Essential and Critical step in making your Elf on the Shelf season a success is this hack that recommends placing bendable wire in your elf’s arms and legs and velcro in the hands which makes hanging & posing SO MUCH EASIER!!!!  Can’t sew? Neither can I! This is a DIY that anyone at any level of the crafting game can conquer! If you want to pose your Elf in any way-this is VIP, or you will be so very frustrated! 

You’re about to see where this hack will come in handy! I’ve had so much fun collecting these Elf on a Shelf ideas for my kids over the years-I hope you have just as much fun viewing them! Click on the images or the links below to view the original posts! 

50 Insanely Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas #elfontheshelfprank
Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: See Mom Click

Lego Elf On the Shelf Idea

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Peanut Blossom

Dinosaur Parade 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: The Sweatman Family Blog

Elf on the Shelf captures The Grinch in a Jar (Super Easy!!) 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Stacy Molter Photography via Fancy Shanty

Elf Goes Bananas 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: A Small Snippet

Hanging Around 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Source Unknown

Double Trouble Idea for Two Elves 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Organized Chaos Online

Tiny Dancer Ballerina Elf 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: My Mommy Style

Fun Elf Slide

Image: Living Locurto

Elf Calls in Sick 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: tortoiseandhound

Sick Day 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Source: Pinterest/Unknown

Elf Rides a Reindeer 

Image: Frugal Coupon Living

Elf Rock Band with Soup Cans 

Image: Vitamin-Ha

Elf Self Portrait 

Image: crazylou

Snow Elf on the Shelf 

image: The Lunch Box Memoirs

Elf in a Spider Web 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Imgur

Frozen Elf on the Shelf  

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Lil Blue Boo

A Date with Barbie 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: This Mama Loves

Elf on the Shelf Dunk Tank (Printable) 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas

Elf in the Fridge 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: My Frugal Adventures

Easy Elf Putting Green 

Image: Smart Schoolhouse

Elf on the Shelf in a Jar of Marshmallows 

Image: A Little Bit of This and That

Elf Tree House 

Image: Lil Blue Boo

Emailing Santa 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Saving By Design

SpideyELF

Image: Little Housewife

Elf Inside a Bubble 

Image: Efficient Life Skills

Posing with Barbie

Image: A Small Snippet

Elf-ing 101

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Nifty Thrifty & Thriving

Elf-ing Around the Bathroom 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: See Mom Click

Elf on a Book-Shelf 

Image: Watch Out for the Woestmans

Zip lining Elf on the Shelf Idea

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: jack_the_elf_01

Pringles Prank 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Melanie Stofka

Elf Gold-Fishing

Image: Home Stories A to Z

Upside Down Elf 

Image: Mom Vs. The Boys

Easy Elf in the Window  

Image: Vitamin-Ha

Easy Sprinkle “Snow” Elf 

Image: Sweet Funky Vintage

Hanging from a Slinky

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas
Image: Lemons and Laughs

Elf on the Shelf Free Printables 

Image: Living Locurto

Encourage Kids to Give Back with This Letter!  

Elf on the Shelf Welcome Letter Printable

Elf on the Shelf Story – Printable Poem

Free Elf on the Shelf Printable Kit

Free Printable Elf Kissing Booth (Prop) 

Free Printable Elf Rocket Ship (Prop) 

Free Printable Elf Twister (Prop) 

Image: Simple Made Pretty

Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Superhero Costumes 

Have fun with your Elf!

You May Also Like: 

65 Stocking Stuffers For Kids

21 Awesome DIY Teacher Gift Ideas 

Don’t forget to save these Elf on the Shelf ideas for later! 

Love these elf on the shelf ideas! So much creative fun for kids and easy too! I’ve seen a lot of elf ideas, but these are too cute! Lots of last minute Elf on the Shelf ideas you can do quick on this list & I’m using this elf hack! Wow! Don’t miss the hilarious elf in the bathroom! #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #ElfIdeas

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Christmas, Elf on the Shelf, Elf on the Shelf hacks, holidays, Kids, Parenting

About Heather Burnett

Hey! Thanks for sticking around. I started this blog to help people like you take control of your health, achieve your fitness goals, lose weight, and gain the confidence you need to go out and live life to the fullest. (Because that's what losing 100 pounds did for me:) I will help you eat clean, shed the shame with the pounds, and become the bad-ass beauty you already are!

Wait ‘til you hear this one!

If you want straight talk about food, power, and weight loss, drop your email below. No BS, guaranteed.

(4) Comments

Primary Sidebar

Wait ‘til you hear this one!

Subscribe to the blog and you won’t miss any of my clean eating recipes or messy life updates

Got 3 minutes? Here’s how I can help.

I lost 148 pounds—an entire fourth-grader!—on the keto diet, and post recipes, meal prep, and fitness tips to help you do it, too. Since losing the weight, I've become a Certified Health Coach, which is a fancy way of saying I now can help you tailor keto -- or any eating program -- to your individual needs. Because of keto, my entire relationship with food, my body, and my perception of my role as a woman has changed big time. Are you ready to make a change?

Trending

Stopping the blame game, losing the weight, and writing a book about Keto.

By Heather Burnett

[post-views]
• 5 minute read

Footer

Got 3 minutes? Here’s how I can help.

I lost 148 pounds—an entire fourth-grader!—on the keto diet, and post recipes, meal prep, and fitness tips to help you do it, too. Since losing the weight, I've become a Certified Health Coach, which is a fancy way of saying I now can help you tailor keto -- or any eating program -- to your individual needs. Because of keto, my entire relationship with food, my body, and my perception of my role as a woman has changed big time. Got 3 minutes? Here's how I can help you!

What’s your story?

Got a question about a recipe? Want to lose weight, but don’t know where to start? Need some strategies for dealing with autism? Just want to say hi? Let’s be friends!

Pepperjam Verification

Contact Heather

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Copyright © 2022 Word To Your Mother. All Rights Reserved. Disclosure Policy