The Best & Most Clever Elf On The Shelf Ideas

A HUGE collection of #elfontheshelf inspiration

Written 9th September 2024 | Subscribe to our Christmas newsletter

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To those people who go above and beyond for Elf on the Shelf we applaud you. Here a collection of Elf on the shelf that took ages to set up and ages to clear up

These Elf on the Shelf photos are sure to give you some giggles and inspiration. Look what these cheeky elves have been up to in a collection of hilarious, clever and cute photos. Have you named your elves?

If these ideas are too complicated (which they are for most) We also have an 'under 1 minute ideas' Elf on the Shelf which may suit you better.

Or are you one of those people who do things like this to your elf - shocking and inappropriate elf-on-the-shelf ideas.

Elf Red Cups

Seach under the cups

Credit: Erin Grimes

KitKat Elf

Elves playing Jenga with Kitkats look amazing!

Gummy Bears as Water

This looks really effective but is really easy. The gummy bears are held together via a skewer or any kind of kebab stick. The remaining gummy bears are placed in the sink.

Spiderman

Using a bit of cobweb left over for Halloween make a web around the elves.

Credit: Happy Toddler Playtime

Santa Ketchup

Create a Santa and ketchup out of mayonnaise

Credit: LaTonya

Family of Elves

Create an elf out of red felt or red paper. Stick a photo of each family member to each elf.

Credit: Diana Duenwald

Snowballs

Hang cotton wool balls from the ceiling with thread

Credit: Womans Day

Messy toilet

Get this effect with brown sauce or BBQ sauce.

Credit: Mums Grapevine

Spagetti

Credit: Zoe Kennedy

Carpet Angel

Made with shake and vax

Credit: Michaela Rutherford

Snow Day

Make with lots of cotton wool

Credit: Katy

Christmas Tree Poo

Wrap the Christmas tree in brown paper

Credit: Jessica Rominger

Artist Elf

Credit: Credit Unknown

Weeing Elf

Rainbow Skittles

Place skittles in a circle on a place and add a tiny amount of water

Credit: Mummy of Four

Frozen Elf

Elsa's magical powers freeze the elf. Pop the Elf in a bowl full of water and put in the freezer. Take out in the morning, but not too early otherwise the ice will have melted

Hostage Elf

Hang the elf upside down and pretend he has been captured by the toys.

Credit: Diane Marie

Poo

Place the elf as if he has created the book on these classic buscuits.

Credit: From mashley to awesome

Spider web

Using string wrap the elf up and hang him form the ceiling, place a large spider as if he has been caught in a web.

Credit: Tracey Atkin

Melted Snowman

Create a melted snowman but using milk, Maltesers as eyes, a carrot nose, and cookies as buttons. Add a hat to the top. Carefully place the hair dryer above as if the elf has melted him.

Credit: Pinkpeonyhome

I pea'd myself

Place peas into the wording 'I pea'd my elf'

Nail Varnish

Paint the child's nails and write a note saying 'I left you a funny treat, take a look at your feet'

Credit: Dani Nicoleee

Toilet Paper

Wrap the toilet in wrapping paper.

Banana Elf

Make a banana out of yellow paper, stick one of the banana sticks on it and use brown to tape for a tail.

Credit: Reddit

Gone fishing

Simple but effective. Lay some cling film under the toilet seat. Poke a hole through and arrange some sugar to look like cracked ice.

Credit: Tara Kush - Facebook

Iphone

Add some stick on eyes to create an "Iphone"

Credit: Catherine Golding - Facebook

The fridge comes to life

Add stick on eyes to every item in the fridge.

Credit: Catherine Golding - Facebook

Don't swallow the bubblegum

Blow up a balloon and attach to the elf's bottom, place bubblegum infront of him as if he has eaten it.

Credit: Tara Kush

Do you want to build a snowman

Blow up a balloon and write "Do you want to build a snowman". Add flour to look like snow and draw buttons on marshmallows. Place Elsa and the Elf on either side.

Credit: Gail Coleman

Wooly Hats

Cost of living crisis

Credit: Jacky Reeves

Tik Tok

Tape to a clock with the words "Is this how you tik tok"

Credit: Lizette Childsmith - Facebook

Real Fish

Real goldfish in the bath.

Credit: Audette Heath - facebook

Rock star Elf

Credit: Dana Wisseman - The Rocking Elf

Shopping Elves

This fantastic grocery store puts their elves out each year.

Credit: Angie Criss - facebook

Swinging Elf

Using candy canes and ribbon hang the elf from the ceiling.

Credit: Guðrún Drífa Egilsdóttir - facebook

Taking the dogs for a walk

Make dog leads with pipe cleaners

Credit: Yvonna Maria - facebook

Hannah Jayne Howes

Snowball fight using flour as snow and large snowballs

Credit: Hannah Jayne Howes - Facebook

Gulliver's Travels

Your elf on the shelf is pinned down by little figures

Credit: Theresa Cowan - facebook

Poo Elf

Toilet Paper message

Credit: Mary Wyatt - facebook

Harry Potter Elf

Credit: Brandi Betz - Facebook

Foil Shoes

Wrap up your shoes in foil

Credit: Roslyn Weweje - facebook

Toothpaste on Toast

Credit: Holly Kim Hickling - facebook

Wrapping Toilet

Wrap the toilet in wrapping paper

Credit: Caitlin Rutledge - facebook

Golf

Using felt and pom poms

Credit: Kaley Fargo - facebook

Chocolate Milk

Fill the bath with brown water and use straws to make the elves look like they are drinking chocolate milk or hot chocolate.

Credit: Emma Milne

Wrap the tree in paper

Credit: Carmen Beale - Facebook

Playing Cards

Elves playing poker

Credit: Carmen Beale - facebook

Vacuum Cleaner

Elves stuff in the vacuum cleaner

Credit: Adair Rolls - facebook

Toasted mini marshmallows/flumps over a festive candle

Credit: OhSoKel

The Floor is Lava

Red sheet with some steps creates a lava foor

Credit: Hania Emilia - facebook

Toilet Cocoa

Turn the toilet water brown and add some marshmallows, join straws together to make extra long.

Credit: edithguy860

Hama Beads

Elf on the shelf making Hama beads

Credit: Lois Blackmore - facebook

Elf Pox

Stick coloured dots over the elves to give them 'elf pox'

Credit: Dora Zaragosa

Wrapping the kitchen cupboards

Wrap up each cupboard in the kitchen with wrapping paper. This takes time and dedication.

Sweets as knife and forks

Fill the cutlery drawer full of sweets/candy!

Credit: Grace

Silly String

All you need is a can of silly string

Credit: raininghotcoupons

Decorate the Milk bottle

Decorate the milk bottle in the Christmas fridge to look like a wrapped present.

Credit: hikendip

Egg Sheeran

By making a guitar and some orange hair you can make Egg Sheeran

Credit: Sara Francesca Savo

Among Us

The perfect Elf on the Shelf for those who love Among Us

Credit: Kinjal Slater

Reindeer & Sleigh

Make out of chocolate yogurt pots and googly eyes, you can create the elf and his reindeer.

Credit: We have kids

Elf Christmas Carolers

Using googly eyes and some cans a Christmas choir has been made.

Credit: Sinthavong

Trapped in the vacuum

The elves are sucked up by the vacuum. Using green and red m&ms the word HELP has been written.

Credit: Lindsay Gourneau

Elf Cars

Using fruit you can make these really cool elf cars

Credit: abrielamartinez_23

Socks

Line all the socks on the stairs

Credit: Sara Stevens

Brick wall

The elves build a brick wall

Credit: Shirley

Feeding the Ducks

Using duck muscle and some bread the naughty elves can be feeding the ducks.

Credit: Emma Jenkins

Prime Elf

For those who love Prime

Sprinkled magic on parents

So simple but super magical. Kids will love this.

Credit: BossBri

Turn crayons in to Skittles

Credit: Rose Barbacovi (Facebook)

Astronauts

Using clear baubles and tin foil you can make these fantastic astronauts.

Credit: Katie Stapleford

Amazing - Fruity loops individually glued to pool noodle

Credit: Jenny McMenomy Poelma

Poop taste testing