The holiday season is full of magic, and one tradition that adds extra fun to Christmas is the Elf on the Shelf. Kids love waking up each morning to see what their mischievous little friend has been up to overnight. But coming up with fresh and creative elf on the shelf ideas every day can be challenging.
Whether you’re looking for quick, funny, or themed ideas, this blog has you covered. From silly setups to magical scenes involving the tooth fairy, marshmallows, and even underwear, there’s something here for every family. Keep reading for 150 unique Elf on the Shelf Ideas to make your holiday season even more special and keep the kids giggling!
150 Quick and Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas
25 Quick Elf on the Shelf Ideas
- Elf relaxing in a toy car.
- Hanging from the chandelier.
- Hiding in a cereal box.
- Swinging on a candy cane.
- Watching TV with popcorn.
- Wrapped in a toilet paper roll.
- Making snow angels in flour.
- Sitting inside a mug with hot chocolate.
- Riding a stuffed animal.
- Peeking out of a stocking.
- Balancing on top of a lamp.
- Writing a note on the bathroom mirror.
- Hiding in the fridge with a snack.
- Building a Lego tower.
- Sliding down the bannister with ribbon.
- Hanging out in a shoe.
- Stuck in a jar with candy.
- Playing cards with action figures.
- Sleeping in a tissue box bed.
- Sitting on top of the Christmas tree.
- Holding a “selfie” on a toy phone.
- Wrapped up like a mummy in tape.
- Reading a storybook to dolls.
- Tangled in Christmas lights.
- Stuck in a pile of wrapping paper.
Also read: Santa New Suit Project Ideas
25 Quick Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas
- Elf sitting on the toilet reading a newspaper.
- Covering the counter with tiny footprints.
- Drawing a funny face on an orange.
- Putting googly eyes on everything in the fridge.
- Elf hanging out with Barbie in a convertible.
- Sticking candy canes in the dog’s food bowl.
- Wearing baby clothes as a disguise.
- Tying shoelaces together.
- Elf wearing sunglasses and chilling on a beach made of sugar.
- Stuck upside down in a jar of jellybeans.
- Elf holding a “Do Not Disturb” sign.
- Wearing tiny marshmallow shoes.
- Hiding in a bag of chips.
- Tied up by other toys in a “hostage” situation.
- Filling the sink with bubbles and “swimming.”
- Hanging out in the dishwasher.
- Riding a robot vacuum cleaner.
- Covering the bathroom mirror with stickers.
- Wearing a tissue paper cape and pretending to fly.
- Spilling cereal all over the counter.
- Wrapped in aluminum foil as a robot.
- Taking a bubble bath in marshmallows.
- Sitting in a Christmas wreath “nest.”
- Stuck in the freezer, pretending to shiver.
- Riding a toilet paper roll like a skateboard.
25 Elf on the Shelf and Tooth Fairy Ideas
- Elf holding a tiny envelope labeled “Tooth Fairy.”
- Writing a note to the Tooth Fairy.
- Sitting in a jar with fairy glitter.
- Holding a wand and pretending to be the Tooth Fairy.
- Decorating a small tooth pillow.
- Elf and Tooth Fairy having tea.
- Elf leaving a trail of fairy dust.
- Sitting next to a tooth treasure box.
- Writing “Don’t forget the tooth!” on a chalkboard.
- Elf delivering coins for the Tooth Fairy.
- Wearing fairy wings.
- Reading a book about teeth.
- Holding a toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Pretending to be a dentist for other toys.
- Elf leaving a “Tooth Fairy Approved” certificate.
- Building a tooth-shaped craft from paper.
- Sitting next to a glowing fairy jar.
- Leaving a note to remind kids to brush their teeth.
- Elf holding a tiny fairy doll.
- Sitting on a pile of teeth made from clay.
- Riding a unicorn with fairy dust trails.
- Decorating a tiny fairy door.
- Hiding under a pillow with a tooth drawing.
- Wearing a crown labeled “Tooth King.”
- Elf standing in a glittery “fairy dust” puddle.
25 Last-Minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas
- Elf reading a Christmas card.
- Sitting on top of a gift.
- Peeking out of a tissue box.
- Writing “Hi” on a sticky note.
- Wrapped in Christmas ribbon.
- Sitting in the fruit bowl.
- Hiding under the couch cushions.
- Holding a candy cane fishing rod.
- Sleeping in an egg carton.
- Watching from the top of a curtain rod.
- Sitting in a toy train.
- Hiding in a paper bag.
- Popping out of a loaf of bread.
- Making a tiny snowman from marshmallows.
- Holding a piece of wrapping paper as a blanket.
- Writing on the family calendar.
- Balancing on a stack of books.
- Hanging from a coat rack.
- Wearing a sock as a sleeping bag.
- Sitting in the middle of a puzzle.
- Hiding in a pot or pan.
- Sitting in a bowl of cereal.
- Balancing on a door handle.
- Reading a Christmas story aloud.
- Elf tangled in shoelaces.
25 Elf on the Shelf Underwear Ideas
- Elf wearing a pair of doll-sized underwear.
- Hiding inside the underwear drawer.
- Creating a hammock with underwear.
- Tying underwear to the Christmas tree as decorations.
- Wearing underwear as a hat.
- Making a flag out of underwear.
- Hiding in a pile of clean laundry.
- Stuck in the washing machine with underwear.
- Swinging on a clothesline of underwear.
- Elf writing “Who forgot to fold these?” on a note.
- Making a parachute with underwear.
- Elf hiding inside a sock.
- Pretending to be a superhero with underwear over their head.
- Building a fort with folded underwear.
- Sliding down a banister wrapped in underwear.
- Making a bed with underwear.
- Hiding in the pocket of pants.
- Tying underwear to chair legs.
- Creating a mini clothesline with underwear.
- Writing a note that says, “Oops! Laundry Day!”
- Making an underwear cape.
- Tucked in a pajama pocket.
- Playing tug-of-war with underwear.
- Wearing underwear as earmuffs.
- Sitting inside a giant sock.
25 Elf on the Shelf Marshmallow Ideas
- Making snowmen out of marshmallows.
- Sitting in a marshmallow bubble bath.
- Building a marshmallow igloo.
- Roasting marshmallows over a candle (safely).
- Creating marshmallow towers.
- Elf surrounded by a marshmallow snowstorm.
- Making marshmallow snowflakes.
- Pretending to fish with a marshmallow “fish.”
- Hiding inside a bag of marshmallows.
- Sticking marshmallows together to make shapes.
- Writing “Hi” using marshmallows.
- Elf sitting on a marshmallow throne.
- Drawing on marshmallows with food coloring.
- Balancing on a marshmallow tightrope.
- Using marshmallows as stepping stones.
- Elf building a marshmallow bridge.
- Playing with toy cars on a marshmallow road.
- Hiding under a pile of marshmallows.
- Making a marshmallow necklace.
- Wearing marshmallow earmuffs.
- Building a marshmallow Christmas tree.
- Pretending to juggle marshmallows.
- Making marshmallow art on a plate.
- Sliding down a marshmallow mountain.
- Elf relaxing with a marshmallow pillow.
Conclusion
With these 150 elf on the shelf ideas, you’ll never run out of creative and fun setups for your mischievous little elf. Whether you need quick ideas or themed setups involving marshmallows, underwear, or the Tooth Fairy, there’s something here for everyone. Make this holiday season magical and exciting for your kids with these delightful ideas!