Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas Using Things You Already Have
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Looking back, I wish I had done Elf on the Shelf with my four kids! I’ve always loved making Christmas magical, and these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas are such a fun way to keep that excitement going. Although we never had an Elf in our house, we had plenty of other traditions, from Santa’s footprints throughout the house to Christmas movies, special outings, and driving around to see the lights.
After creating and photographing more than 40 Elf setups with my son’s girlfriend, mostly using everyday things from around the house, I’ve discovered just how much fun this tradition can be. She grew up with Elf on the Shelf, and hearing her stories made it even more special. Her parents added Elf friends, a reindeer, and even a baby Elf over the years. She told me that she actually stopped believing in Santa before she was ready to let go of her Elf! I thought that was the sweetest thing.
Now that my own kids are teenagers and adults, I can see just how much those little Christmas traditions mattered. They still love Christmas, and I believe it’s because of the memories we made together. Childhood goes by so quickly, and there’s only a short window to create that special kind of Christmas magic. I hope these ideas help you make some wonderful memories with your own family, too.
Why You’ll Love These Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas
We had so much fun putting these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas together! All of these setups were created and photographed in our home, using a mix of everyday household items, Christmas decorations, toys, and simple supplies.
- Real photos: We’ve included photos of all of these setups so you can see what each one looks like.
- Everyday supplies: Many ideas use things you probably already have around the house.
- Ideas for every schedule: Browse last-minute, quick, simple, and funny setups.
- Easy to recreate: Use the photos and setup details to make your own versions.
Safety note: Always supervise children during crafts and activities. Small parts can be a choking hazard, so keep them away from little ones. Use care with scissors and toothpicks.
Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas
These funny Elf on the Shelf ideas are all about silly surprises, playful pranks, and a little Christmas mischief! From Elves getting into trouble to snack and food pranks involving Oreos, tacos, Pringles, and even sponge cake, these setups are sure to get a laugh.
Elf Robbery Prank
For this little Elf robbery scene, I gathered household objects, cut masks out of construction paper, and used a hole punch. The two masked Elves are surrounded by their loot on the kitchen counter.
Elf Eye-Pad Prank
The Elves brought a brand-new “eye-pad,” but it’s definitely not the electronic kind! A sheet of googly eyes, two Elves, a reindeer, and a sign make this silly play on words.
Elf Marshmallow Weightlifting
It’s workout time for the Elves! We positioned two Elves with marshmallow weights made from wooden sticks and marshmallows, along with a little workout sign.
Elf Shrinking Machine
We set up a little shrinking machine for the Elf using a decorated box and a sign that reads “Shrinking Machine.” Large and miniature sandwich cookies complete the scene.
Elf Gummy Bear Rock Climbing
This Elf is scaling a colorful rock-climbing wall made with gummy bears! The gummy bears form climbing holds on a green background, with the Elf positioned as though it’s climbing from one candy hold to another.
Elf Candy Cane Jail
Looks like someone ended up in Elf jail! We used a cardboard box with candy canes across the opening for jail bars and placed the Elf inside.
Elf Making Brown E’s
The Elf says it made brownies, but the baking sheet is filled with paper letter E’s instead! We arranged the cutout letters on the baking sheet with a “Brown E’s” sign for this funny little trick.
Elf Taco Tuesday
Happy Taco Tuesday from the Elves! Three Elves wrapped in soft tortillas, including a tiny baby Elf in the middle, make up this funny food-themed scene.
Elf Sneaking Oreos with a Can Tower
This Elf is going to great lengths to reach the Oreo cookies! We stacked cans beside the kitchen counter and positioned the Elf climbing up the tower toward an open package of Oreos.
Elf Taped to the Door Like a Christmas Tree
The Elf has become the Christmas tree! We taped the Elf to the door and wrapped strips of green tape across it, with a short piece at the top to finish the tree shape.
Elf Sponge Cake Prank
The Elf made a “sponge cake,” but it’s really a yellow kitchen sponge topped with red, green, and white Christmas sprinkles! It’s a silly play on words and definitely not for eating.
Pringle Bells — Name That Tune!
Pringle bells, Pringle bells! We placed the Elf inside a Pringles can with potato chips and jingle bells scattered nearby, then added a “Name That Tune!” sign.
Don’t Feed the Crocs!
These Crocs look hungry! We placed Crocs in shallow bathtub water, scattered Goldfish crackers around them, and positioned the Elf on the edge of the tub beside the bag of Goldfish and a warning sign.
Who Let the Dogs Out?!
Who let the dogs out? Apparently, the Elf did! We arranged hot dogs standing on toothpicks beside the Elf and added a sign with the familiar joke.
Elf on the Shelf Last Minute Ideas
These are perfect for those mornings when you realize you forgot to move the Elf! I wanted these elf on the shelf last minute ideas to be the kind you can pull together in about a minute or two using things already around the house. A kitchen utensil, a spice jar, or a quick handwritten sign can be all you need.
Elf Hiding in the Silverware Drawer
For this easy hiding spot, the Elf is tucked into the silverware organizer inside a kitchen drawer. It’s a simple surprise that doesn’t need a big setup.
You’re Kind of a Big Dill!
This Elf has a sweet message with a silly pickle pun! The Elf is perched on a pickle jar with a sign that says, “You’re kind of a big Dill!”
It’s Thyme to Be Nice!
A jar of thyme makes the perfect prop for this little reminder to be nice. The Elf sits beside the seasoning jar with a matching pun sign.
Whisking You a Merry Christmas!
Whisking you a Merry Christmas! I placed the Elf in a nutcracker mug and used a little Scotch tape to help it hold the whisk, which I decorated with a green gift bow, adding a Christmas pun sign to finish the scene.
I Love You a Whole Latte!
A Starbucks card and a red Christmas mug make this a sweet little surprise. The Elf holds the card beside the mug and a sign that says, “I love you a whole Latte.”
Elf Riding in a Slipper
The Elf is taking a ride in a slipper! We placed it inside a Chicago Bears slipper and positioned the slipper on the stair railing for this quick setup.
Elf Hiding in a Glass Jar
Sometimes all you need is an unexpected hiding place. I placed the Elf inside a tall glass jar in a kitchen cabinet.
Free Elf Kisses
This Elf is sharing a little Christmas sweetness! All I needed was a “Free Elf Kisses” sign and some Hershey’s Kisses to set out beside the Elf.
Elf Spice Girls!
Meet the Spice Girls, Elf-style! I looped white yarn around my hand, cut it, and taped it onto two spice jars before adding red bows. I finished the scene with the Elf holding a black crayon microphone and a handwritten sign.
Quick Elf on the Shelf Ideas
These quick Elf on the Shelf ideas are great when you have a few minutes but don’t want to spend a lot of time gathering supplies or preparing an elaborate scene. From the setups we put together, these are the kinds of ideas that generally take around five minutes or less, using simple items and a little creativity.
Elf Zipline Adventure
This Elf is taking a ride through the house on a homemade zipline! I used a toilet paper tube, twine, and Scotch tape to put together this little adventure.
Elf’s Melted Snowman Prank
Oh no! The Elf’s snowman has melted! We used a mug of water, googly eyes, and a carrot nose to create the melted snowman scene, then positioned the Elf beside it with a sign.
Elf Pom-Pom Ball Pit
A container full of colorful craft pom-poms becomes a miniature ball pit for the Elf! We filled the container with pom-poms and settled the Elf among them.
Elf Marshmallow Spa Day
It’s time for a little relaxation! We placed the Elf in a Christmas mug filled with mini marshmallows to create its own cozy spa day.
Elf Sticky Note Wall Prank
The Elf has been busy decorating the wall with colorful sticky notes! We arranged notes across the wall, with some scattered on the carpet below and the little Elf standing among them.
Elf Movie Night
Movie night isn’t just for people! Two Elves are sitting on the couch under a snowman blanket, with a remote control and a bowl of candy-coated chocolates nearby.
Elf Messy Room Injury
Looks like the Elf had a little accident in a messy room! The Elf has paper towel bandages around its head and leg, along with a note: “Please clean your room! I tried to go through it and fell and got hurt. OUCH!!”
Simple Elf on the Shelf Ideas
These simple Elf on the Shelf ideas involve a little more arranging or preparation, but they’re still straightforward to recreate. Some even turn the Elf’s visit into a Christmas activity for the kids, like decorating edible trees, building donut snowmen, or going on a candy cane scavenger hunt.
Elf Drive-In Movie
The Elves are heading to the drive-in! We arranged a blue toy car facing a Barbie Nutcracker movie poster, with bowls of Oreos and M&M’s ready for movie snacks.
Elf Toilet Paper Igloo
Who knew toilet paper could make such a cute Elf hideout? We arranged rolls of toilet paper into a little igloo-style fort with the Elf sitting inside and a battery-operated LED tealight for a cozy glow.
Elf Toilet Paper Snowman
This Elf has turned a few rolls of toilet paper into a snowman! We arranged the decorated rolls around the Elf for a silly Christmas scene. If you enjoy snowman projects, I also have a toilet paper snowman craft to try.
Elf Skittles Rainbow Experiment
The Elves are showing off a colorful Skittles rainbow experiment! I arranged the Skittles on a plate and poured warm water into the middle, letting the colors spread into a rainbow. You could also leave out a second plate and some Skittles for the kids to try the experiment themselves, although I haven’t tested that addition.
Elf Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt
This Elf has a Christmas challenge ready! The sign asks, “Can you find all 12 candy canes?” The object of the hunt is to find all 12 hidden candy canes.
Elf Mini Donut Snowman
The Elf has everything ready for a snowman-building activity using powdered mini donuts! We arranged the decorating supplies and a finished donut snowman to show what the kids could make.
Elf Waffle Cone Christmas Tree Decorating Station
It’s time to decorate some edible Christmas trees! We set up the Elf with waffle cones, frosting, sprinkles, and M&M’s, along with a sign that says, “Tree Farm Decorate!”
Elf Flour Snow Angels
The Elf has been making snow angels indoors! We used flour on a cutting board and positioned the Elf in the middle of a snow angel shape.
Elf Story Time with Friends
Story time is even better with friends! We arranged stuffed animals and toys around the Elf and gave it The Elf on the Shelf book to read to the group.
Elves Sleeping in a Drawer
These Elves have found a cozy place to sleep! We arranged two Elves, one red and one green, inside a dresser drawer with folded towels for their bedding.
Elf Christmas Countdown
The Elf is counting down the days until Christmas! This simple countdown setup uses a paper towel roll and a couple of markers, with the Elf sitting beside it.
Elf Sleepover in Socks
It’s an Elf sleepover! Three Elves are nestled inside socks beside a little paper tent and an “Elf Sleepover!” sign.
Elf Tic-Tac-Toe with a Dinosaur
The Elf has found a green stuffed dinosaur to challenge to a game of tic-tac-toe! We made a grid on the wall using blue painter’s tape, then arranged the Elf and dinosaur with red and green gift bows as the playing pieces.
Easy Elf Ideas FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about easy Elf ideas.
Melissa’s Tips for Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas
- Keep clear tape handy. A little Scotch tape can make a big difference when you’re trying to position your Elf. I used it to help my Elf hold the whisk in our “Whisking You a Merry Christmas” setup.
- Know the difference between older and newer Elves. I recently purchased a new Elf and noticed that it bends and holds its position much better than the older Elves my son’s girlfriend brought over. My son Connor pointed out that the older, softer Elves have an advantage, too! They’re easier to tuck into tight spaces and lie flatter, which works well for some setups. Older Elves may need a little extra tape to hold certain poses.
- Plan a few ideas ahead of time. Connor suggested researching your Elf ideas about a week in advance and gathering the supplies you’ll need. Some setups use things you already have, but others might require something specific, like Skittles for the rainbow experiment.
- Use Command strips for wall setups. Connor also suggested keeping Command strips handy for ideas that involve attaching decorations to the wall. They’re an alternative to putting tape directly on painted surfaces. Just follow the package instructions for your particular wall surface to avoid damage.
More Christmas Ideas
Looking for more ways to make Christmas fun? Here are a few more Christmas crafts and activities to enjoy with your family.
- Make a festive candy cane sleigh for another Christmas project.
- Play these Christmas Minute to Win It games at your next family gathering.
- Try the Saran wrap candy ball game for a quick holiday party activity.
- Make reindeer Rice Krispies treats with the kids.
- Bake Christmas cookies kids can make together.
- Browse more Christmas crafts for kids.
