It’s almost that time of year! You guessed it….it’s Elf on the Shelf season! Whether you like to keep it simple or go the extra mile, here are some ideas I’m sharing to help you through the month of December. I know I may go a touch overboard with it all , but my kids LOVE it, and they are only little once. To me, it adds to the magic of the holiday season. Our elf, PJ Pokey (was named after my boys’ favorite characters – PJ Masks and Pokemon), pulls off all the shenanigans, often making us giggle and smile! I hope these help you experience more JOY this Christmas!
On December 1st, our elf arrived on his snowmobile with a special letter, along with a message he made in the snow. Sometimes, he will bring along a special surprise to kick off the holiday month. Last year, he made a Christmas tree advent calendar where our kids would “punch the pine tree” to find a treasure waiting inside! The elf sized sweater is an ornament I found at Target. The adorable, mini-sized pennants are from one of my favorite shops, Shop Sweet Lulu!
After scouring Target, Amazon, and any other gift catalog for weeks, my kids were more than READY to write their letters to Santa. These always serve as great keepsakes, to look back on years from now and laugh at their cute handwriting and developmental spelling! These printable letters are available in different colors in my Etsy shop!
All 3 of my kids got a huge kick out of these “elf sized” toys! Uno is a household favorite and the little popper was a toy my daughter pushed around all the time! They just couldn’t quite grasp how they were so small :). These, and other Elf accessories, can be found at Hobby Lobby.
ELF is one of our favorite Christmas movies, so naturally, this was a big hit! These adorable Elf outfit printables were a FREE download from Simple Everyday Mom! They were super easy to put together and well worth their priceless reactions. The coordinating “Tiny Elf Gang” sign by Chalk Designs by Me was the perfect addition to this setup.
Honestly, 2020 at times, was a crappy year. So, this just had to be done. I have two boys. They find farting, poop, and all things stinky/smelly hilarious! I mean, I can’t blame them…this did make us all laugh. These mini toilet paper rolls are from the dollhouse section at Hobby Lobby, while the poop is just mini chocolate chips! The toilet roll ornament will always remind us as 2020 being the year of toilet paper hoarding, lol. This cute ornament was made by Rachel Reynolds Art!
Not every day needs to be elaborate! Whether you simply have your elf move from spot to spot without any added accessories, it is still magical! We kept this day simple with a paper airplane, since both of my boys have really been into making them! There will be many days in December where you put your head on the pillow at night and immediately pop up, realizing you forgot to move the Elf! Now it’s late and you have to think of something quick. This one is easy peasy, requiring just a piece of paper and a pen!
In Queso you didn’t know…Elves actually do like food other than candy and syrup 🙂 This one is for anyone who celebrates Taco Tuesday!! I snagged the FREE printable taco truck, sign and costume from 505 Designs.
Aside from Tacos, anything sweet/sugary is our Elf’s FAVORITE food! Every year, he brings an ornament for each kid to hang on the tree. Last year, he brought gingerbread cookie ornaments, but I had to include giant sized cookies to decorate, too! I found these at our local Whole Foods store and what a fun night we had together designing them! The coordinating gingerbread plates are from a shop with the BEST party supplies, Momo Party!
All Aboard!! Tickets please! A Polar Expres movie night with a hot chocolate station is the perfect way to cozy up together as a family on a cold, winter night. Our elf sat inside a mini coffee mug (another ornament from Target), and I grabbed some hot cocoa and treats from TJ Maxx/Home Goods. The Elf Hot Chocolate printable is a FREE download at A Little Moore Blog – she has such cute stuff, so be sure to check her out!
Throughout the month, when your kids are listening less and behavior isn’t at it’s best, sometimes you need to send a message that Santa is watching. This was a simple one to set up. Find a santa and have the Elf whisper in his ear, that’s all! Write a little note and you’re set. Hopefully it sets your kids back on track!
I’m telling you all, ornaments are a quick and easy way to have some fun with your Elf! I just took this little sled off the tree to use as a prop. Add some string or yarn and use a glue dot to attach the Elf to the sled. It’s time to go sledding!
And for all you mom’s who los esteam at the end, I feel you and I’m with you!! This isn’t for the faint of heart. I left an important message on our letter board, because creating memories for your family during the holidays is wonederful, but definitely leaves you feeling TIRED! Worth every second, but make sure to get some rest in the process!
I sure hope you all are leaving here with a few added tricks up your sleeve! Here’s to hoping you (and your Elf) have the most magical holiday season yet!
