25 Thrifty Elf On The Shelf Ideas
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This is the first year I’m doing Elf on the Shelf and I wanted to make sure the ideas I came up with were both thrifty and sustainable. Here are my 25 Thrifty Elf on the Shelf ideas to help inspire you this December.
I really wasn’t sure whether I wanted to do Elf on the Shelf this year. My daughter is definitely old enough now and I think she would really enjoy it but I didn’t want to end up spending loads of cash.
I had toyed with the idea of a book advent but I didn’t think I’d find enough cheap second-hand books in time and she already has loads of books, including some Christmas ones.
Another thing that bothers me about Elf on the Shelf is how wasteful it can be. Christmas trees wrapped in cling film, toilet rolls unravelled, flour and cereal poured all over the kitchen.
We really try to limit the food waste in our house so I wanted ideas that are waste-free and sustainable too.
I also want to add that our elf isn’t going to be super naughty. Fun, yes and maybe a bit silly but I don’t want the elf doing things that are out and out bad behaviour. She also isn’t a classic elf on the shelf elf as you can see from the image above.
Our elf also won’t be reporting back to Santa about our daughter’s behaviour. This just doesn’t fit with our parenting style.
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25 Thrifty Elf On The Shelf Ideas
For these thrifty elf on the shelf ideas I’ve tried to ensure that:
- There is no need for any additional spending
- There is no food waste
- There is no plastic waste
- They are made of things most people have around their house, can find outside or could possibly borrow
- Can be adapted to suit what you have in with suggestions of how you could improvise
Elf on the shelf ideas don’t have to be extravagant to be magical!
25 Thrifty Elf On The Shelf Ideas
1. Elf Arrives
Most families have their elf arrive on the first of December along with an advent calendar and maybe a note from Santa. Day one is a nice easy one as you don’t need to do much else!
2. Elf Reads A Book
If you have a Christmas book for your elf to read then great, but if not, pretty much any book will do.
Christmas Books Kids Will Love
3. Elf Swings From The Chandelier (Or other light fittings)
Now elf has been here a day or two, they are starting to feel a little bit more mischievous and can be found hanging from a light fitting or lampshade.
This can easily be achieved using some string or some Christmas ribbon.
4. Elf Becomes A Teacher
Time for the elf to teach the other toys about Christmas! I’ll be using an easel/blackboard we have for this one and drawing some Christmas items on the board.
However, there are loads of ways to set this one up using your elf and the other toys. As long as elf is at the front and the other toys are facing him, it should be like they are the teacher and the other toys are learning.
5. Elf In A Jar
This is a nice easy one! Simply pop the elf in a clean glass jar and screw the lid on. For extra fun you can add a note that says ‘help!’ or ‘I’m Stuck’ and maybe a candy cane too. The glass jar can then be reused or recycled.
6. Elf Does A Crossword
Find an old magazine or newspaper and get the elf to fill the crossword with some Christmassy words. A word unscrambling tool like Unscrambled Words might help elf solve them quicker!
7. Elf Has A Cuppa
Elf is feeling tired after all his mischief-making. Have them sat down with their feet up and an empty teacup next to them.
8. Elf Has A Tea Party
Creating a tea party or picnic for my daughter’s toys is something I do from time to time anyway.
Put down a blanket or towel and sit the toys around. Add any play food, plastics plates and cups you like to make it look like the toys have been partying all night!
9. Elf Breaks A Leg
This is another easy one to do. Simply add a plaster or small pieces of bandage to the elf to show that they have hurt themselves but have been bandaged up to make them feel better.
10. Elf Plays Cards
If you have a pack of playing cards (if you don’t this could be swapped for dominos, pairs any game really!) make it look like the elf has been playing solitaire or even building a house of cards.
11. Elf Roasts Marshmallows
For this one, make it look as though the elf has been roasting marshmallows on a fire. Use a few twigs from outside, a cocktail stick and one mini marshmallow.
12. Elf Makes A Toilet Paper Mountain
As I mentioned at the start of this post, I really didn’t want my elf to be creating lots of waste. So, toilet paper mountain using 3 or 6 rolls is a great way to do this and elf can sit on top. Then they can go back in the cupboard until they are needed.
13. Elf Builds A House
The elf can build a house using whatever you can find. Stickle bricks, lego and wooden building blocks all work well, but you could also use books, tin cans, anything you can find really.
14. Elf Makes A Painting/Drawing
Have your elf create a picture using either paints or crayons and let your child find it halfway through them finishing it.
15. Elf Goes On A Road Trip
For this one, take a look through your child toys and see what you can come up with. I think most children probably have some sort of car or vehicle elf can take a ride in. They could even ride on a toy horse or dinosaur.
Use items from any other play set you have such as blankets or suitcases to make it look like the elf are off on a trip.
You could even make them a little passport.
16. Elf Brings A Letter From Santa
As the big day draws closer, the elf can bring a letter from Santa. This could be to tell your child Santa has received their Christmas wish list or to congratulate them on good or improved behaviour.
17. Elf Makes A Pots and Pans Band
That naughty elf has decided to form a band with some of the other toys. For this one, you’ll need to raid your kitchen cupboards. Set up pots, pans and wooden spoons to look like drums and other instruments.
18. Elf Treasure Hunt
Today the elf has been hiding things! This could be anything from other toys to a small Christmas treat like candy canes. You could also hide some baubles from the tree.
You could also hide the elf and leave a trail of clues to help your child or children find him.
19. Elf Has A Snowball Fight With The Other Toys
For this one, you’ll need some cotton wool balls which can be put back and resued after the elf has had their fun (alternatively they could be used for Christmas crafting).
Pile some cotton wool balls up to look like snowballs and split the elf and some other toys into two teams.
20. Elf Has A Sleepover
This time elf is having a sleepover with all his other toy friends. Use socks as sleeping bags and pillows.
21. Elf Does A Poo
Well, I had to do one slightly naughty one. Elf has been naughty and done a poo in the kitchen. Use chocolate chips for this which can then be eaten or used another day.
22. Elf Plays Scrabble
Having elf play scrabble is a great time to spell out lots of Christmas words and maybe even encourage your child to have a go.
If you don’t have scrabble you could create something on paper or use any other toy or game that has a letter.
23. Elf Plays Sport
Do you have a favourite sport in your family? Whatever it is, the elf has decided to join in. He could be playing football, hiding in Dad’s gold clubs or wearing Mum’s swimming goggles.
24. Elf Sits On Top Of The Christmas Tree
Elf can spend the day watching all the festive fun from the top of the Christmas tree. Replace the elf with whatever is usually there such as your star or angel.
25. Elf Brings Breakfast / Sits By Stocking / Goes Home
Personally, I’m never sure what to do with the elf on Christmas morning. Some parents like to send them back to the north pole. Others might have the elf bring a special breakfast or be sitting with their stocking from Santa.
Final Thrifty Elf On The Shelf Ideas
As I said before, I’ve tried to keep these ideas simple, thrifty, cheap and with little to no food waste or plastic waste. There were a few ideas that didn’t quite make the cut so I’m going to add them here – these were ones that required a small amount of spending or using something I didn’t think everyone would have at home.
- Elf playing computer games or playing on a tablet
- Elf wraps present or gets wrapped in leftover wrapping paper
- Elf tries to climb out of the window / up the chimney etc.
- Elf makes a snow angel in a pile of fallen leaves
- Elf is brushing their teeth.
I hope these ideas can really help you find some cheap and easy things to do with your elf on the shelf.
