Peek-a-boo! You’ll find your Scout Elf waiting to surprise you in a present.
Present Pop-Up
Materials:
- Present
Instructions:
- Your elf will hide in a present and jump out just in time for you to find them. Pop goes the Scout Elf!
Elf Ideas Filters Category: Creative
Holiday Scramble
An eggcellent surprise from your Scout Elf! Festive stickers and Christmas doodles make the morning merrier when you open the fridge.
Materials:
- Refrigerator
- Carton of eggs
- Markers
- Christmas stickers
Instructions:
- Your elf will gather markers and/or Christmas stickers and decorate the eggshells in the refrigerator. Scout Elves are eggs-perts at funny scenes like this!
The Masked Scout Elf
A masked choir was spotted singing Christmas carols. Will your Scout Elf be among those belting out happy holiday tunes?
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Tape
- Material to create curtain
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will use tape to attach a mask to themself and to some friends.
- They will set up a small curtain using material.
- When you wake to the sound of music, you’ll spot the masked choir, but which mask will your Scout Elf be behind?
Up, Up and Away
It’s time for your Scout Elf to take off after a wonderful season spent with you! They’ll say, “Toodle-loo” while hanging on to a bunch of balloons.
Materials:
- Balloons
- Tape
- String
Instructions:
- Your elf will blow up several balloons and tie them to strings.
- They will tape the balloons to the wall, then wrap the strings around one hand to hang from them, so they don’t fly too far away before you can say goodbye!
Scout Elf Kazoo Band
Buzz! Buzz! Your Scout Elf gathered kazoos and friends to form a harmonious band.
Materials:
- Kazoo
Instructions:
- Your elf will practice their favorite tunes on their kazoo. Then, you can try your hand with the musical instrument. Will you be able to carry a tune in a bucket?
Christmas Color Wheel
Christmas Spirit is swirling with this red and green color wheel and magic trick all in one!
Materials:
- Plate
- Red and green coated candy
- Water
Instructions:
- Your Scout Elf will arrange a circle of red and green coated candy on a plate.
- They’ll leave a glass of water next to them, and when you find them, you can pour the water on the candy and watch the magical, red and green surprise!
Frosty Farewell
Your Scout Elf departed with Santa, but not before leaving a frosty farewell display on the window for you to find!
Materials:
- Printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Spray snow
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will use spray snow to spray their outline, so you can see where they departed to follow Santa.
80s Style Scout Elf Shoot
The outfit…the colors…the laser backdrop…your Scout Elf transported back in time for a silly 80s-inspired photo shoot. It’s, like, TOTALLY awesome!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable (one for each Scout Elf)
- Scissors
- Tape
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will tape their 80s-themed portrait to their favorite frame and pose next to it until you find them.
The Elf on the Shelf® Arrival Letter Board
Your Scout Elf is back for the Christmas season, and they’re so thankful! They brought this free printable letter board to show their excitement.
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printables (multiple messages)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They’ll pose next to their letter board and wait for you to see their message.
Special Delivery to Santa
It’s that time again…your Scout Elf printed this special packing slip to show they’re ready for their flight back to the North Pole!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Tape
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will fold it around themself and tape it together.
- You can wish them safe travels before they return to Santa featuring their special packing slip.
The Elf on the Shelf® Arrival Poem
Your poetic Scout Elf wrote a special poem to showcase their excitement for returning for the upcoming Christmas season!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will sit next to their poem and wait for you to find their arrival surprise.
Departure Letter Board
It’s time to depart, but before they go, your Scout Elf will leave you a special message on this free printable letter board!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printables (multiple messages)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They’ll pose next to their letter board and wait for you to see their message.
Christmas Coloring Fun
It’s time to brighten the holiday season with colorful drawings courtesy of your Scout Elf. You could add to the coloring collection, too!
Materials:
- Coloring book
- Crayons/markers
Instructions:
- Your elf will find a coloring book, open to a blank page and use crayons/markers to fill in their masterpiece
The Elf on the Shelf® Letter Board
What’s better than a special message from your Scout Elf? Special messages on these free printable letter boards!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printables (multiple messages)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They’ll pose next to their letter board and wait for you to see their message. Which message will they choose to showcase today?
Freezer Skating Rink
Winter sports are your Scout Elf’s favorite, but how will they fare when they try skating in the freezer?
Materials:
- Cookie sheet
- Blue food coloring
- Water
- Mini candy canes
- Glue dots
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Straw
- Tape
Instructions:
- Your elf will set up their skating rink by freezing a sheet of blue water.
- They will print and cut out the printable.
- They will tape the sign to a straw.
- Your elf will attach their mini candy cane ice skates to their feet and then test the waters to see how they’ll do!
Fresh Cocoa
Your Scout Elf determined there’s no better way to enjoy a fresh cup of cocoa than drinking straight from the source—a chocolate bar
Materials:
- Chocolate bar
- Straw
- Tape
Instructions:
- Your elf will tape a straw (to hold it in place) to a chocolate bar.
- They’ll sit back and sip on the fresh chocolate.
Pick Up the Pieces
Your Scout Elf started putting together a puzzle, but now, they need your help! Can you find the missing pieces?
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Pen
- Puzzle
Instructions:
- Your elf will choose a puzzle to begin putting together.
- They will hide a specific number of pieces around a certain location in your home (living room, bedroom, Christmas tree, etc.)
- They will print and cut out the printable and then fill out the note, so when you wake you can help them find the remaining pieces needed to complete the puzzle.
Christmas Cookie Decorating Party
You’re invited to a Christmas Cookie Decorating Party with your Scout Elf! See the details on this free printable party invitation.
Materials:
- Claus Couture Collection® Yummy Cookie PJs
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Pen
- Cookie sheet
- Plain sugar cookies
- Icing
- Food coloring
- Cookie toppings (ex: sprinkles, candy, etc.)
Instructions:
- Your elf will put on their Yummy Cookie PJs.
- They will print and cut out the printable.
- They will fill in the invitation with all the party details.
- They will set up the necessary materials for cookie decorating and wait for you to join them for this special party!
Pin the Tail on the Elf Pets®
Get ready to play an old-fashioned game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey…or Elf Pets in this case! Your Scout Elf got started, but it looks like they could use some help.
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable(one for each Elf Pet)
- Scissors
- Tape
- Mini bandana for your Scout Elf
- Regular size bandana for you
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will tape one or multiple Elf Pets posters to the wall.
- They will tie a mini bandana around their eyes and then try to correctly pin the tail on the arctic fox, the antlers on the reindeer and the barrel on the St. Bernard’s collar.
Scout Elf to the Rescue!
Your Scout Elf will be this year’s holiday hero! Sporting their Chief of Cheer Firefighter Set, they’ll rescue an Elf Pets® Mini from the Christmas tree.
Materials:
- Claus Couture Collection® Chief of Cheer Firefighter Set
- Straws (at least 4)
- Wooden craft sticks (at least 13)
- Glue
- Christmas tree
- The Elf on the Shelf® and Elf Pets® Minis
Instructions:
- Your elf will put on their Chief of Cheer Firefighter Set.
- They will build a ladder using straws and wooden craft sticks.
- They will glue two straws together, twice (once for the left and once for the right).
- They will glue wooden craft sticks horizontally across the two straws to create ladder rungs.
- They will make their ascent on the ladder to rescue an Elf Pets® Mini from the Christmas tree.
Pom-Pom Ball Pit
Your Scout Elf will make a splash when they jump in this pom-pom ball pit. What a colorful explosion!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Bowl
- Assortment of pom-poms (different sizes and colors)
- Stack of presents (optional)
Instructions:
- Your elf will fill a bowl with an assortment of pom-poms.
- They will print and cut out the printable Ball Pit sign and display it.
- Then, they will climb atop a stack of presents and jump in the pit. Did someone say cannonball?!
Kudos, Kiddo!
While completing one of their most important duties—scouting for Santa—your elf spotted a kind deed and left behind a special note from the North Pole with elf dollars parents can use for a special reward!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Pen
Instructions:
- Your Scout Elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will fill it in and check off if you were caught being “Nice,” “Nicer” or “Nicest!”
Making Faces
Your Scout Elf tweaked your photo with some silly scribbles. Do you like their zany additions?!
Materials:
- Picture frame with glass
- Dry erase marker
Instructions:
- Your elf found a picture and made some changes to your appearance. How goofy
Best Friends Forever
Your Scout Elf doesn’t just have to be a seasonal visitor—they can be your best friend, too!
Materials:
- Color printer
- Card stock/paper
- Printable
- Scissors
- Tape
- String
Instructions:
- Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
- They will choose one (or multiple) charms and use tape and string to create necklaces.
- They will sport one half of the matching charm, and when you wake, you’ll find the other half of the matching charm for you!