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“Your Song”

“And you can tell everybody…” your Scout Elf friends love Elton John!


Materials:

  • Elf-sized piano and bench
  • Mini shag rug or piece of shag fabric

Instructions:

  1. To begin, your Scout Elf friend will find a piece of shag fabric and fashion their own retro-style rug.
  2. Next, they will set out a tiny piano or keyboard and play out the sweet melody of "Your Song" or a sweet Christmas tune!

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French Christmas Traditions Shoes in Front of Fireplace

Our Scout Elf pals who have been adopted by families in France may help them with their Christmas traditions by finding a couple pairs of children’s shoes to put in front of the fireplace or Christmas tree! Similar to hanging stockings, French families leave shoes out for the Big Man in Red.


Materials:

  • Children’s shoes

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf friend will begin by quietly borrowing a couple pairs of shoes from kids’ closets.
  2. Next, they will place the shoes in front of a fireplace or Christmas tree.
  3. Lastly, your elf will make themselves cozy inside one of the shoes for kids to find them the next morning!

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German Christmas Traditions Advent

One famous German Christmas tradition is the Advent wreath! Families in Germany, along with their Scout Elf pal, of course, may light one flameless, battery-operated candle in their advent wreaths on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas eve. Once all four candles are lit, Christmas has officially begun!


Materials:

  • Wreath
  • 4 small flameless, battery-operated candles

Instructions:

  1. To begin, your Scout Elf will find the perfect wreath, one that could easily fit on a coffee table or countertop without taking up too much space.
  2. Next, they will check the calendar and gather one flameless, battery-operated candle for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve.
  3. Then they will light one candle each Sunday until the whole wreath is aglow representing the official start of Christmas!

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Christmas Carnival

So many exciting things to do and see at the Christmas Carnival!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/copy paper
  • Printable
  • Straws, skewers, or pipe cleaners
  • Tape
  • Marshmallows

Instructions:

  1. First, your Scout Elf friend will print and cut out each of the carnival printables.
  2. Second, they will find straws, skewers or pipe cleaners and tape them to the sides of the printables as standing devices.
  3. Third, they will anchor the standing devices into large marshmallows to stand the printables upright.
  4. Finally, they will cut out any extra toys or prize printables that they like and host an extravaganzalorious Christmas carnival to celebrate their arrival!

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DIY Pinecone Ornaments

The prettiest pines you ever did see.


Materials:

  • Pinecones
  • Glue
  • Ribbon
  • Pom-poms, glitter, sequins, etc.

Instructions:

  1. To begin, your Scout Elf friend will gather up smaller-sized pinecones.
  2. Next, they will find pom-poms, glitter, sequins, beads, etc. and glue them to their pinecones to make them look a little more festive!
  3. Then they will take 4-5 inches of ribbon or string to glue, or tie a piece to each pinecone to make it into an ornament.

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Wrapping Paper Garland

Scout Elf tip #315: Decorating can be easy, fun and FREE!


Materials:

  • Wrapping paper
  • Glue or glue dots
  • Scissors
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. First, your Scout Elf will find some unused or left-over wrapping paper.
  2. Second, they will fold the wrapping paper as many times as they can, accordion style.
  3. Third, they will draw a shape (like a gingerbread man or star) on one end of the folded wrapping paper making sure to line their drawing up with the closest folded edge.
  4. Fourth, they will use scissors to cut out their drawing making sure not to cut through the folded edge.

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The Elf on the Shelf sitting in a stairwell with streamers hanging down, and a boy and girl pointing and smiling.
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Streamers Surprise

Surprise! I decorated. Hope you like it!


Materials:

  • Streamers
  • Tape
  • Stairs, door frame or anywhere in your home that would be great for streamers!

Instructions:

  1. First, your Scout Elf friend will find the best, highest place from which to hang the streamers.
  2. Second, they will tape the streamers, let them hang to the floor and watch them sparkle before their eyes.
  3. Finally, they will find the perfect spot among the streamers to sit and wait for kids to find them!

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The Elf on the Shelf and friends skiing using a snow hill made of paper towels and sleds made of cupcake wrapping papers
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Scout Elf Snow Sports 

“Tallyho-ho-ho!”


Materials:

  • MagiFreez® Sleigh the Slopes Set
  • Cupcake wrappers
  • Toilet paper or paper towels
  • Pillows, towels, chair, etc. for support

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will begin by taking a roll of paper towels and putting the open end at the highest point they can find (Pro tip: a couch or chair is best!).
  2. Then they will roll out a few paper towels until the bulk of the roll reaches the floor making sure to add pillows, towels or something else easily accessible for support underneath.

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The Elf on the Shelf sitting in front of a Christmas tree that they’ve decorated to look just like them
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The Elf on the Shelf® Christmas Tree

“I decorated your Christmas tree. Now we’re twins!”


Materials:

  • Christmas Tree
  • Wrapping paper
  • Glue sticks or dots
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. To begin, your Scout Elf® pal will gather up some unused gift-wrapping paper and scissors.
  2. Next, they will cut a large triangle from red wrapping paper and one longer rectangular strip of white wrapping paper to create the hat.
  3. Then, they will cut two large white circles, two medium blue or brown circles and two black circles then glue or tape them together to make the eyes.
  4. After that, your elf will cut one oval shape to create the nose and one sickle shape for the mouth.
  5. Next, they will cut 5-6 white triangles and tape or glue them together on each end to create a collar.
  6. Finally, they will use glue dots or tape to stick all of this to the tree and show off their likeness!

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Scout Elf Tree House

“My new house is tree-mendous!”


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/copy paper
  • Printable
  • Double-sided tape
  • Scissors
  • Christmas tree

Instructions:

  1. To begin, your Scout Elf will print, cut and fold the printable tree house.
  2. Next, they will tape all the sides together so it will stay in place.
  3. Then they will find the perfect spot in the Christmas tree to place their tree house!
  4. Finally, they will get comfy in their tree house and wait for kids to notice their arrival!

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Christmas Countdown Santa Printable

Let the countdown to Christmas BEGIN!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Cardstock/ copy paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • String

Instructions:

  1. To begin, your Scout Elf will print and cut out the Christmas countdown printable.
  2. Next, they will cut four-to-five-inch strips of white paper.
  3. Then, week by week, they will watch as kids loop one strip of paper to create Santa’s “beard” by Christmastime!

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Elf Yourself

“You look just like me!” 


Materials:

  • Cardboard or poster board
  • Colorful construction paper
  • Adhesive
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. First, your Scout Elf will find a large piece of cardboard or poster board and cut a child-sized face hole in the middle.
  2. Next, they will cut red and white construction paper in their likeness and adhere it to the board.
  3. Finally, they will set up a photo station for silly Christmas pictures!

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Online Shopping Spree

“Did you see the new Claus Couture?” 


Materials:

  • Laptop computer
  • Color printer
  • Construction paper
  • Printable boxes 2.5 x 2.5
  • Scissors
  • Printable

Instructions:

  1. First, your Scout Elf will print and fold together the elf-sized mailing packages.
  2. Next, the elf will place themselves in front of a laptop computer with shop.elfontheshelf.com showing on screen.
  3. They will place all the elf-sized mailing packages around them to showcase their online shopping spree!

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The Cutest Tree Topper

“Up here!”


Materials:

  • MagiFreez® Snow Dreams Dress

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will prepare themselves by dressing up in the angelic Snow Dreams Dress from the MagiFreez® collection.
  2. Next, they will stand at the top of the Christmas tree disguised as a tree-topper!

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Gingerbread House for Elf Pets®

A house built almost well enough to eat!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/copy paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Markers or crayons

Instructions:

  1. The Scout Elf will print and cut the printables.
  2. Next, they will set out markers or crayons for you to color in the gingerbread Saint Bernard house.
  3. Then they will arrange the printables to make a home decorated for Christmas for the Elf Pets® Saint Bernard!

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Scout Elf New Year’s Welcome

It’s time for Scout Elves to kick off a New Year’s celebration, including a special message from the North Pole!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Printable
  • Card stock/paper
  • Scissors
  • Party favors (noisemakers, party horns, hats, etc.)
  • Decorations (confetti, streamers, etc.)
  • Optional: any Elf Pets® plush animal

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. Then, they will decorate and wait for you to join the New Year’s celebration!

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Magical Candy Portal

Your Scout Elf set up a mystical North Pole portal and out popped an array of sweets! Oh my!


Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Empty toilet paper roll
  • Tape
  • Candy

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the printable.
  2. They will cut out the circle in the middle of the portal and insert an empty toilet paper roll in the hole.
  3. They will tape the circle back on the toilet paper roll.
  4. They will fill the toilet paper roll with enough candy to pour out of the center of the portal.

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Present Pop-Up

Peek-a-boo! You’ll find your Scout Elf waiting to surprise you in a present.


Materials:

  • Present

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will hide in a present and jump out just in time for you to find them. Pop goes the Scout Elf!

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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:

  1. 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!

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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:

  1. Your elf will blow up several balloons and tie them to strings.
  2. 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!

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Scout Elf Kazoo Band

Buzz! Buzz! Your Scout Elf gathered kazoos and friends to form a harmonious band.


Materials:

  • Kazoo

Instructions:

  1. 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?

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