24 CUTE Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Elf on the Shelf doesn’t have to be hard. Get inspired by these simple but CUTE Elf on the Shelf ideas!

On December 1st our Elf on the Shelf, Mac, will make his grand reappearance in our house.

My boys LOVE him and start counting down the days in the middle of November until he gets here.

This will be our 5th year with him, and he is always doing something fun or silly.

To make his activities easy to keep up with I always print this December calendar and record everything I have planned for him in advance.

Most of his activities are pretty basic and don’t need a lot of work ahead, but periodically I throw something with a little more work in, but since it’s all recorded I know it’s coming and can get ready.

I share his antics each year on Instagram so if you want to keep up with this year’s ideas, be sure you’re following me.

Today I’m sharing last year’s activities, but be sure to check out Elf on the Shelf Ideas, EASY Elf on the Shelf Ideas, and FUN Elf on the Shelf Ideas for even more creative ideas.

In the meantime, here are last year’s 24 CUTE Elf on the Shelf ideas!

Cute Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Day 1. Mac always arrives with a letter for my boys reminding them why he’s there, to keep an eye on them so they stay on Santa’s “nice” list, and to tell them how much he missed them since last Christmas. This year he showed up in his very own special Elf Basket (found last year at Michaels!).

Day 2. Mac hitched a ride with our Little People Santa and reindeer!

Day 3. Simple and a HUGE hit with the boys: Mac decorated the Christmas tree with their underwear!!

Day 4. Our elf brought the boys elf pajamas (Target!) so they could all match.

Day 5. Mac landed on our mantel in his very own elf hot air balloon, the Elf Express!

Day 6. My oldest was in our city’s Christmas parade so our elf decided to be in one, too! He made a line of various cars and trucks with some of his holiday friends.

Day 7. Mac designated himself as Official Cookie Taster. Apparently these dog treats did not make the cut.

Day 8. We found our elf chilling in the Christmas tree in a homemade hammock… made from toilet paper!

Day 9. My boys are addicted to Perler beads so today our elf made them an ornament out of them! They can hang it on their Christmas tree.

Day 10. SO easy! Today Mac made a little snowflake for the boys out of cotton swabs.

Day 11. Mac made some elf-sized Christmas cookies today!

Day 12. We are big LEGO fanatics in this house so Mac brought us some new Christmas sets!

Day 13. Mac took it back to the 80’s by creating a fun Christmas scene on the Lite-Brite!

Day 14. Our elf made his own grocery list to add to the family list. Mostly sweet treats and syrup, as you can imagine!

Day 15. Yarn and a Mason jar lid make a perfect tire swing for an elf. Just hang in the tree!

Day 16. Mac drew Minions on some bananas to put in the boys’ lunches today.

Day 17. Look out Lucy! You some competition. This advice stand was simple to make out of a small box, bamboo skewers, and scrap paper.

Day 18. It’s a battle between good and evil! Mac has his paper lightsaber ready.

Day 19. Breakfast from the elf! Mac brought powdered donuts and stacked them to look like the North Pole!

Day 20. We caught Mac hanging out with some of his fellow elf friends in our LEGO Christmas village.

Day 21. Our elf showed up with spare Rudolph noses.

Day 22. Mac has his game face on playing Spot It with some of his Christmas buddies.

Day 23. Our daredevil elf decided to sled down the stair railing. At least he’s wearing his seat belt!

Day 24. Christmas Eve is always our elf’s last day to visit. He hitches a ride with Santa back to the North Pole that night. He left these door hangers (grab the free printable!) for the boys to fill out.

 

If these cute Elf on the Shelf ideas aren’t enough for you, don’t miss our elf’s antics from the last 3 years!

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>> See where I party! <<