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The holidays have come again, and with them, the return of the Elf on the Shelf. New to the world of this magical little visitor? Here are the basics.
Elf on the Shelf is a North Pole scout who comes to stay with families in the weeks before Christmas, sitting on a shelf — hence the name — and watching the children's behavior. Every night, they report back to Santa and then return to the house, always landing in a new place.
The Elf decoration has been around for years. My grandmother had several in the 70s, and a few still adorn my mom's Christmas tree.
Then, in 2005, a mother and daughter published a book called Elf on a Shelf, basically telling the story you just read. And a tradition was born.
Today, parents — and fun-loving non-parents — go all out every December. And no, you don't have to buy an elf! I used the YouCam Enhance app to add the Elf to various fun spots around my house.
Top 15 Must-Try Create Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Christmas in 2024
Ready to get started? Below are 15 Elf on the Shelf ideas you can try with your phone, the YouCam Enhance app, and whatever holiday treasures you have at home.
All you need to do is:
- Blur out where you want the elf to go.
- Click the AI Replace tool.
- Prompt the app to add "Elf on the Shelf" to the picture.
It was easy, and I'm usually the queen of Pinterest fails!
1. The Great Escape
Stage an escape attempt by hanging a length of yarn or string from the window and inserting the elf at the bottom.
Tell the app to add "hanging elf-on-a-shelf" or "climbing elf on a shelf". Try a few versions until you find one you like!
2. Shoe-Shoe Train
This one is easy and sure to get a laugh. Line up human shoes and blur out the inside of the first one.
Ask the app to insert the elf sitting down or driving. For additional fun, add dolls or action figures as extra passengers!
3. Nap in the Fridge
Elves come from the North Pole, so they like it cold.
Create an elf bed with a washcloth and a cotton ball for a pillow, then use the app to add a "sleeping elf".
4. Ride 'Em, Cowboy
As a dog mom, I love working pets into Elf scenes. This was the first thing I did with the AI Replace tool, and it remains one of my favorites.
Take a picture of your pet — any size will do! It's even cuter with a gerbil or even a fish (AI only if it's a fish.) Add the elf, and off they go!
5. House of Cards
This is my favorite one to use YouCam for because there's no way you could do this with a 3D elf. Build a house of cards, blur out the area on top, and add the elf in a fun position.
Try having them jump, dance, or point!
6. Snowball Fight
The mischievous Elf on the Shelf loves making trouble, like a snowball fight with household toys and stuffed animals. Stage a face-off somewhere in the house and scatter cotton balls around.
Don't have cotton balls? Wadded-up toilet paper and tissues work great, too.
Then, add the elf "throwing a ball." Don't forget to experiment until you like how it looks.
7. A Little Accident
Kids and the young at heart love potty humor. Find something round and brown — chocolate cereal, dog or cat kibble, and broken-up Tootsie rolls work well.
Sprinkle the items on the floor and add a seated elf next to it, with a fun note referencing their "little accident"
8. Going for a Spin
Have a front-loading washer or dryer? Place a sitting elf inside it with a note that says, "Going for a spin".
Bonus points if you strap them in with a hair ribbon, shoelace, or twist-tie.
9. Baking Mistake
The elf wants to make a gingerbread house but isn't quite sure how to do so.
Get three slices of bread, build walls and a roof, and put a clove of ginger or a bottle of ground ginger under the roof.
Add the elf beside it with a note: "I built you a gingerbread house!"
10. Rice Angels
Spread rice on the table or a baking sheet to cut down on the mess.
Make an elf-shaped gap in the middle, blur out a spot, and add the elf, and voila! An indoor snow angel.
11. Paper Snowman
Get three rolls of toilet paper. Draw buttons on one and a face on another, then add an elf "reaching out" or "lifting something". They're building a snowman!
12. Marshmallow Fort
Take a bag of marshmallows and build them into a fort with an archway for a door.
Blur out an elf-sized spot and use AI to drop the elf in. You can even make a welcome sign!
13. Sweet Breakfast
Fill a plate with candy, then get a bottle of maple syrup and a small juice glass. Pour syrup into the glass, add a straw, and sit the elf beside it, ready for the sugariest breakfast in town.
14. Read-Aloud
Elves love stories! Open up a picture book and add a "sitting elf facing right" or "facing left" so it looks like they're facing the book.
Or, have a household toy read the book and drop the elf in as a listener!
15. TP Message
I love setting up this one because I get to be the mischievous one. Roll some toilet paper down the stairs or off a counter.
Write a message on the T.P. and add a "lying down elf" near the roll.
Elf on the Shelf Ideas FAQs
What are you supposed to do with Elf on the Shelf?
The fun of Elf on the Shelf is putting the elf in a different place each night for the kids to find every morning! If you don't have kids, it can still be fun to move the elf around and take pictures for friends, family, and social media.
What are the rules for Elf on the Shelf?
Rule number one for kids: Never touch the elf because elves who are touched by human hands lose their magic. Beyond that, just have fun!
Where did Elf on a Shelf come from?
A children's book and toy took a popular decoration and turned it into a phenomenon! Today, millions of families and grown-ups keep the tradition going.
