Daily Elf on the Shelf Ideas all November and December long.  Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest Board from bloggers all around the web and free Elf on the Shelf costume printables, notes, games and more to bring your Santa’s helper to life!

Elf on the Shelf Ideas

What is Elf on the Shelf?

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas Tradition. The tradition began with a 2004 book and an Elf on the Shelf Doll. The book is written poetically and in rhyme sharing the purpose of the Elf’s visits. The Elf visits around each Thanksgiving. For some people it is earlier and for others the elf comes around December 1. He/she goes and returns from the North Pole each evening reporting to Santa the behavior of the children in the home he is assigned. Every morning elf can be found in a new location in the house. The Elf has been found in silly places like inside the refrigerator, fishing in the toilet, writing messages on the mirror or hanging from the lights. It is very important, the Elf is not touched or his Christmas magic and ability to return home to Santa will be lost (we have a solution What To Do If Elf on the Shelf Get’s Touched and lost elf magic!) Each family is able to name their special elf (see our list of Elf on the Shelf names!) All elves return to their home, Santa’s North Pole work shop, every Christmas Eve.

Master List of Elf on the Shelf Ideas

I began Frugal Coupon Living in 2008. A few years later, in 2013, I came to you all with my Elf on the Shelf ideas. Daily we began posting new ideas on FCL in November and December. That was about 50 new ideas a year. I tried to house all those ideas for you on this page and the load just became too much. There as no way for you all to scroll through 400+ ideas.  Thus we have moved all of our images to Elf on the Shelf Ideas Master Page.

Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest Board

Our biggest community of users comes from our Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest Board. While it is our board, we share this page with dozens of other creative bloggers. This brings together all of the best Elf on the Shelf Ideas from many great minds. Ideas range from beginner to expert . There are Elf on he Shelf ideas for parents who like a challenge or parents who need an easy night.  It’s okay to claim sleep as a priority.  It’s okay to identify as lazy.

It’s hard to be Santa as well as 24 nights of an elf. Mom and dad can only wear so many hats.  Our Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest Board also provides plenty of free Elf on the Shelf printables too! Printables always make 24 nights of elf easier. Try adding in a kids joke and adding a prop based on the joke. It’s the joke that provides humor, not the way mom spent 45 minutes trying to get elf posed just right.

Funny Elf on the Shelf Facebook Page

Also check out our Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas Facebook Page. During the Christmas season, we share our own Elf on the Shelf ideas from the past and present. On occasion, we share trending elf ideas around the web and from other bloggers.

Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas

Elf returns Thanksgiving night or around December 1st. Every family is different. For us, at Frugal Coupon Living, elf arrives November 1st. The first way to introduce Elf is with the Elf on the Shelf Christmas Tradition book. During this time you will name your elf (see our Elf on the Shelf Names Ideas.) An Elf gets it’s magic with a name!

If you have introduced elf before, your elf will return using his already assigned name. He might bring a friend the next year (a second elf) or perhaps get creative with a Mini Elf on the Shelf Idea, a baby elf.

Elf on the Shelf first day ideas include:

• Elf hides in the Thanksgiving flower arrangement

• Elf returns through an elf door

• Elf dresses as a pilgrim or dresses up as a turkey

• Elf arrives in (or carries) a package at the front door

• Elf spells”I’m back” with candy

We can’t move on with out showing your our favorite Elf arrival idea – How to EASILY Stuff Elf on the Shelf in a Balloon! If you don’t care to do this the first day, be an awesome mom and do it at least ONE of the days during Elf’s visit back!

What Elf on the Shelf arrival ideas have you done?

Elf on the Shelf Departure Ideas

We don’t want to leave you hanging with only arrivals ideas. Also take a look at our 18 creative ways to give a Goodbye Elf on the Shelf Last Night. Elf can say good-bye by disappearing through a window, elf might leave a letter, elf might grant one last hug.  Each home and Christmas tradition will be different.

What are some of the Elf on the Shelf Departure ideas you have done?

Free Elf on the Shelf Printables

We want to bring your elf to life with our free Elf on the Shelf printables. Leave your name and email address and we will send you a link and password to access every Elf on the Shelf Printable we have made. Like I said earlier, having printables really eases the stress on you each evening to come up with a new idea.

See how we used each of our free elf printables in our Elf on the Shelf Master Catalog.  This master catalog is supposed to guide you with new ideas each day of December.

Highlights of our freebies include:

Elf on the Shelf Printable Notes: Print these notes and jokes and add props to stage your elf.

Elf on the Shelf Magic Gripper: Have no fear? Did elf fall. Don’t loose elf’s magic by attaching this tag to a pair of kitchen tongs aka Magic Grippers for holding on to elf’s magic and saving elf from the floor (or worse, a pet!)

We also have an Elf Store. Shop some of our most popular Elf downloads include…

Elf on the Shelf Twister Printable: Right foot green, left hand red. You get the gist. Print out this Elf Twister Board to make your child laugh.

Elf on the Shelf Warm and Toasty Toast: Add a toast costume and you are all set. Elf was cold, but now he is warm and toasty, get it!?

Elf on the Shelf Portrait Art Show Museum Paintings: Create an adorable Elf art show with these very cute and recognizable paintings featuring Elf.

Elf on the Shelf Kinder Joy Magic Egg: The reason this printable is so great is it takes up two nights of Elf on the Shelf. Grab sprinkles, a chicken egg and a Kinder Joy Egg and you are all set!

Elf on the Shelf Costume Printables

The first week of Elf on the Shelf isn’t a challenge. During this week you are motivated and your kids are excited to see the newest Santa helper to enter their house. The worst part of elf season is when you are warm and cozy in bed and you remember “I forgot to move the elf!” We want to prep you ahead with our Elf on the Shelf ideas calendar and our Elf on the Shelf Printable Outfits. Save these Elf on the Shelf costume printables and create really easy nights for your sanity. I always felt having a printable to help me create an adorable elf vignette made things much easier.

These Elf on the Shelf Costume Printables and this Elf Calendar isn’t meant to challenge. Ideas include elf rolling down the stairs in a roll of toilet paper, elf climbing a bow wall, elf wrapped up as a burrito and more. We also give you access to our printables so you can use some the calendar ideas like elf plays Twister, elf wears Toast, and elf turns the bathroom until an “Elves Only” destination.

Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas

To create many of these funny elf on the shelf ideas, it’s best to have a bendable elf. How to make Elf on the Shelf Bendable. That can be done in a few simple steps and will have you time at night trying to tie or tape elf to different spots. One of our beloved funny ideas is the Elf on the Shelf Taped to Wall. Easy, peasy and guarantees a life! Make sure to add all the goodies to your Elf Grocery List and take a night off when Elf on the Shelf Reindeer Flu.

Sometimes, writing things out like funny jokes for kids, can bring more humor to your child than the way you set your elf up. Try researching kids jokes. That will give you direction as to funny things for your elf to say and then give you direction for props.

Funny Kids Jokes for Elf

• How do you get a tissue to dance? You put a little boogie in it. (Display elf with tissues.)
• What room can no one enter? A mushroom. (Display elf with mushrooms.)
• What do you call fake noodles? Im-pasta. (Display elf with pasta.)
• Why did Santa go to music school? To learn to wrap. (Display elf with wrapping paper.)
• What do you get if you cross a Christmas Tree with an apple? A Pineapple. (Display elf with a pineapple.)

All of these Elf jokes create funny elf on the shelf ideas and don’t require you to spend 45 minutes in the evening staging your elf. In fact, 8 creative jokes me 8 nights of Elf on the Shelf Covered!

Elf on the Shelf Calendar

If you are someone who just needs to be told what to do every day, we have that option too.  Download and print our Elf on the Shelf Calendar. We tell you what to do each day and what supplies you will need.  Get this ready before December 1st and then every night will be easy following our guided Elf on the Shelf Calendar.  We also give you a blank calendar so you can fill in your own ideas and stay organized the entire holiday season.

Master Elf on the Shelf List of Ideas

If you need a brand new ideas, see our daily Master Elf on the Shelf List of Ideas.   Since November/December of 2013, we came to you every day with new ideas. This is about 50 new ideas each year. Scroll through our master list of Elf on the Shelf Ideas and create you own personalized calendar. This can be specific to the needs of your child and home… and to the challenges mom is up for.

I am happy to share free printables. When sharing with others, please lead them Elf on the Shelf Ideas webpage instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!