How to Put Elf on the Shelf in a Balloon. All you need is a funnel and ten minutes for one of the easiest and best Elf on the Shelf ideas — Elf on the Shelf in a balloon! We also provide the most creative and easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas daily. Plus, you can use your stuffing tool and funnel to stuff a balloon and create balloons filled with gifts for every occasion!
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Elf on the Shelf in a Balloon
We’re back with more of the best Elf on the Shelf ideas! Every day in November and December, we’re bringing you new Elf on the Shelf Ideas daily. To see new and older Elf ideas, check out our Elf on the Shelf Master List!
For many of these easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, you’ll need an elf that can bend. Make yours bendable to enjoy these ideas with our Bendable Elf on the Shelf tutorial.
Balloon Stuffing Tool
Anyone can do this easy Balloon Elf on the Shelf idea. No fancy tools required! This DIY Balloon Stuffer Machine costs next to nothing, and you can use it year-round for fantastic gifts. Use it to stuff your Elf on the Shelf in a balloon for a fun arrival surprise, or stuff a balloon with candy for a great party favor!
You only need a few supplies to stuff an Elf on the Shelf in a balloon:
- The Elf on the Shelf
- Christmas Balloons (You’ll want a clear balloon so the kids can see the goodies inside! We went with this Christmas Balloon set)
- Optional: Black Sharpie
- Optional: Your candy of choice (we used Reese’s Cups)
Now for the two magic gadgets! To stuff the Elf on the Shelf in a balloon, you’ll need a Balloon Stuffing Tool and a Hand Held Balloon Pump (guys, you’re going to need this balloon pump around the house for parties – it made blowing up my daughter’s birthday balloons so easy and quick!)
- Balloon Stuffing Tool (aka canning funnel, no longer available – try this one.)
- Hand Held Balloon Pump
The best part about these tools? You’ll be able to use them all year to make incredibly affordable and easy balloons filled with gifts! Fill balloons with candy, rolled-up dollar bills, small presents, and more!
How to Stuff a Balloon with Elf on the Shelf
Follow these simple, step-by-step directions to learn how to stuff a balloon with Elf on the Shelf! There’s two important things worth sharing. First, this is incredibly easy. Like, crazy easy. Plus, the balloon stuffing tool is incredibly affordable for all my frugal friends out there! Second, your kids will become obsessed with this easy Elf on the Shelf Balloon idea. You’ll have envious moms wondering, “How on earth did you do that?!” Send them here to share your wisdom. They won’t realize how easy it is until they try it themselves! Let’s get into the tutorial. Read on for one of the best Elf on the Shelf Ideas — Elf on the Shelf in a balloon!
How do you get Elf on the Shelf in a balloon?
First, grab your balloon and start stretching it out. Make sure to stretch both the neck and the body of the balloon. You’re going to fit an entire Elf on the Shelf in a balloon, so the balloon needs to have room!
Second, use your Balloon Pump to put the neck of your balloon on the neck of the pump. Pump up the balloon and deflate it. Repeat this a few times. This continues to stretch your balloon so you can easily fit your Elf on the Shelf inside.
Third, remove your balloon from the balloon pump. Wrap the neck of the balloon around your Balloon Stuffing Tool (aka canning funnel). Pull the neck of the balloon up the neck of the canning funnel. Make sure to pull the balloon up as much as possible — it’ll help you fit everything into the balloon in the next step!
Next, you have the option to add chocolates to the inside of the balloon to give the balloon weight. The Elf will likely still move around, but the chocolates are a fun extra treat for your child to enjoy when they pop the balloon!
Next, fold your Elf in on itself, similar to the way it arrived in the box. Wrap its arms around itself and fold its legs, like it’s sitting! Begin to slide the bottom of your Elf on the Shelf into the balloon until everything but its head is inside.
Then, work the rest of the balloon up the face of Elf by removing the canning funnel. You’ll need to use your hands and a little patience for this part! Only the tip of the Elf’s hat will be sticking out at this point.
Return to your hand-held balloon pump, slide your balloon onto the pump, and start pumping. Don’t over inflate the balloon — if you do, it could pop before morning arrives.
Tie off the neck of the balloon. Optionally, you can use a Sharpie to write a message from the Elf on the balloon. “Help me” and “I’m here!” are a couple of good options for your Elf on the Shelf arrival message ideas!
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Finally, you’re done! You did this easy Elf on the Shelf in a balloon DIY, and it looks like it took a lot of effort too!
So, what now!? Once your child pops Elf, you might be wondering, “How do you take Elf on the Shelf off the floor?” Easy! Use our magic grippers printable to pick up your North Pole Friend.
Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas
This idea is perfect for a First Night Elf on the Shelf Idea. We shared many Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Arrival, but we think this one is just adorable. It’s as if Elf floated down from the North Pole inside a balloon. You can use a Sharpie Marker and write “I’m Back!” or “Help Me!” on the outside of the balloon. We filled up other balloons around Elf and kept the clear balloons as the balloon Scout Elf chose to arrive in. That way, the kids can see their North Pole visitor!
A few other ideas for arrival include…
- Hot Air Balloon Elf on the Shelf Balloon Arrival
- Elf is a Thanksgiving Turkey
- I’m Back Elf on the Shelf Sign
- Elf on the Shelf Door
Don’t forget our Last Night Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Saying Good-bye.
Elf Printables
We love sharing Elf on the Shelf printables! Get all of our Elf on the Shelf printables by entering your email address below. Look for an email to confirm you signed up. One you confirm, look for a second email in your inbox with a link and password!
1.) Enter your email address here.
2.) Look for a confirmation email in your inbox and confirm you requested a sign up.
3.) We will send you a Free Printables Welcome Email with link and passcode to all of our free printables.
4.) Enter your passcode at the top of the page here and click “Access Printables”
5. Enjoy your Elf on the Shelf Printables.
Elf on the Shelf on Social Media
Save these ideas because you will want to stay up to date on these ideas each Christmas season. We do our best to mix up easy and hard Elf on the Shelf Ideas.
Elf on the Shelf Facebook Page
Multiple ideas are added each day to our Elf on the Shelf Ideas Facebook page. This is a great way for you to share your own Elf on the Shelf Ideas and share our ideas to your page. There are some good ones! Be sure to like the page!
Elf on the Shelf Pinterest Boards
We also are in charge of a Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest board. On this board, we have invited other bloggers to share their ideas and free Elf on the Shelf Printables too! Be sure to follow the board!
Our goal, to make Elf easy for you!
Elf on the Shelf Christmas Tradition
Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas Tradition. The tradition has a book and an elf doll. The book is poetic and in rhyme sharing the purpose of the Elf’s visits. The Elf visits each Thanksgiving. He/she goes and returns from the North Pole each evening. Every morning he can be found in a new location in the house. The Elf has been found in the refrigerator, fishing in the toilet, writing messages on the mirror or hanging from the lights. It is VERY IMPORTANT, the Elf is not touch each evening or his Christmas magic will be lost! Each family is able to name their special elf. The elves return to their home (Santa’s North Pole Work shop) every Christmas Eve. An Elf’s Story can also be found on DVD
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You can also trap Elf on the Shelf in the TV. Pin to Pinterest.
Don’t forget all of our daily Elf on the Shelf Ideas. Pin to Pinterest on your Christmas and Elf Boards.
We have been doing Elf on the Shelf forever. See our Elf on the Shelf Master List. Pin to Pinterest.
WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.
Carol Johnson says
Planning on trying to put Clarke (our Elf) in the balloon….just waiting for supplies!
Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living says
Carol, please leave a comment when Carl is in the balloon. I would love to see it. Also add a “tried this image” to this Pinterest Pin. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/89579480076857691/
Virginia says
Purchased cute elf bundle and was charged. However I can’t access it without buying again. It was cute but not worth buying again
Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living says
Virginia, please email me at frugalcouponliving@gmail.com I would need to get some more information from you to send you the bundle. I see a purchase from a few Virginia’s so maybe together we can see what you bought and when. All buyers have access to their products. It goes to their inbox to keep and reprint as needed.