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How to put Elf in a balloon. All you need is a funnel and ten minutes for one of the easiest and best ideas for The Elf on the Shelf—  The Elf on the Shelf in a balloon! We also provide the most creative and easy Elf Ideas daily. Plus, you can use your stuffing tool funnel and pump to stuff a balloon and create balloons filled with gifts for every occasion!

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Disclosure: Frugal Coupon Living (the website, blog, and all social media channels) is not associated with CCA and B, LLC d/b/a The Lumistella Company, home of the official The Elf on the Shelf and Scout Elf.

We’re back with more of the best ideas for The Elf on the Shelf! Every day in November and December, we’re bringing you new Elf Ideas daily. To see new and older Elf ideas, check out our Master List of Elf Ideas!

The Elf on the Shelf in a Balloon

For many of these easy deas, you’ll need an elf that can bend. Make yours bendable to enjoy these ideas with our Bendable Tutorial for The Elf on the Shelf.

Balloon Stuffing Tool

Anyone can do this easy Balloon idea for The Elf on the Shelf. 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 holiday helper 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 The 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 little red guy 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)
• 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 The Elf on the Shelf

Follow these simple, step-by-step directions to learn how to stuff a balloon with a Christmas Elf! 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 Balloon idea for a family elf. 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 Ideas — The Christmas Elf in a balloon!

How do you get The 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 Scout Elf 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 family elf 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 doll 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 message ideas for the Arrival of The Elf on the Shelf!

Finally, you’re done! You did this easy elf idea 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 The Elf on the Shelf off the floor?” Easy! Use our magic grippers printable to pick up your North Pole Friend.

The Elf on the Shelf Arrival Ideas

This idea is perfect for a First Night Idea for The Elf on the Shelf. We shared many Elf 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 visitors!

A few other ideas for arrival include…

• Hot Air Balloon Elf Balloon Arrival
• Elf is a Thanksgiving Turkey
• I’m Back Elf Sign
• Elf Door

Don’t forget our Last Night Elf Ideas for Saying Good-bye.

Elf Printables

We love sharing printables! Get all of our holiday 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 signup.

3.) We will send you a Free Printables Welcome Email with a 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 holiday helper printables.

The Elf on the Shelf Christmas Tradition

The 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, that the Elf is not touched 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.

You can also trap Elf f in the TV. Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget all of our daily Elf Ideas. Pin to Pinterest on your Christmas and Elf Boards.

We have been doing The Elf on the Shelf forever. See our Elf Master List of Ideas. 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.