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    Home » Holidays » Christmas » 150 Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2021

    150 Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2021

    October 9, 2021 by prudentpennypincher.com Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Start a fun Christmas tradition for your kids with these creative elf on the shelf ideas.


    Whether you are looking for funny or naughty elf ideas, there are plenty kid-friendly elf on the shelf ideas to choose from. There are first arrival and return ideas included as well. Many of these ideas are quick and easy so they are perfect for the last minute.

    What is Elf on the Shelf?

    For those who don’t know about this popular christmas tradition, it is based on a children’s picture book where a special scout for Santa is sent to your home from the North Pole to encourage your kids to behave and reporting back to Santa every night who is being naughty or nice. The elf cannot be touched by children or it will lose its magic so the adults are responsible for moving the elf once a day for the month of December until Christmas. The elf only moves at night when the children are asleep.

    Kids are fans of this fun christmas tradition, but coming up with new ideas for a whole month can be challenging for parents so below you will find some quick and easy ideas for inspiration. Since there are over a hundred different ideas, you won’t run out of ideas for years!


    Arrival and Departure Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Hot Cocoa Welcome Back Party

    Hot Cocoa Welcome Back Party (with free printable party pack)

    Free Printable Elf Arrival Letter

    Free Printable Elf Arrival Letter from Living Locurto

    North Pole Breakfast Welcome

    North Pole Breakfast Welcome from Sweet Shoppe Designs

    Elf on the Shelf Goodbye with snow sprayed message on the window

    Elf on the Shelf Goodbye from The Nerds Wife

    Sledding Away Goodbye Elf

    Reindeers and Elf Sledding Away from Mum’s Grapevine

    Elf Packed Up and driving away in toy car

    Elf Packed Up from Little Bit Funky

    Bursting out of Package Arrival

    Bursting out of Package Arrival from A Small Snippet

    Christmas Eve Farewell Gift Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Christmas Eve Farewell Gift from She Knows

    Naughty and Funny Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Elf Going to the Bathroom

    Elf Going to the Bathroom from A Small Snippet

    Found the Stickers Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Quick and Easy Found the Stickers from Pinterest

    Elf Copying His Butt

    Elf Copying His Butt from Lil Blue Boo

    Playing with Wrapping Paper

    Playing with Wrapping Paper from Frugal Coupon Living

    Elf Kissing Booth

    Elf Kissing Booth (free printable sign)

    elf eating dog treats

    Worst “Cookies” Ever from Pinterest

    Naughty Elf Candy Cane Lock Up (free printable)

    Elf Candy Cane Lock Up (free printable) from This Mama Loves

    Cotton-Headed Ninny Muggins Elf

    Cotton-Headed Ninny Muggins Elf from Pinterest

    Elf Flying in Underpants

    Elf Flying in Underpants from Mama Cheaps

    Breaking into M&Ms Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Breaking into M&Ms from Lisa Stout Photography

    Stinky Time of Year

    Stinky Time of Year from Advent Elf (via Instagram)

    Piggy Bank Burglar Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Piggy Bank Burglar from Simple as That

    Elf on shelf Cutting Down Christmas Tree

    Cutting Down Christmas Tree from A Small Snippet

    Elf putting clown noses on pictures

    Clownin’ Around from Elf on the Shelf

    TPing the Christmas Tree

    TPing the Christmas Tree from Simply Organized

    Peaking at Christmas Presents

    Peaking at Christmas Presents from Snapshots of My Life

    Time Out Elf on shelf idea

    Time Out Elf from Frugal Coupon Living

    Elf on shelf Pea'd

    Elf Pea’d from Advent Elf (via Instagram)

    elf Minions on Bananas

    Minion Bananas from California Unpublished

    Drawing on Faces with Dry Erase Marker

    Drawing on Faces with Dry Erase Marker (source unknown)

    Melted Snowman Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Melted Snowman from Pinterest

    Printable Elf Joke Cards

    Printable Elf Joke Cards from Over The Big Moon

    Naughty Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Naughty Elf from Helen Kent (via Instagram)

    Elf Chocolate Poops in the Bathroom

    Elf Chocolate Poops in the Bathroom (source unknown)

    Elf with Other Characters

    Elf captures and Ties Up grinch

    Grinch Tied Up from I Think We Could Be Friends

    Elsa freezes elf

    Elf Meets Elsa from Imgur (by Stacy McNeil)

    Elf Photoshoot

    Elf Photoshoot from Living Locurto

    Batman Dangling Elf over the Toilet

    Batman Dangling Elf over the Toilet (source unknown)

    Batman Smells Elf on the Shelf Prank

    Batman Smells Elf Prank (source unknown)

    Racing to the Finish Line

    Racing to the Finish Line from A Small Snippet

    Elf Meets Darth Vader

    Elf Meets Darth Vader from Lisa Stout Photography

    Elf wearing superman costume

    Super Elf from Busy Kids Happy Mom

    Free Printable Spiderman Mask Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Free Printable Spiderman Mask from Enza’s Bargains

    Elf and Barbie on a Date

    Elf and Barbie on a Date from Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Drive in Movie with Barbie Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Drive in Movie with Barbie from Lil Blue Boo

    Sack Race with other toys

    Sack Race from Stacy Molter Photography

    Elf Playing Twister with free printable

    Elf Playing Twister (free printable) from Frugal Coupon Living

    Harry Potter Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Harry Potter Elf on the Shelf Idea (source unknown)

    Elf Taken Hostage by Toy Army Men

    Elf Taken Hostage by Toy Army Men from Jennifer Saintz (via Flickr)

    Adventurous Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Skiing Elf on the shelf

    Skiing Elf from Pickle Head Soup

    Lifting Weights

    Lifting Weights (source unknown)

    Mission Impossible Elf

    Mission Impossible Elf from Elf on the Shelf

    Climbing the Window with mini gift bows Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Elf Climbing the Window (source unknown)

    Elf Rolling Down the Stairs in toilet paper roll

    Elf Rolling Down the Stairs from A Thrifty Mom

    Zip-lining Elves

    Zip-lining Elves from Gina Rae Miller Photography

    Sledding down the staircase railing Elf on the Shelf idea

    Sledding Elf from Crazy Lou Creations

    Swinging Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Swinging Elf from Simple as That

    Elf Caught a Shark in the sink

    Elf Caught a Shark from Pinterest

    Parachute Elf

    Parachute Elf from Peanut Blossoms

    Hot Air Balloon Ride

    Hot Air Balloon Ride from Peanut Blossoms

    Food & Drink Ideas

    Campfire Elf on shelf

    Campfire Elf from Nelly Cole Photography

    elf eating cookies while Cookie Monster Locked Outside

    Cookie Monster Locked Outside from Home in Alaska

    Dog Treat Cookies

    Dog Treat Cookies from Pinterest

    Elf Eating Maple Syrup Spaghetti

    Elf Eating Maple Syrup Spaghetti (source unknown)

    Green Milk Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Green Milk Elf on the Shelf Ideas (source unknown)

    Taco Tuesday Elf on the shelf idea

    Taco Tuesday Elf from Advent Elf (via Instagram)

    Elf Donuts (Free Printable Box)

    Elf Donuts (Free Printable Box) from East Coast Mommy

    Elf making a Fruit Loop Garland

    Fruit Loop Garland from Come Together Kids

    Reindeer Root Beer Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Reindeer Root Beer from Busy Kids Happy Mom

    Elf Eating Gingerbread House 

    Elf Eating Gingerbread House from Simply Organized

    Mini Cookies for Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Mini Elf Cookies from Make the Best of Everything

    Building a Marshmallow Snowman Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Building a Marshmallow Snowman from Bombshell Bling

    Elf Chocolate Kisses

    Elf Chocolate Kisses from The Inspiration Board

    Maple Syrup Drink Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Maple Syrup Drink from Lil Blue Boo

    Breaking into the Candy Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Breaking into the Candy from Pinterest

    Elf Made Mini Pancakes

    Elf Made Mini Pancakes from Home Stories A to Z

    Elf Eating Cookie Cereal

    Elf Eating Cookie Cereal from Pretty Providence

    Elf on shelf Drinking k cup coffee

    Drinking Coffee from The Keeper of the Cheerios

    Other Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Elf on the Shelf Hiding in the Fridge

    Elf Hiding in the Fridge from I Heart Nap Time

    Printable Good Deed Cards

    Printable Good Deed Cards from Over the Big Moon

    Reasons for Not Moving Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Reasons for Elf Not Moving from Living Locurto

    Elf camping in a tent

    Camping Elf from Creek Line House

    Spa Day Elf

    Spa Day Elf from Pinterest

    hiding in the ice dispenser Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Missing the North Pole from Advent Elf (via Instagram)

    Journaling Elf

    Journaling Elf from Mama Cheaps

    Elf Playing Operation

    Playing Operation from Frugal Coupon Living

    Car Wash

    Car Wash for Elves from Keeper of the Cheerios

    Elf in a cotton ball Igloo

    Elf Igloo from Domestic Femme

    Pin the Nose on the Reindeer Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Pin the Nose on the Reindeer (source unknown)

    Ball pit Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Elf in a Ball Pit from Pinterest

    Elf Gone Fishing

    Elf Gone Fishing from Pinterest

    Tied up on the Train Tracks

    Tied up on the Train Tracks from California Unpublished

    Elf on Gift Paper Stilts

    Elf on Gift Paper Stilts from Pinterest

    Elf Repairing Car

    Elf Repairing Car from Frugal Coupon Living

    Drummer Elf

    Drummer Elf from Frugal Coupon Living

    Spelling with Cheerios Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Spelling with Cheerios from Simple Parent

    Elf on the Shelf Rules Printable

    Elf on the Shelf Rules from Midget Momma

    Elf Taking a Bath

    Elf Taking a Bath from Pickle Head Soup

    Magic Dust Printable Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Magic Elf Dust Printable from Sweet C’s Designs

    Tied to Train Tracks

    Tied to Train Tracks Elf on the Shelf Idea  (source unknown)

    Shaving Elf

    Shaving Elf from A Small Snippet

    Advent Box Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Advent Box Elf on the Shelf from Artsy Fartsy Mama

    Elf Brushing Teeth

    Elf Brushing Teeth from A Small Snippet

    Watching a Movie Elf on the Shelf Ideas

    Watching a Movie from A Small Snippet

    Elf Hides in the Silverware Drawer

    Elf Hides in the Silverware Drawer from Busy Kids Happy Mom

    Hidden Christmas Ornaments Elf on the Shelf Treasure Hunt

    Hidden Christmas Ornaments from Simple as That

    Elf Making a Snow Angel with flour

    Elf Making a Snow Angel (source unknown)

    Sick Elf Ideas

    Quarantine Elf on shelf with Free Coloring Printables

    Quarantine Elf with Free Coloring Printables from Living Locurto

    Doctor's Note Printable Elf on the Shelf Idea

    Elf Doctor’s Note Printables (3 Days of No Moving)

    elf washing hands

    Keep in Clean from Elf on the Shelf

    Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Quarantine Letter

    Free Printable Quarantine Letter from Elf on the Shelf

    Elf on shelf with a Broken Leg

    Elf with a Broken Leg (no movement for two weeks) from Courtney Boles (via Facebook)

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    Hi, I'm Stephy!

    I am the owner of Prudent Penny Pincher. I have been an author, content developer and professional blogger for 5 years. Prudent Penny Pincher explores ways to save money on everyday life with a particular focus on recipes, DIY, and crafts while sharing helpful frugal tips along the way. Read More

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