50 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas for Silly, Funny and Mischievous Elves

This elf is making his snow angels out of rice, but you can also use sugar or sprinkles. This one is for families who don't mind cleaning up a mess!

Turn your elf into a mermaid on the shelf with this slip-on tail — then set them up next to the bathtub or a sink. Now, they can report on goings-on from under the sea!

You can DIY your own melted snowman, or

If your elf is a bit of a graffiti artist, they might be tempted to turn some bright-yellow bananas into Minions. It makes for a very silly breakfast.

Is it a smooch the elf is after? No, it's a chocolate Kiss! But their cheeks look extra rosy when peeking out from a DIY kissing booth.

This Elf is a daredevil! Watch as they dive in from above, ready to keep a watchful eye on all the kids in the house.

Say goodbye to your elf — Merry Christmas and see you next year!

The Elf on the Shelf has come down with a good case of Christmas pox. The only thing contagious from these elves is their Christmas cheer.

This elf knows their ABCs! Yours can also leave out a festive message in cereal pieces, too.

When you put your elf in a cake stand or a cookie jar, make sure you add an empty wrapper so it looks like your elf has been munching.

Even though it’s cold outside this Christmas, The Elf on the Shelf can take a staycation and enjoy the sunshine this holiday season.

Tell your kids that your elf brought back some freshly baked doughnuts from the North Pole, straight out of the Claus' oven! And, what a coincidence! They brought back one for you, too. (Wink.)

"Don't mind me. I'm just a regular banana doing regular banana things."

How cute are these little candy cane sleds? They're easy to DIY: Just hot glue a handful of candy canes together.

Set up your iPad to play your child's favorite holiday movie for an elf-sized drive-in experience. It's a great way to incorporate your kids' toy car collection.

Add a bit of a carnival atmosphere to your holiday! Your kids can test their aim throwing the mini marshmallow "snowballs" at the target. If you follow the link, you can print out the dunk tank template.

Everybody still wants to be safe, so of course your elf needs their own face mask. Pose them next to a letter (download it for free here) reminding your kids to wash their hands for the amount of time it takes to sing the chorus to "Jingle Bells."

If you buy this uniform kit and goal, any soccer-obsessed kiddo would be amazed at what the elf does when they're not waiting around for instructions from Santa. 

It's an elf idea and an advent calendar all rolled into one. Each day, your elf can watch as your family removes one link from the paper chain — when there are no more links left, it's Christmas!

Hey, that's not a fork! The elf will surely be discovered over breakfast.

The first day of Elf magic is always the biggest, and many choose to celebrate the arrival of the elf in a big way. You can buy this personalized, engraved-wood postcard, which reminds kids about the elf rules, and use it year after year, or you could make something similar yourself at home with cardstock.

White washcloths make a handy stand-in for snowy slopes! You can also improvise a scarf for extra coziness as they head down the hill.

Time to get those toy cars clean! And is that a hint of peppermint I smell? The car wash looks professional, but its made with craft sticks, sponges and a few more household items.

How cute are this elf's brown paper packages, tied up with strings? You can fill them with dollar-store trinkets, or pieces of candy, as a gift from your elf to your kids.

Even elves find themselves under the weather from time to time. If yours feels the chills, get a doctor's note so they can take some much-needed time off. (Bonus: You get the day off, too.)

Your elf gets a delightful snowman disguise, thanks to a couple spare rolls of toilet paper. We love the way they look peeking out!

A cardboard tube and some ribbon can give your elf a nice perch for the day. They can keep an eye out from below the shelf.

Don't forget to give your new elf a name! That's half the fun. Once they're properly named, then they can start their job reporting to Santa at the North Pole each night, and make his official arrival in your home.

Everybody loves a photobooth! Get your elf to bring some of the other toys in on the photobooth fun — and give them some DIY props.

Here's one way to reuse those old K-Cups — just cut a straw in half and let them "drink" up. The candy-striped straw feels extra festive, too.

Order up! These elves are ready to serve you your favorite treats. If Dunks isn't your family's favorite, you can get similar sets for Elf versions of Starbucks, McDonald's,and Baskin Robbins.

Welcome to The Elf on the Shelf School of Kindness. In this classroom, it is important to remember that elves are your friends.

These elves can try to blend in with the rest of the Star Wars toys. Only their shoes give them away, right? (You can also get a helmet from The Mandalorian sized for an elf.)

If the elves manage to bring back a bit of the North Pole home, it'll be a truly magical experience. This scene uses faux snow and glitter to create a fairy house for the elf.

Those LEGO minifigs can really stir up some trouble! Better give them a piece of the action.

This elf knows they're going to be on Instagram! Lean into with different selfie props and poses.

Turn your daily elf hunt into a learning activity for kids. This elf has written a secret message, and when your kids follow the clues, they can decode it. If you follow the link, you can print out the message without having to come up with one of your own.

It's Story Time at the toy box! (And what a sweet scene to wake up to.)

What could be more relaxing than a marshmallow jacuzzi? (Answer: Nothing.)

Your elf may be a hero to our family, but they can dress as someone who's a hero to everyone in the friendly neighborhood! With this spider-themed getup, it's only natural that the elf would hang from the ceiling or chill in a web (if you have any leftover from Halloween). 

Give me an X, give me an O, give me three elves in a row! This twist on the childhood classic incorporates The Elf on the Shelf and everyone's favorite game.

This is a costume and an activity in one package: One side of the gingerbread house is ready to serve as a photo backdrop. The other is blank, ready to be decorated by your kids.

Better yet. your kids might feel comfortable knowing the elf is vaccinated, complete with a Santa-approved vaccination card! (And it might make them feel better about their own upcoming shots, too.) The sweater is available in both pink and mint green.

They gets the run of the house at night, so of course your elf is going to feel tempted to peek at some presents. Hopefully, they won't let the cat out of the bag.

If you can stand parting with a few Goldfish crackers (and then cleaning them up out of the sink), they make for the perfect denizens of a bathroom fishin' hole.

The Elf on the Shelf is enjoying a peaceful morning feeding rubber duckies.

They may be on the job, but your elves can still get in a little leisure time. Use a mini marshmallow and a candy cane for their putt-putt gear.

Up, up and away! This elf is ready for a sweet ride, literally, thanks to a candy-colored hot air balloon. If your elf likes to hide, it's a well-known parent trick that kids are more likely look down than up, so try setting this up somewhere high!

A dry-erase marker makes for the perfect camouflage makeup; it'll take an extra minute to find them hiding in the Christmas tree.

It's always a delight when the elves interact with your kids' other toys. Your little ones will be truly thrilled to see how they stack up in a race.