Are you participating in the fun holiday Elf on the Shelf tradition?   You may be looking for some easy ideas that don’t take a lot of time.  Here are some Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas that take 5 minutes or less to create.   Please leave comments with additional ideas!

Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

• Turn the toilet water green
• Replace your screensaver with a photo of your elf
• Snow angels in flour or sugar on the kitchen floor or counter
• Making snowmen out of large marshmallows
• Bowling with marshmallows
• Turning the milk green
• Getting stuck in the cookie jar
• Playing Jenga
• Writing Christmas or “Elf-like” words in a crossword puzzle
• Uh oh, the elf got stuck in the vacuum!
• Sledding down the banister
• Rolling down the stairs in a toilet paper tube
• Playing dress-up with Barbie’s clothes
• Having a tea party with stuffed animals and dolls
• Trying on Mom’s jewelry
• Sleeping in the Kleenex box
• Reading a Christmas book to the stuffed animals
• Playing the piano (Christmas music, of course!)
• Sipping on soda through a straw
• TP-ing the Christmas tree
• Having fun with the computer’s printer…. copying himself!
• Going for a spin on the ceiling fan
• Hiding in a light fixture or sconce
• Writing things on the shopping list (candy canes, Christmas cookies, etc.)
• Clipping coupons (for sweet treats!)
• Hanging from the rear-view mirror in the car
• Playing doctor with stuffed animals or dolls
• Boosted up with a stack of pillows in the driver’s seat and driving!
• Coloring in a coloring book (all red and green, naturally!)
• Playing with the iPad (changing screen saver to a photo of himself)
• Squish him into a plastic ornament that opens into two halves and hang him on the tree
• Weighing himself on the scale
• Playing with glow-in-the-dark Silly String
• Decorating his own elf-sized Christmas tree
• Elf poker game with other stuffed friends/dolls
• Elf bringing mini-doughnuts (decorated cheerios)
• Elf bowling with a ball and mini-marshmallows
• Drinking a can of mini-soda with a straw under the tree
• Using someone’s underwear as a sleeping bag
• Sitting in a tea cup filled with packets of Splenda
• Taking a nap in the manger with Baby Jesus in your nativity set
• Adding bows to a houseplant
• Elf planking
• Inside your mail box
• Hiding in the winter gear or a coat pocket
• Hanging out with the other elves in the kitchen… Snap, Crackle and Pop!
• Playing video games like Mario Kart (sitting inside Barbie’s car with the remote-control wheel in his hands)
• Tangled in the Christmas lights
• Decorating the bathroom mirror
• Hanging candy canes from the dining room chandelier
• Planting a potted plant in the house (even cuter with a mini Christmas tree!) with little mess around him
• Naughty elf buying things online (like elf friends or accessories) with Mom’s credit card
• Elf pretending to be a baby (have him climb inside a bottle, hold a pacifier, wearing a diaper, etc.)

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• Add your own Elf on the Shelf Ideas and photos to our gallery
• View our Elf on the Shelf Ideas Pinterest Album
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• Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas