I decided to do Elf on a Shelf this year. It might be the only year I ever do it so I’m going all out. If you haven’t heard of Elf on Shelf, it’s a little elf that you move around every night and your kid has to find him in the morning. During the night the elf supposedly flies to the North Pole to report to Santa….which is why he’s in a different place every morning. (you can read more about it here at the Elf on a Shelf website).
(Mr. LBB found our Elf on the Shelf at Barnes and Noble)
Some people just move the elf around every night to a different location……others put together extravagant scenarios as to what the elf did during the night when he returned from the North Pole. I guess you could classify me as the latter of the two.
Oh, and each family is supposed to name their elf….ours is named Buddy.
Here’s Buddy sitting on the copier….photocopying his tiny elf bum!
Buddy rented Barbie’s RV and went camping overnight in our backyard. He even roasted some marshmallows:
Buddy took some floral classes in the North Pole. Here he is making a flower arrangement….Martha Stewart would be proud:
Naughty elf…..getting into my makeup drawer…..and drawing cat whiskers on his face:
Passing the time…..playing solitaire:
I saw this idea on Pinterest (which is how I first found out about Elf on the Shelf)…..since we don’t have snow here in the desert our elf is making a “snow angel” out of rice. He respected my OCD and laid out a black mat first so it is easily cleaned up:
Buddy and his graffiti (with washable markers thank goodness):
Cruising with Barbie (I hope Ken and Barbie broke up!):
“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.” -From the Movie Elf
Our elf Buddy is donut obsessed too. He made these little donuts using Cheerios. (idea originally found here)
TP’ing the Christmas Tree (careful, this could be a potential fire hazard):
Emailing Santa:
Playing Connect Four with a La La Loopsy Doll:
Buddy made Boo her lunch one morning trying to be nice…..but packed dog food, garlic, baked beans, a box of Jello and Good ‘n Plenty:
At an elf-sized “drive in” movie with Barbie:
Buddy the elf put on a little felt scarf and spent the night in the freezer….it reminds him of the North Pole:
Making a grilled cheese:
Locked out:
I use the little paper feet as a clue when Buddy is hard to find so we don’t spend ALL morning looking for him:
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Ok, I’ve heard people mention Elf on a Shelf but didn’t know what it was about until I read this. That is just WAY TOO CUTE, I would LOVE to do this too! Your photo shoot is just great as well, looks like so much fun!
your elf is too cute! I never did the Elf on the Shelf, well, because I know that I would never keep it up for all 24 days!
Wicked awesome. This is our first year too!
These are so funny! I thought that Elf on the Shelf was kind of creepy before, but your version is really hilarious and cute. I especially loved the PG-13 ones from yesterday.
Also, you are the most frequently posting blog that I follow, and it continues to amaze me that you’re blogging so much when you’re sick. Glad you’re finding the energy to do what makes you happy still. You’re in my thoughts, and I hope you continue to feel better.
This is so clever….you and your family are making wonderful memories! I love this one and am of course pinning it and mentioning my daughter so she can file it on her “Kids in a Loooong Time Board”
You rock! I love it! We bought our Elf on the shelf Thanksgiving weekend and the kids are really into it. Finding it each morning is so fun, but you have taken it to a whole new level. We will try out some of these fun ideas next week.
Ahahahahahahahahahaha! These are hilarious! You’ve given me some good ideas for our elf! Which my daughter named Gnomeo lol. He is fishing in the bathroom sink today! Haha!
I love your ideas! My children wake up every morning and hunt for “Sweetie Pie” Thank you for the creative inspiration!
So cute. My daughter and I laughed out loud!
love those mini cheerio donuts!
Oh my gosh Ashley, thank you SO much for all of these hiliarous ideas! My girls jump out of be everyone morning looking for “Cookie”. They will LOVE finding him playing with Barbie, drinking syrup etc. Each one is better than the next ! You are SO creative. Hope you are feeling good , blessings sent your way!
I just stumbled across this and can’t stop laughing. Seriously sooo funny. Thanks for the laugh this would be so fun to do at our house:)
Just what I needed on this cold december morning. All smiles!
I love it! Want one for next year! I’ve actually started doing something similar with my kid’s doudous when they started school in september. They love it. You’ve just inspired me with new ideas, thanks!
That is too cute! You’ve got yourself a naughty little elf dont you? lol!
These are great!! You really go the extra mile! Thanks for sharing!!
Lol…some great ideas…passing these on…your Elfie is a little
stinker…I think he might take after his Mommie:)
Hope you are having a great day!
Love it! Will share with my friend whose elf visited for the first time yesterday. Her 10 yr old thought it was cool; her 6 yr old is freaked out!
Aw, too cute! I want to be a 5 year old in your house…. your little girl must love all the fun stuff you do! So creative.
I’ve always thought the Elf on a Shelf thing was a little creepy. But this photo shoot was delightful. Thanks for the laugh!
Sorry… Buddy don’t look as cute as is supposed to look after the PG-13 Pictures… My mistake!
So sad we don’t have that kind of elves here…. I’ll have to try with another character.
Let’s be creative!
So cute! My favorite is the the one where he’s playing with dolly. These are just so stinkin’ creative.
i love the photo of buddy with aunt jemima…sooooo funny.
too, too funny!
I love your Elf pictures, even the PG-13 ones. I am a pre-k teacher, we have an Elf in our classroom. Thanks for sharing!
These are so cute and creative. I especially love the “Elf”" reference. That is one of our favorite movies!
Hehe so glad you used the doughnut idea! It’s just too cute!
These are hilarious! Love them all. Hahahaha
This is so funny! To be honest when i first saw “Elf on a shelf”… i thought it was a little creepy. A little elf, siting there, supposably “listening” to what your kids want for Christmas… kinda weird. I guess i never really knew what you were supposed to do with it, i thought it just sat there. I love the pictures and the little stories that you do. Drinking the syrup, upside down, brilliant. And photocopying his little bum-bum… love it. Way to go Ashley (read sarcastically
, change my perspective of “Elf on a shelf”. I kinda want to get one. My daughter is only 6 months though… might be too soon.
SO cute! I LOVE the PG-13 ones LMBO!!
Omg I SOOOOOOOOO LoVe this idea of elf on the shelf. It’s right up my ally. So it’s probably a little to late for me to do it this year : ( But I wonder if my 6 year old will be too old for it next year….Nahhhh!!! we all love the magic of Christmas & regardless it can only be a little fun if nothing else. Thank you so much for sharing with us what Buddy’s been up too. He looks pretty cheeky…hehehehe Enjoy the fun & the magic it brings to our little ones hearts. xx
So much fun! The drive-in movie is my favorite.
I’ve been out of town (Disneyland!) and just catching up … oh my word these are hysterical! I am SOOO going to use these ideas for “chocolate” our elf. PS- on our drive out to DLand, we passed the windmills (they are so cool at night!) & Loma Linda which made me think of you!
OMG! I was thinking of getting our family one, but now that I’ve seen all the possibilites and fun this could bring, I’ve GOT to run out and get one! Thanks for all your brilliant posts! You are truly truly amazing. I’ve laughed and cried reading your blog since I started following you. You ROCK!
Thank you so much for posting your Buddy! We just started this tradition this year….love all you did!
My 7yr old daughter came home from school today looking everywhere for “an elf”. She said EVERY house has one that comes from the North Pole and that ours just must be hiding somewhere. She looked all over the house. We don’t have the elf!!! Guess I will be heading to Barnes and Noble tomorrow. Thanks for the ideas!
I bought my Elf on the Shelf at Target!
Sooo cute! I love the little elf feet to track buddy down when he gets lost! Adorable. I think I need a little elf guy!
Oh my! This is hilarious!! Thanks so much for giving me my biggest laugh of the day!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I hope you don’t mind, but I simply had to share this on my FB page
http://www.facebook.com/EasyFreeSantaLetters
It was simply too cute not to!!
So, Ernie the Elf isn’t nearly as cleaver as Buddy. I think I’ll have to show him what his colleagues are up to. Super cute! Thanks for sharing!!
these are hysterical-thanks for some great ideas! i forgot to move our elf last night and had some very unhappy girls-this will help me make up for it!
LOL!!! This is awesome! We caught our elf taking a marshmallow bubble bath this morning:-)
Oh wow!! THANKYOU! These are some amazing ideas for our new little friend! <3
Our little FREDelvin is pretty simple at night but what he does all day while we are gone is what has me concerned. Check him out. http://whitebreadlife.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/you-put-your-elf-up-on-a-pedestal-and-wait-for-him-to-fall/
My kids had so much fun looking through these–Buddy in the freezer with the scarf was the best. Our little “Shelfie” might have to start having himself some fun!
We just got our elf today and he hasn’t started getting into any mischief just yet. My question is, does he stay that way the entire day since he is not supposed to be touched?
I love Elf and all the mischief he gets into. You are the most creative person I know, Ashley, and reminds me of the tooth fairy hiding money under your pillow. O no, I hope I did not give you another idea for the tooth fairy and her hidden life style. We all love you dearly! mom
what happened to the pages, i didnt write them down, i need to see that page again please pretty please
those are halares Ilove them