Okay, so, the Christmas season was rolling in, and I got this wild idea to do the whole “Elf on the Shelf” thing. I’d seen it all over social media, and it looked like a blast. I mean, who wouldn’t want a tiny elf causing mischief around the house? So I started with the kitchen.
First things first, I got myself an elf. Not a real one, obviously – a cute little plush guy from the store. Then, I dug around for some ideas. I wanted easy stuff, not like, building a gingerbread house from scratch or anything. It was all about fun, not a major project, you know?
My first attempt? I put the elf inside the cereal box. It was simple but effective. My kids found him peeking out when they went for breakfast. The looks on their faces were priceless! I also tried hanging him from the kitchen light using some string. That was a good one, too – he looked like he was about to swing into action. Not going to lie, it cracked me up just setting it up.
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Cereal Box Surprise: This was my first try. I simply stuck the elf inside an open cereal box, making it look like he was munching on some cereal. The kids found him during breakfast, and it was a hit!
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Light Fixture Swing: I used a bit of string to hang the elf from the kitchen light. He looked like a little acrobat ready to swing into action. This one was fun to set up and got a lot of laughs.
Next Steps
Then I got a little more creative. I used some flour to make tiny elf footprints leading to the cookie jar. It was like a mini crime scene, and the kids totally bought it. They were convinced the elf had a sweet tooth. Another time, I put him in the fridge, holding a tiny sign that said, “Brrr, it’s cold in here!” That got some serious giggles. For real, I was having as much fun as the kids with this.
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Flour Footprints: I sprinkled some flour on the counter to create a trail of tiny footprints leading to the cookie jar. It looked like the elf had a midnight snack adventure. The kids were on the case, trying to figure out what he’d been up to.
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Fridge Fun: I placed the elf inside the fridge, holding a small, handwritten sign that read, “Brrr, it’s cold in here!” This one was a big hit, especially on a warmer day. It’s the little things, right?
Honestly, the whole Elf on the Shelf thing turned out to be way more fun than I expected. It wasn’t about elaborate setups. It was about those little moments of surprise and laughter. Each morning, I loved watching them discover the elf’s new hiding spot or the mess he might have made. It added some magic to our mornings. I’m pretty sure this is going to be a yearly thing for us. And I kinda can’t wait for next year to see what else this little elf gets up to. If you want, I can post some pics about it next time!
