The Elf on the Shelf has been a holiday tradition in my family for the past five years. Aspen the Elf first showed up at our house when my daughter was almost a year old. She has had fun hiding around our house for my kids to find, and she even followed us to and from New York last year.
During the first year of the Elf on the Shelf, I left Aspen intact right out of the box. Her hands were sewn together, so she was able to hang on her own and sit with her hands in her lap. Eventually, however, I clipped the sewing on her hands to give her more mobility. With all the cute ideas for posing her that I saw from other Elves, I wanted her arms to move freely. This year I upped the ante again and hacked Aspen to make her arms and legs bendable.
To hack my Elf on the Shelf, I started by purchasing some mirror hanging wire. I already had red and white thread and other sewing tools on hand. I then carefully removed a few stitches in the seams of Aspen’s hands. I only had to remove three stitches on each hand. I then bent the end of the wire over into a loop to prevent the pointy end from poking through the Elf. I then slid the bent end through the open seam, up through the arm, and into the shoulder. I then clipped the wire and bent the other end into a loop as well. I finally tucked the end of the wire into the Elf’s hand and resewed the seam with white thread. I repeated the same process on the other arm and then the two legs.
With just a little hand sewing and a few pieces of wire, I was able to make my Elf on the Shelf bendable and poseable. I love that I can bend Aspen’s legs and arms at the knees and elbows. She looks much more realistic, and she is so much easier to pose all over the house. You too can make your own Elf bendable with my quick and easy Elf on the Shelf hack.
For some ideas for posing your Elf, check out the past four years of the Christmas adventures of Aspen the Elf.
Elf on the Shelf Ideas
The Elf on the Miniature Christmas Tree
The Elf with the Bubble Lights
The Elf Under the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
The Elf and the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
The Elf and the Harry Potter Figurines
The Elf in the White Christmas Tree
The Elf on the Christmas Lights
The Elf on the Christmas Wreath
The Elf on the Christmas Duck-oration Wreath
The Elf and the Lighted Wreath
The Elf and the Christmas Village
The Elf Swinging on the Christmas Lights
The Elf on the Christmas Wreath
The Elf on the Advent Calendar
The Elf on the Measuring Cup Hook
The Elf on the Tinker Toy Chair
The Elf and the Christmas Lights
The Elf Sleeping in the Christmas Tree
The Elf on the Kitchen Cabinet
The Elf and the Circuit Breaker Box
The Elf and the Bathroom Lights
The Elf and the Silverware Drawer
The Elf and the Peppermint Ice Cream
The Elf and the Small Christmas Tree
The Elf with the Reindeer Food
Which is your favorite Elf hiding spot?
Image Credits
Elf on the Shelf Hack to Make Bendable Arms and Legs © 2016 Heather Johnson
Elf on the Shelf with Hack Materials © 2016 Heather Johnson
Inserting the Wire in the Elf’s Arm © 2016 Heather Johnson
Bending the End of the Wire in the Elf’s Arm © 2016 Heather Johnson
Resewing the Elf’s Hand © 2016 Heather Johnson
Hacking the Elf’s Leg © 2016 Heather Johnson
Bendable Elf on the Shelf © 2016 Heather Johnson