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More Family-Friendly Elf on the Shelf Ideas

More Family-Friendly Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Aspen the Elf first showed up in my house six years ago when my daughter was almost a year old. The Elf on the Shelf has been a holiday tradition for my family since that time. Aspen has had fun hiding around the house for my kids to find starting on December 1. She even followed us to and from New York two years ago, hitching a ride in our van during her travels!

When Aspen first arrived in her box with her book during our first Christmas season with her, her hands were sewn together, so she was able to hang on her own and sit with her hands in her lap. I eventually clipped the sewing on her hands to allow her arms to move freely and give her more mobility. Last year I made her even more posable by sewing mirror hanging wire into arms and legs. I carefully removed a few stitches in the seams of her hands and feet, inserted the wire, and stitched the opens back up again. For the full instructions for my Elf on the Shelf hack, check out my Elf on the Shelf Hack to Make Bendable Arms and Legs (Plus Elf on the Shelf Ideas).

Elf on the Shelf Hack to Make Bendable Arms and Legs

Family-Friendly Elf on the Shelf Ideas

The Elf and the School Room Lights

On December 1 last year, Aspen the Elf attempted to hang red, green, and white lights in our school room but ended up stringing the lights over the table and around some chairs.

The Elf and the School Room Lights

The Elf and the Candy Cane Chain

On December 2 last year, Aspen the Elf constructed a chain of candy canes and rappelled from a cabinet in our kitchen.

The Elf and the Candy Cane Chain 1 The Elf and the Candy Cane Chain 2
The Elf and the Candy Cane Swing

On December 3 last year, Aspen the Elf constructed a swing from candy canes and hung from the lights in our hallway.

The Elf and the Candy Cane Swing

The Elf and the Toilet Paper Fort

On December 4 last year, Aspen the Elf made a fort of toilet paper rolls on the back of our toilet.

The Elf and the Toilet Paper Fort 1 The Elf and the Toilet Paper Fort 2
The Elf and the Tissue Bed

On December 5 last year, Aspen the Elf tucked herself into bed in a tissue box complete with a tissue blanket and pillow.

The Elf and the Tissue Bed

The Elf in the Fridge

On December 6 last year, Aspen the Elf wrapped herself in a bamboo wash cloth to keep herself warm in the refrigerator.

The Elf in the Fridge

The Elf in the Shutters

On December 7 last year, Aspen the Elf hid in the shutters on our kitchen window.

The Elf in the Shutters

The Elf and the Garland on the Bathroom Lights

On December 8 last year, Aspen the Elf hung red garland on my bathroom lights and got herself tangled up.

The Elf and the Garland on the Bathroom Lights 1 The Elf and the Garland on the Bathroom Lights 2
The Elf in the Lighted Fireplace

On December 9 last year, Aspen the Elf hid among the lights decorating our unused fireplace.

The Elf in the Lighted Fireplace

The Elf Hanging on the Christmas Lights

On December 10 last year, Aspen the Elf hung upside down on the lights hanging in our hallway.

The Elf Hanging on the Christmas Lights

The Elf and the Cat Treat Container

On December 11 last year, Aspen the Elf hid inside a container of cat treats.

The Elf and the Cat Treat Container 1 The Elf and the Cat Treat Container 2
The Elf and the Mini Christmas Tree in the Truck

On December 12 last year, Aspen the Elf hauled her own miniature Christmas tree onto our kitchen table using a miniature dump truck.

The Elf and the Mini Christmas Tree in the Truck

The Elf in the Magnetic Block House

On December 13 last year, Aspen the Elf built herself a small house from magnetic blocks.

The Elf in the Magnetic Block House

The Elf in the Fruit Basket

On December 14 last year, Aspen the Elf tucked herself among the clementine oranges in our fruit basket.

The Elf in the Fruit Basket

The Elf in the Lighted Peacock

On December 15 last year, Aspen the Elf hid in our lighted Christmas peacock.

The Elf in the Lighted Peacock

The Elf and the Candy Cane Rope

On December 16 last year, Aspen the Elf rappelled from our dining room light on a rope of candy canes.

The Elf and the Candy Cane Rope

The Elf and the Holiday Shower Curtain

On December 17 last year, Aspen the Elf rappelled from our holiday shower curtain using a chain of candy canes.

The Elf and the Holiday Shower Curtain

The Elf on the Curtains

On December 18 last year, Aspen the Elf hung around our living room curtains on a candy cane rope.

The Elf on the Curtains

The Elf and the Menorah

On December 19 last year, Aspen the Elf snuggled up under our menorah in preparation for Hanukah.

The Elf and the Menorah

The Elf and the Paper Snowflakes

On December 20 last year, Aspen the Elf hung paper snowflakes from the light in our dining room.

The Elf and the Paper Snowflakes

The Elf and the Yarn

On December 21 last year, Aspen the Elf attempted to decorate our hallway with yarn but got herself all tangled up.

The Elf and the Yarn

The Elf and the Mitten

On December 22 last year, Aspen the Elf snuggled in a mitten on the Christmas wreath on our front door.

The Elf and the Mitten

The Elf and the Miniature Wreath

On December 23 last year, Aspen the Elf attempted to hang a miniature wreath on our bathroom mirror, but her suction cup lost its grip, and she ended up dozing behind the faucet all day.

The Elf and the Miniature Wreath

The Elf and the Reindeer Food

On December 24 last year, Aspen the Elf brought a bag of reindeer food for my kids to sprinkle outside on Christmas Eve in preparation for Santa.

The Elf and the Reindeer Food

For even more ideas for posing your Elf, check out four more years of the Christmas adventures of Aspen the Elf.

Which is your favorite Elf hiding spot?

Image Credits

More Family-Friendly Elf on the Shelf Ideas © 2017 Heather Johnson
Elf on the Shelf Hack to Make Bendable Arms and Legs © 2016 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the School Room Lights © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Candy Cane Chain 1 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Candy Cane Chain 2 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Candy Cane Swing © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Toilet Paper Fort 1 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Toilet Paper Fort 2 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Tissue Bed © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf in the Fridge © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf in the Shutters © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Garland on the Bathroom Lights 1 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Garland on the Bathroom Lights 2 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf in the Lighted Fireplace © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf Hanging on the Christmas Lights © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Cat Treat Container 1 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Cat Treat Container 2 © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Mini Christmas Tree in the Truck © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf in the Magnetic Block House © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf in the Fruit Basket © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf in the Lighted Peacock © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Candy Cane Rope © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Holiday Shower Curtain © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf on the Curtains © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Menorah © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Paper Snowflakes © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Yarn © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Mitten © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Miniature Wreath © 2017 Heather Johnson
The Elf and the Reindeer Food © 2017 Heather Johnson

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