The Elf on the Shelf
Celebrates Two Decades of Antics!
For those that don’t know the The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition started in 2005 – so, 20 years ago – with a picture book written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, and illustrated by Coë Steinwart. The book tells a Christmas-themed story, written in rhyme, that explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and nice. It describes elves visiting children from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, after which they return to the North Pole until the next holiday season.
Coming to a Shelf near You...
Therefore we've rounded up the most stylish 'Elf Extras' from Santa's store and beyond to help your style your Elf on the Shelf scenes for those 'shelfies' - as children believe in Santa’s scout elves just as fiercely as they believe in Mr. Claus himself - so do follow our golden rules (below) for keeping the magic alive!
The Elf on the Shelf is a bit like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. Either way there is no getting away from this festive tradition come December 1st - or, for the Americans among us straight after Thanksgiving.
Adopt your Elf!
For those wanting to join in the elf antics you can ‘adopt’ your own small scout elf with a The Elf on the Shelf keepsake box (set costs £24.95) that also comes with a hardbound copy of the story book. Alongside this there is a whole host of ever-growing props, outfits and accessories to help your scout elf return each day.
ADULTS ONLY: (This involves ‘you’ or an older sibling moving your Elf around the house for your children to find them in the morning. They can be as good or as bad and as active or lazy as you choose with their antics!)
Twenty Years of Elf on the Shelf!
20 accessories, fashions and ideas for your Elf
Welcome back your Scout Elf on December 1st with this Limited 20th Anniversary Edition Peppermint Blimp Ride – this can also take them back to the North Pole every night (hmmm… can we get away with leaving them in it for 24 days?)
Add some extra Christmas magic with this portal to Santa’s enchanted universe with this magical doorway. This gives Santa’s helpers easy access to and from the North Pole.
Grab a few googly eye stickers and have some fun on with the family photos – sure to get everyone laughing before the school run.
Now you can safely transport your Scout Elf without losing the magic! The specially designed elf carrier has been upgraded to celebrate it’s 20th anniversary – now in a green colour-way, it comes with some extra travel essentials allowing your Elf to tag along on those festive trips.
20th Anniversary Carrier, £13.95, Elf on The Shelf
You can set the perfect scenes with this insta moments reversible props featuring a magic shrinking machine and hot cocoa stand. Includes plastic scene supports, mini cookies (one big and one small) and elf-size mugs
Create some festive footprints and place them strategically around the house using icing sugar, cinnamon, or flour (just make sure you do not permanently stain the carpet!)
Elf Shaped Christmas Footprint Stencil, £3.99 for 2, Party Pieces
If you’re fully on board with the Elf on the Shelf ‘movement’ then don’t let it stress you out in the lead-up to Christmas and this curated kit which offers endless possibilities. Minimum effort, maximum ease, with 24 days of official, Santa-approved elf props, set up instructions and a planning calendar. A great little daily job for older kids to do for younger siblings.
Nothing like jumping on a trend! Kids will either cheer or cringe at this 6 7 meme sweater especially made for your scout elf!
Scenes made super easy with these limited-edition 3-in-1 backdrops. Featuring iconic holiday moments like the night before Christmas, a sleigh ride, and a holiday party. You can simply pop open, set up and show off on social.
Insta Moment Pop-Ups Limited 20th Anniversary Celebration Series, £8.95, Amazon
Maybe your Scout Elf would like their own elf! This miniature version is less than 4 inches and has fully articulated arms, legs and head – and, we just love it!
Bundle up your Elf for those cool adventures with this cool slim-fit puffer and earmuffs set.
Claus Couture Collection Bundle-Up Puffer Vest, £8.99, Elf on the Shelf store
The official Elf is not wired or magnetised but this genius little kit will transform your scout elf into the bendy, movable and more pliable version that means you can hang, hold and position them with ease.
If you’re up for setting up scenes this little cooking set will come in handy – but, really any miniature toys, dolls house accessories and props from your children’s toy box will suffice and delight tiny people on those cold December mornings.
This 80s inspired outfit with a special MagiFreez™ design to give your Scout Elves super standing power to create elf scenes that rise above the rest.
Retro Rad MagiFreez™ 80s gear, £7.99, Elf on the Shelf Store
Santa’s Fashion Instructions: Simply place clothes where you Scout Elf can see it, and he/she will put it on before the nightly flight to the North Pole.
Coffee Time. Chains like Costa Costa and Starbucks do a collection of Christmas decorations that are the perfect size for your elf when they need their morning caffeine fix.
Christmas Hanging Ornament Decoration from £8 (find them in store)
Camp Out! The perfect way to set up a cosy scene with a sleeping bag and campfire set – and why not pop a mini marshmallow on a cocktail stick for a true camping experience!
It’s up to you to make the elf scout antics easy or hard. No one needs the additional stress over the busy holiday period – but, kids do seem to love it. Why not use everyday household items to create some fun ideas? Pinterest is full of them. Often its more about the search-and-find than the set-up. Hang them upside down on the curtain pole, peeping out of a saucepan or hiding in the fridge – these simple moves will all delight little ones.
Upgrade your elf instantly with a brand new tee. This set feature cool gingerbread, hot cocoa and donut designs that will offer maximum impact, for minimum effort. We love the cute suitcase that come with them too.
Claus Couture Collection Festive Fun T-Shirt Set, £11.56, Amazon
If your scout elf is feeling a little under the weather and needed to sit on the shelf for a little longer than expected, say for the whole of December (*we won’t tell!), or maybe your elf got ‘touched’ and had a tumble? Then this set should be in your First Elf Kit!
Claus Couture Collection Elf Care Kit, £12.99 Christmas Cracker Shop
Leave little messages around the house – use wooden alphabet blocks, fridge magnets, magazine clippings or hand write a message (in tiny writing if you can). Its all about the magic folks!
Need an Elf upgrade?
The Elf on the Shelf Limited 20th Anniversary Edition Box Set (with posing body, a new edition storybook, keepsake collectible pyjama set and ornament), £45, Amazon
The Elf on the Shelf Golden Rules for keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive!
While all children know The Elf on the Shelf’s rules, it’s important for grown-ups to get to know them, too! Please remember these helpful tips for preserving the scout elves’ magic this Christmas… (and for setting up those daily scenes!)
- Please Don’t Touch the Scout Elves.When you do, they lose their Christmas magic and are unable to fly to the North Pole to complete their duties. Children know this to be one of the cardinal rules of the North Pole, and they worry when they think one of their North Pole friends has been touched and lost his or her magic.
- Elves Are Not Mischievous or Naughty. Scout elves like to have fun, but they are never mischievous or naughty—they are always nice! After all, they wouldn’t want to end up on Santa’s naughty list. You will never see an elf partake in anything inappropriate—it’s just not the North Pole way.
- Scout Elves Don’t Like Pins, Needles or Anything Sharp. An authentic North Pole scout elf never has anything pinned, stapled or fastened to it—think how much that would hurt!
- Elves Move Themselves by Flying Each Night. Children know that scout elves use their Christmas magic to fly wherever they need to go. Please refrain from saying things like someone “moved the elf.” If someone moved them they would lose their magic!
- Families Don’t Buy Elves, They Adopt Them. Santa approved Official Scout Elf Adoption Centers across the world as a way for families to welcome scout elves into their homes.
- Elves Never Land Next to Lights or Flames. Just like you, scout elves like to keep a safe distance from fire while they’re roasting marshmallows and from the glimmering lights on the Christmas tree to avoid getting burned. If you notice a scout elf has landed too close to a flame or light, just let him know so he can fly to a new spot!
