Elf on the shelf ideas get harder to come up with around the second week of December, when the easy scenes are used up and the elf still has to be somewhere new by morning. Small props help more than anything else. A tiny box of donuts or a line of animals on the counter tells a story the moment a child walks in, and it takes a minute to set up.
This guide is for parents who run an elf routine each December, or want to start one. It covers our Holiday Elf Set, which flexi toys make good props, fourteen scenes you can set up with them, what a kit costs and when to order. The short version: the Holiday Elf Set is $15 with five treats, most Micro flexis are $1, and a kit for the whole month ships free once the order is over $35.
Why Flexi Toys Work for Elf on the Shelf Ideas
A flexi toy is printed in place as one articulated piece, so the joints move straight off the printer and nothing needs to be assembled. That makes them useful at 11 at night, when nobody wants to build anything.
They pose. A flexi dragon can curl around a plate, a T-Rex can lean over the edge of a box, and a row of animals can march in a line. The pose is what makes the scene read as mischief instead of a shelf of toys.
They are small. Micro flexis are 1 inch and Mini flexis are 1.5 inches, small enough to sit beside the elf without taking over the scene. They fit in a pocket, a mug or a stocking.
They are cheap enough to lose. At $1 for most Micros, it does not matter if one ends up under the couch until spring.
They keep. PLA does not tear or fray, so the same animals can come back next December.
The Holiday Elf Set: Our Elf and Its Five Treats
The Holiday Elf Set is $15 for an elf in a red suit and pointed hat with a white collar, plus five tiny printed treats:
- a donut box with six frosted donuts
- a pizza box with a pepperoni pizza
- a platter of chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk
- a mug of cocoa with marshmallows
- a mug of milk
The elf moves at the arms and legs, so it can sit on a shelf edge, lean on a mug or reach for a cookie. The set comes in classic red and white with green mugs. To change a color, type it in the Custom color box above Add to cart.
Our elf is our own printed design, not the branded doll that many families already have. You can use the set on its own, or keep your family's elf and use our treats and flexis as its props.
Micro and Mini Flexis Make the Best Elf Props
Most of our classic animals come in Micro (1 inch) for $1 and Mini (1.5 inches) for $1.75. Larger sizes go up to Large (3 inches) for $6 and X-Large (6 inches) for $15. A few designs cost a little more at the small sizes, so check the price in the size menu.
For elf scenes, these work well at $1 each in Micro:
Winter animals: the Penguin, Polar Bear, Seal and Narwhal.
Troublemakers: the T-Rex, Angry T-Rex, Dragon and Fox.
Gentle ones for younger children: the Bear, Cat, Mouse, Sloth and the Jumping, Tall and Bow Bunnies.
Favorites: the Axolotl and the Axolotl Dragon.
To browse more small designs, start with our Pocket Friends collection. One Large animal at $6, such as the Dragon or the T-Rex, gives the elf something big to stand next to.
Fourteen Elf on the Shelf Ideas Using Flexi Props
Each of these takes a few minutes and uses the Elf Set, a few flexis and things already in the kitchen.
The first week
The arrival. The elf sits at the breakfast table with the mug of cocoa, and the mug of milk is set out at a child's place.
The donut party. Open the donut box and set six Micro animals around it, one at each donut. The elf sits at the head of the table.
Pizza thief. The elf sits inside the open pizza box while a Micro T-Rex peeks over the edge.
The parade. Line up every Micro animal you have across the counter, with the elf at the front leading the march.
The middle of the month
Snow day. Spread a white dish towel on a shelf for snow and set the Penguin, Polar Bear, Seal and Narwhal on it. The elf lies in the middle of them.
Dragon guard. Curl a Large Dragon around the cookie platter so the elf cannot reach the cookies.
Hide and seek. Hide five Micro animals around one room and leave the elf holding a note that says how many to find.
The cheese heist. Our Mouse with Cheese ($8) sits next to the cookies, and the elf seems to be trading with it.
Bedtime. Tuck the elf and a few Micro animals into an empty egg carton, one per cup, with a tissue for a blanket.
The last week before Christmas
Snowman building. Set our Snowman ($7) on the counter with the elf standing next to it, as if they built it together.
Gingerbread chase. Pose the Gingerbread Man ($7) mid-run, with the elf reaching after him.
The gnome garden. Hide the Gnome ($7) among the houseplants with the elf peeking out beside it.
Cookies for Santa. On December 24, set Santa ($7) next to the cookie platter and the glass of milk, as if the elf is checking that everything is ready.
The goodbye. On the last morning, the elf leaves one Micro animal at each child's place to keep.
Christmas Characters That Can Join the Elf
Santa, the Snowman, the Gingerbread Man and the Gnome are $7 each, or $8 with a keychain ring. They move at the arms and legs, and Santa, the Snowman and the Gingerbread Man also turn at the waist.
They are useful because they bring a new character into the routine partway through the month. A child who has seen the elf for ten days will notice the day a Gnome turns up.
The Snowman also stays useful after December 25, since nothing about it says Christmas. It can sit on a winter shelf through January.
What an Elf Mischief Kit Costs
Economy shipping is free on orders over $35 and $3.99 below that. Here is how three kits add up.
The starter kit. The Elf Set ($15) and twelve Micro animals at $1 each come to $27, plus $3.99 shipping. Add a Large Dragon and a Large T-Rex at $6 each and the total is $39, which ships free.
The winter kit. The Elf Set ($15), the Snowman and Santa ($14) and a Mini Penguin, Polar Bear, Seal and Narwhal at $1.75 each ($7) come to $36 and ship free.
The whole cast. The Elf Set ($15), Santa, the Snowman, the Gingerbread Man and the Gnome ($28) and 24 Micro animals at $1 each ($24) come to $67, shipped free. That is a new animal for every morning from December 1 to 24.
Getting Everything in the House Before December 1
Every piece is printed after you order, then inspected and shipped within 1 to 3 business days. Economy transit usually takes another 2 to 5 business days, and carriers slow down around Thanksgiving on November 26.
Order by mid-November so the kit arrives before the first morning, with time to fix a wrong color or a lost package.
Booth pickup comes too late for December 1. Our next Canton Trade Days show runs December 3 to 6, so for an elf that starts on the first, have the kit shipped. If the elf starts later in the month, you can message us before you order to pick it up at the booth instead.
Hide the box when it arrives. The kit is small enough to go on a high closet shelf until the night before.
Common Questions About Elf on the Shelf Ideas
Can I use these props with the elf we already have?
Yes. The flexis and the treats in the Elf Set work with any small elf. Most families keep their elf and add the props.
Are the tiny pieces safe for toddlers?
No. Micro flexis and the Elf Set treats are small parts and not for children under 3. Keep them out of reach of toddlers, and away from pets that chew.
Will the elf stay in a pose overnight?
Yes, if it is resting on something. The joints move freely, so lean the elf against a mug, a box or the edge of a shelf rather than balancing it in the open.
What happens to the props after December?
The Micro animals usually move into a toy box or a pocket. Store the Elf Set in a small bag in a closet so the treats stay together, and keep it out of a hot attic, since PLA softens above about 140°F.
Pick a Few Props, Then Plan the Mornings
The best elf on the shelf ideas use props, because the props do the storytelling. Start with the Elf Set for the treats, add a handful of $1 Micro animals for the busy mornings, and save one character, such as Santa or the Gnome, for the week before Christmas.
Write the fourteen scenes above on a list and tick them off as you go. With 24 Micros and the four characters, you will not run out before December 24.
At Cosmic 3D Creations, every elf set and flexi is printed to order in Como, Texas, after you buy it. We check each piece joint by joint before it ships, you can type any color in the Custom color box, and if something arrives broken, tell us and we will reprint it.