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New Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2020

Drumroll, please! Without further ado, introducing the latest, greatest Elf on the Shelf ideas for 2020! Featuring new and easy stunts, these elf ideas are certain to inspire all your elf’s 2020 adventures. We know your Scout Elf is itching to fly back for the season. They’ll be home soon to wow you with one of these original elf ideas!

Click each picture for full instructions for your Scout Elf.

Elf in astronaut costume

Out of This World

Elf in astronaut costume

Blast off to the stars! Your Scout Elf will spacewalk in their Clausmonaut outfit and make new alien friends along the way!

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the printable aliens.
  2. They will glue them to toilet paper rolls and add pipe cleaners and pom poms for even more fun!
  3. They will use string to hang the Clausmonaut Space Mission inflatable rocket.
  4. Finally, they will slip into their Clausmonaut outfit before flying into space!

Get Printable

Elves with photobooth printable

Elf on the Shelf Photo Booth

Elves with photobooth printable

Say cheese! Your Scout Elf will grab funny props and make silly faces as they pose in this mini Scout Elf photo booth. Bonus: it comes with a photo strip souvenir.

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Toothpicks

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the photo booth and props (parts A & B). They will fold and cut the slots necessary to add the photo booth banner (part C).
  2. They will attach toothpicks to the props with tape and then get ready for their turn behind the curtain to strike a pose!

Get Printable

Elves making popcorn with printable

North Pole Popcorn Popper

Elves making popcorn with printable

Your Scout Elf will magically turn regular ole’ corn into your favorite airy snack using this tasty treat transformer! You could say “what’s poppin’,” but that might be too corny!

Materials:

  • Color printer
  • Card stock/paper
  • Printable
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Corn on the cob (real or plastic)
  • Popped popcorn

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the printable, folding the treat transformer along the dotted lines.
  2. Then, they will place corn on the cob into one side of the printable machine and popped popcorn on the other.

Get Printable

Elf in pirate costume with ship printable

Ahoy, Matey!

Elf in pirate costume with ship printable

Ahoy! Your pirate Scout Elf will show you what treasure washed ashore on their high arctic seas adventures.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will print and cut out the printable props.
  2. To set the scene, they will use brown sugar for sand and display the pirate ship and treasure chest.
  3. Finally, they will slip into their Polar Pirate outfit before consulting the map to see if X marks the spot!

Get Printable

Elf with laptop with virtual meeting image

North Pole Virtual Meeting

Elf with laptop with virtual meeting image

Turning my camera on! Can everyone see me? Your Scout Elf will join a virtual meeting and (hopefully) remember that their camera is on so they don’t do anything too silly!

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will download the image onto a phone or other device, so you can get a peek inside their virtual meeting.

Get Image

Gif of SnowPrize in action

It’s a Secret SnoPrize!

Gif of SnowPrize in action

You’re in for a snowy surprise with this cool new toy that your Scout Elf will bring! Which secret friend will make a guest appearance?

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will bring with them a novelty snow globe.
  2. When you find them, they’ll watch as you pour water on the snow to reveal a mini surprise!
Elf with plate of mini gingerbread houses

Miniature Gingerbread House

Elf with plate of mini gingerbread houses

Oh, snap! This elf created teensy weensy gingerbread houses for his Merry Mini Christmas friends.

Materials:

  • Merry Minis
  • Graham crackers
  • Jelly beans
  • Mini lollipops
  • Coconut shavings
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Mini candy canes
  • Icing

Instructions:

  1. To create mini gingerbread houses for the Merry Minis, your Scout Elf will use icing to attach two graham crackers together and to secure jelly beans as the roof.
  2. They can also create mini sleds with a graham cracker and mini candy canes.
  3. They will add embellishments to the festive scene with coconut shavings, mini marshmallows and mini lollipops.
Girl with Elf Pets and Cozy Christmas Cabin Playset

Cozy Christmas Cabin Playset

Girl with Elf Pets and Cozy Christmas Cabin Playset

It’s Elf Pets playtime! Your Scout Elf will love watching you play with your furry friends thanks to this pet playset.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will bring with them the Elf Pets Christmas Cabin Playset and leave it out.
  2. Then, you can use it to play with your furry friends!
Elves with sugar zen garden

Scout Elf Zen Garden

Elves with sugar zen garden

Ohmmm…Ohmmm…it’s about time for your elf to kick back and relax. What better way to relax than in their own North Pole Zen garden?

Materials:

  • Fork (for rake)
  • Sugar (for sand)
  • Peppermints (for rocks)

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will create a North Pole Zen garden by spreading sugar on a plate.
  2. Then, they will use a fork for a rake and peppermints for rocks before sitting back to relax.
Comic book style GIF with superhero elf

Seasonal Superhero

Comic book style GIF with superhero elf

Your Scout Elf will swoop in to save Christmas, flying high in their Mighty Superhero outfit!

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Look, in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…your Scout Elf here to save the day! They’ll wear their Mighty Superhero outfit and fly high until you find them.
Elf with hair salon pop-up

Holiday Hair Salon

Elf with hair salon pop-up

Your Scout Elf is ready to get all dolled up! They’ll easily set up a holiday hair salon in your home, so they can try out the North Poles’ latest hairstyle.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will set up the Scout Elf Salon pop-up scene.
  2. Then, they will hop in the salon chair and get ready to spin around to see their new hairdo!
GIF of elf with jelly bean art in action

Jelly Bean Art

GIF of elf with jelly bean art in action

Your Scout Elf will recreate the swirl of the Northern Lights with this easy-peasy jelly bean pleas-y trick!

Materials:

  • Plate
  • Jelly beans
  • Water

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf will arrange a circle of jelly beans onto a plate.
  2. Then, they’ll leave a bottle of water and wait for you to find them.
  3. When you do, you can pour the water on the jelly beans and watch the magical, colorful surprise!
  4. .

If you loved these ideas, check out The Best of 2019: Elf on the Shelf Ideas for additional inspiration.

Before you or your elf get to work recreating any of these inspirational photos, be sure to read these safety warnings. Santa wants to make sure everyone stays safe!