Thanks to At Home for helping me make our Elf on the Shelf-ing even more fun this year! #AtHomeStores
One of my favorite things at Christmastime is, of course, the sparkle of everything around us from freshly fallen snow to the decor. Now that I have a daughter, the thing I absolutely love most of all is seeing that sparkle of magic in her eyes. So, #MyReason for the holidays is bringing as much holiday magic into our home as possible with our Elf on the Shelf!
Our Elf, Ollie, is just as much fun (possibly more) for me to set up as it is for my daughter to find him and see what surprise he has for her each morning. I can totally relate to the last minute panic when I forget to move him, and I think I've been able to get a little bit of a handle on it by planning it all out on a calendar. I also visited At Home and got a lot of inspiration and supplies to make sure we have a fun holiday with Ollie.
First, I found this "Let's Take an Elfie!" Hat and had a good laugh. It's the perfect gift for Ollie to bring to surprise my daughter, and I'm sure she is going to wear it all December long. Plus at only $4.99, it's definitely an affordable surprise to get this elfing season started off right!
These Jeweled Frost deer and sleigh ornaments are gorgeous and cost only $3.99 each, but they aren't going to be on our tree...
They are the perfect size to fit an elf! It's going to be so awesome to set him up to look like he just flew in or is about ready to fly out for the night in that miniature sleigh and sparkling white reindeer! This would also be a great way for him to arrive with a little "I'm back" sign on the first night, or with a letter on Christmas Eve when he's about to head home alongside Santa!
My daughter has recently become fascinated with nutcrackers, so I grabbed one of these mini nutcracker ornaments for her to play with for a little while. Just for fun, I think we'll add a note to say something about Ollie bringing his Nutcracker friend and include some of his favorite nutty treats! Easy enough, right?
I saw this adorable Santa mug and it just needed to come home with me. If you haven't been to At Home, you'll see what I mean when you get there...
Ollie is going to show up with this awesome mug, a pack of cocoa, and of course a whole lot of marshmallows! Not only is this mug cute, but the "naughty" and "nice" is on chalkboard, so you/your elf can mark it off! It's also dishwasher and microwave safe, which is a huge bonus.
As soon as I saw this Holiday Knit Sweater Ornament, I knew it was going to be perfect for Ollie. Everyone needs an ugly sweater for Christmas, right?
It fits the elf *perfectly*!! I can't stop laughing. And at only $3.99, this is a steal! Most Elf on the Shelf clothing that I've seen run at about $10 each. After seeing this on Ollie, I might have to go back and see what other sweater ornaments I can find!
Since Ollie is going to and from the North Pole daily, I figured he could at least bring some gifts for the other toys! I found a small package of faux gifts that are just the right size for an early Christmas in the dollhouse. Barbies, Monster High Dolls, and a whole lot more are sure to be spoiled by the Elf this year!
I have been searching for a Santa cookie plate for-ev-er, and spotted this adorable set. A glass plate and milk bottle just for Santa for only $9.99? Yes, please!
On Christmas Eve morning, Ollie is going to show up with a cookie mix and this set so we can get ready for Santa to come that night. I can't wait to see my daughter's face when she sees this!!
Now that I've given you a little inspiration, you can get started on your own family Elf on the Shelf tradition. If you're feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that we are all in this together - and I have a free printable calendar with 30 ideas so all you have to do is set it up at night.
If you don't like those ideas or have some creative ideas of your own after heading to At Home - no problem!! I've also got a blank calendar for you to fill out with all of your own ideas! Just print it off and have a wonderful time!
Download Free Printable Blank Elf on the Shelf Calendar
Some things you should know before downloading:
*Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.
*You may NOT modify, re-sell, or claim the design as your own.
*If you'd like to share this project, credit MUST be given and linked back to this post.
Such a cute idea! We were gifted kindness elves the year the twins were born, so we do that instead but I really don't DO much because I can never remember to! Maybe this will help.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea!!! I love your elf's christmas sweater. LOL
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