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Count Down to Christmas with These 9 Elf Ideas!

Just like you, your Scout Elf is counting down the days to Christmas Eve, and with the help of this handy ideas planner, creating their final surprises of the season will be a breeze! Check out some of their favourite end-of-season elf ideas below, and wait to see if your elf recreates any of these ideas if your home.

Click each picture for full instructions for your Scout Elf.

Elf Ideas Countdown

12 Days of Christmas

Elf Ideas Countdown

Materials:

  • Small gift boxes
  • Gift bags
  • Sweets, gifts, notes and other items to pack into each box or bag
  • Wrapping supplies
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Tape

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf can’t wait for Christmas, and wants to help you count down the days to the special occasion! Your elf will start by packing gift boxes and bags with special treats they’d like you to find, such as sweets, small gifts and notes.
  2. Next, your elf will wrap each box and tie up each bag.
  3. On a piece of paper, your elf will write down the numbers 1–12 on a piece of paper and cut them out—one marking each day leading up to Christmas!
  4. Using tape, your elf will attach a number to each of the gift boxes and treat bags for you to open as you count the days to Christmas.
  5. Finally, your elf will sit nearby and wait to surprise you with this awesome advent activity.
Elf Ideas Countdown

Balloon Scavenger Hunt Surprise

Elf Ideas Countdown

Materials:

  • Helium balloons
  • String/ribbon
  • Paper
  • Markers
  • Treats/gifts

Instructions:

  1. Your Scout Elf plans to send you searching on a sweet scavenger hunt around the house! To start, your elf will gather helium balloons.
  2. Next, your elf will write clues and tape one to each of the balloons that will lead your family to a hidden treat! (Helpful hint for elves: you can label the balloons by date, or by family member for even more fun!)
Elf Ideas Countdown

Ribbon Rock Climb

Elf Ideas Countdown

Who’s the champ when it comes to scaling a sheer-face surface? Your Scout Elf, of course! They love designing intricate climbing courses, too.

Materials:

  • Assortment of self-adhesive gift bows
  • Self-adhesive tape
  • Holiday Harness and other climbing tools from Scout Elves at Play®

Instructions:

  1. First, your elf will attach a variety of colourful bows to cabinets using
  2. Next, your elf will put on the Holiday Harness.
  3. Finally, your elf will ascend the mirror using the ribbons as toeholds.
Elf Ideas Countdown

Snowy Pretzel Treats

Elf Ideas Countdown

Mrs. Claus’ exclusive designs for Claus Couture often inspire artistic expression in Scout Elves. These snowflake goodies are just as pretty and tasteful as the design on the Snowflake Skirt & Scarf Claus Couture.

Materials:

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will line a baking sheet with wax paper.
  2. Next, your elf will dip pretzels, one pretzel at a time in the chocolate (letting the excess drip into the bowl), and will arrange them in a snowflake pattern on wax paper on a baking sheet.
  3. Then your elf will sprinkle each snowflake with blue decorator sugar and refrigerate for 2 hours or until candy coating is firm.
  4. Finally, your elf will leave a note on the Scout Elf Message Card.
Elf Ideas Countdown

Holiday To-Do List

Elf Ideas Countdown

Your Scout Elf is brimming with clever ideas for family activities and good deeds to do before, during and after their visit. What’s more, they turn a conventional to-do list into a festive organiser system to be enjoyed by all!

Materials:

  • Elf-size bucket
  • Ribbon
  • Low-tack decorative tape from Scout Elves at Play® Stick Quick or other decorative sticky tape
  • Printer
  • Card stock
  • To-Do List printable
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. First your elf will decorate an elf-size bucket by gluing ribbon around the rim and embellishing it with low-tack decorative tape.
  2. Next, your elf will print and cut out to-dos.
  3. Finally, your elf will tuck the to-dos in the bucket and position it in a handy location.
  4. Time for fun! Each day, a member of your family will draw a daily activity from the bucket of to-dos.

Get Printable

Elf Ideas Countdown

Merry Mini Shrinking Machine

Elf Ideas Countdown

Did you know your Scout Elf is a genius inventor, thanks to elf-size magic? Yes, they have created a special machine to reduce cookies to the perfect elf size! Before your family goes to bed, place a variety of colourful cookies on a decorative plate. The next morning, you’ll discover the wonder of Scout Elf innovation—cookies magically transformed to miniature bite sizes.

Materials:

  • Colour printer
  • Card stock
  • Merry Mini Shrinking Machine printable
  • Scissors
  • Double-sided tape
  • Low-tack decorative tape from Scout Elves at Play® Stick Quick or other decorative sticky tape
  • Assortment of cookies and matching elf-size cookies

Instructions:

  1. Your elf will print and cut out the Merry Mini Shrinking Machine printable and fold along all score lines.
  2. Next, your elf will fold over flap A and align with the opposite striped side to form a cube.
  3. Your elf will fold in flaps B, C, D and E.
  4. To complete the cube, your elf will fold in flaps F and G, securing with tape, and will then fold in flaps H and I, securing with tape.
  5. Your elf will create a conveyor belt by tearing off and attaching low-tack decorative tape on either side of the machine.
  6. Now, the machine is ready to start production! As finishing touches, your elf will place large cookies on the left of the machine and elf-size cookies to the right. Helpful hint: mini-size versions of conventionally sized cookies are readily available on store shelves.

Get Printable

Elf Ideas Countdown

Handy Christmas Tree Card

Elf Ideas Countdown

Hands down—this Christmas card will be one of your favourite crafts to share with the kids in your family! Best of all, it’s easy, according to the note left by your elf. Just trace your child’s hand several times on green construction paper, and then cut out and glue the handprints facing downward on white construction paper. You can embellish the Christmas tree with yarn pom-poms and a yellow construction-paper star. Leave out materials for your elf so they can join in the fun by crafting their own miniature card!

Elf Ideas Countdown

Christmas Eve Box

Elf Ideas Countdown

Your Scout Elf loves surprising you with gifts, and this Christmas Eve box is the perfect way to end the season on a high note! After grabbing a box, your elf will use their creativity to design a themed box they know your child will love, such as a movie night box, art box or Christmas Eve activity box to wish you a merry Christmas Eve and year ahead!

Elf Ideas Countdown

Sweet Wreath

Elf Ideas Countdown

Is every wreath created to hang on a door? Not necessarily. For an early a.m. surprise for her family, this Scout Elf created a pretty, taste-tempting wreath made of colourful fruit! It’s a simple, no-fuss recipe Scout Elves love preparing.

For other easy ideas, check out Scout Elves at Play®!

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!