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In a dream world our Elf on the Shelf is a proactive planner. She has a thick book of ideas full of magical wonder. In reality there is a good chance our Elf on the Shelf has had to pull last minute ideas for any number of reasons. Whether she has pulled last minute ideas or not she did a nice job of showing off her creativity. She danced her way into our hearts, transformed into a Christmas angel and turned our basement stairs into a slide. And that’s just a few of her whimsical appearances. Keep reading for more of our Elf’s shenanigans, many of which are ideal for last minute inspiration. 

Elf on the Shelf is a Ballerina 

sons. Whether she has pulled last minute ideas or not she did a nice job of showing off her creativity. She danced her way into our hearts, transformed into a Christmas angel and turned our basement stairs into a slide. And that’s just a few of her whimsical appearances. Keep reading for more of our Elf’s shenanigans, many of which are ideal for last minute inspiration.

Magic supplies: Elf on the Shelf Claus Couture Tiny Tidings Ballerina, shiny door streamers, and invitation to any mini characters in the house. Our show invitees included Trolls, Little People, Littlest Pet Shops, and animals. 

Last Minute Help: No ballerina tutu or outfit? Use tissue paper for an outfit and invite your home’s characters Toy Story-style. 

Elf on the Shelf Snow Angel

Magic Supplies. White glitter snow and gold pipe cleaner for the halo. 

Last Minute Help: No glitter snow? Use flower or sugar. This is one of the easiest elf on the shelf last minute ideas. 

Elf on the Shelf Flying Angel

Magic Supplies. Our little show angel took flight with the help of gold chord, angel cut outs and, of course, the gold pipe cleaner for the halo. 

Last Minute Help: No angel cutouts? Use white paper, tape, and any string or ribbon. 

Elf on the Shelf Slide

Magic Supplies: This trick is the epitome of an Elf on the Shelf last minute idea. All you need is wrapping paper (the stronger the better), tape and some stuffed animals to join in the fun. 

Last Minute Help: You haven’t bought Christmas wrapping paper yet? Use hefty foil or parchment paper. 

Elf on the Shelf Laser Room

Don’t touch the laser beams! 

Magic Supplies. This is another very easy Elf on the Shelf last minute idea. Who doesn’t love Laser Tag? Christmas colored ribbon and tape is all you need. Tape strips around the room. 

Last Minute Help: Any string, yarn or thin rope will do.

Our Elf on the Shelf, Lily Cute, sure seemed hungry this year. It seemed like every morning she was eating as much sugar as Buddy the Elf. In fact, one morning she was eating Buddy the Elf cereal out of an espresso cup and had a bowl set up for my daughter. In the past our elf created some memorable shenanigans including a visit to a hotel.

Below are some ways our Elf on the Shelf played with food last year complete with magic supplies.

Elf Drinks Melted Popsicles

The first food our Elf helped herself to were many Popsicles. We are not sure if she took the melted one from the pantry or the frozen popsicles in the freezer. Whatever the case she sure enjoyed herself.

Magic supplies: Popsicles

Sprinkles

Our Elf on the Shelf indulged in red, white, and green sprinkles a couple of times. First, she was eating them out of a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon. Another morning she was spotted drinking sprinkles with a straw out of the container.

Magic supplies: Christmas-colored sprinkles, measuring spoon, or straw.

Elf on the Shelf has a Snowball Fight

Elf on the shelf is truly playing with food on this one. The day after our Elf made a snow angel she picked a “snowball” fight with her rubber ducks and friends. They are hiding nicely behind their snow fort.

Magic supplies: Large and small marshmallows and friends to fight.

Elf on the Shelf S’mores

This morning our elf was making S’mores over a bonfire. The fun part is that she was able to stand all day with the help of her new trousers.

Magic supplies: Marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers for s’mores and warm-colored feathers, and battery-operated candle (for the bonfire).

Elf in the Fridge

Last year our elf went fishing in the fridge.

Magic supplies: Jello, Swedish Fish candies, a stick (this is a BBQ skewer), and a paperclip as a hook. (Follow Jello directions but add fish candies before putting in the fridge.)

This year she pulled together Elf cookies ready to bake.

Magic supplies: Elf sugar cookies by Pillsbury.

Googly Eyes and Fancy Hats

This scene was rated a 10/10 by our seven-year-old. Our fruit came to life with silly eyes and some of our fruit even wore hats made from Hershey Kisses and Rolo Candies.

Magic supplies: Googley eyes, Hershey Kisses and/or Rolo candies.

Losing a child is the most unimaginable, painful event a parent can endure. I know. My husband and I lost our 15-year-old daughter Maddie unexpectedly in May 2021. She was a dream daughter. We were and still are devastated. Never did I think we’d be spending time creating funeral flowers keepsakes for one of my children. Never. 

Almost immediately, the doorbell started ringing with love and condolences. Then flowers and plants began filling the house. At the evening visitation, there were even more flowers! We brought most of the bouquets and plants home and did the same after the funeral. In all, we counted roughly 60 floral bouquets and plant displays. As our 30-something guests began heading home in the days after the funeral, it was apparent I needed a plan for these gorgeous arrangements which would soon be dried flowers. I knew I wanted to preserve them in some fashion in honor of Maddie and kept having a vision of her funeral card surrounded by the flowers in a frame. 

Below are the supplies and steps I took to accomplish the mission…

Supplies: 

• Card stock
• Shadow Boxes (I used 9×9, 8×8, and 5×7)
• Glue stick
• Tacky Glue 
• Dried flower sealant (this product is key for making this project a lasting success!)
• Q-tips or a paintbrush (for gluing flowers to the card stock)
• Tweezers (for delicate flowers)
• Butterflies, dragonflies, hummingbirds, bluebirds or any other special accent that is special to you. 

When to cut the flowers

1. Clip the flowers as they peak or just after. 

Dry the flowers

2. I tried various drying methods and realized it was going to take a lot of time and space to wait for these flowers to dry on their own. Then it crossed my mind, will the oven or microwave work? I turned to the internet that quickly confirmed that either was an easy-breezy option. I tried the microwave and was sold. I placed the clipped flowers on a paper towel and “cooked” for two minutes. Thicker flowers may take a little longer while tiny or thin flowers may take less than two minutes. Watch closely. 

Protect the flowers

3. After snipping the colorful dried flowers, I took the bulk outside on cookie sheets and sprayed them down with dried flower sealant then let the scent wear off before bringing the flowers back inside. 

Creative Time

4. Next, I got to work. I preplanned the layout of dried flowers and butterflies, hummingbirds, or bluebirds before gluing. 

Time to glue

5. Using a glue stick I pasted the funeral card first. Next, I ensured every picture had a rose for Madeline Rose then used tacky glue on various flowers to create different designs. You can also use a q-tip or thin paintbrush to apply the glue to delicate stems or petals. The collages stayed flat overnight as they dried. The next day into the frames they went. 

Finished product

6. Creating these dried flowers keepsakes has been therapeutic and a good way to channel my grief. So far, I’ve created 20-something and still have more flowers to make more. The best part is giving them to Maddie’s loved ones. 

These funeral flower keepsakes have been gifted to friends and family and are displayed in our family home. We miss Maddie terribly but take comfort in having something special from that emotionally raw period of having to bury our baby girl. She would have loved these. 

If you are looking for gifts for grieving parents please read this post.