Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Elf on the Shelf

Does your family have an "Elf on the Shelf"?
This story was written by a mother and daughter, Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell.  You purchase the book and elf in a set.  Once the elf is named by its family (you), it receives its Christmas Magic.  Every day from Thanksgiving (American) until Christmas your families "scout elf" watches over the family seeing who is being naughty and nice and then at night flies back to the North Pole with a first hand report for Santa.  The elf  flies back before morning dawns and hides in a different place each day.  The children have fun looking to see where the elf has hidden that morning.  They are, however, not allowed to touch the elf.  They can talk to him/her and give suggestions for Santa, but must not touch the elf or he/she may loose their magic.  On Christmas Eve the elf listens for Santa's bell that calls all the elves back to the North Pole until next Christmas.


There is a great website HERE where your family can register your elf's name, read more about this tradition, and watch the training video to see how the new elves prepare for this job!




There are all kinds of ideas on pinterest, from very creative parents, showing where their elf has been found in the morning when the children got up!!  Here are a few of my favorites!



This naughty elf drew on the family photograph!!


Snow angel


Roasting Marsh mellows



Someone was busy playing with cars while the family slept!


Fishing in the toilet??
(Notice the goldfish crackers floating!)



This elf replaced all the family pictures with his own!




I think a few children woke up with a Rudolph nose!!  HILARIOUS!

Would your children wake up in the night
 if their nose was being painted?  




My sister, Paula, has been doing this with her daughter for several years.  She didn't purchase this particular book set.  She uses a special elf that our dad bought many years ago.  


Sebastian

  His name is Sebastian. ;0)  Here are some of the ways that my niece has found Sebastian in the morning.


- swinging from the chandelier


- bowling with soup cans and a clementine on the floor of the pantry


-sitting by the nativity scene, with it all rearranged and him holding the baby Jesus


-toilet papered the whole living room, and he was all wound up in the toilet paper


-doing some baking...he was on the kitchen counter with baking supplies and flour all over himself


-on Christmas morning she found him at the computer...sitting on a stack of books so he could reach...and he had typed a letter to her!


Toni @ Design Dazzle has listed no less than 100 ideas of places your children could find their elf in the morning!!!  WOW!!!




What a fun Christmas tradition!




Joining:












26 comments:

  1. What a fun tradition, I've never heard this before. I like to have something new to share with my grandchildren and this might be fun for them. I will check out the story on line.
    Ann

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  2. These were on sale at a store for Black Friday, but I had no idea what it was all about. What a cute idea, and the start of a fun family tradition! I wonder if this was the idea behind the little kneehugger elf that I had as a child?
    Happy REDnesday,
    Carol

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  3. That is delightful! And children always love a treasure hunt, so the search to find him each day must have been wonderful.

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  4. A very nice red, Christmas sharing.

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  5. I love the Elf on the Shelf concept - I would have a blast coming up with things for the elf to be doing!

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  6. I haven't heard of this but it sounds so cute. Thanks for sharing. I would love it if you could link this up to our linky party going on right now.

    http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-it-up-wednesday-5.html

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  7. Love it! I'm getting one tomorrow!!
    Thanks for the great info and for sharing at Show & Share!!
    Featuring this on Facebook right now!! ;)

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  8. Such fun...I only heard on it this weekend...rats my son is 14, and well some of the magic is gone. Oh, I could of had such fun with this!!!

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  9. That little elf sounds like a troublemaker. This tradition certainly makes for happy memories that will be relived during future holiday gatherings. Visiting from the Bunny Hop.

    Debra

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  10. I have never heard of this story or traditiion. It is great! What a hoot!

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  11. LOVE this.. So creative and fun..Wonderful info.. : )) I would LOVE if you could please stop in and linky this terrific feature via my Pin’Inspirational Party happening today pweease… http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/11/pininspirational-thursdayslinky-party.html .. THANK YOU SO MUCH.. Wishing you an incredible start to your weekend.. Sincerely ~

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  12. I LOVE THIS! I can't wait to do this. I'm already thinking of all the places my kids will find our family elf......
    Thanks for the idea!

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  13. It is so fun!! Sebastian comes out Dec 1st and then once Christmas morning arrives, he does not move again. Hannah(11 yrs old) is so very sure it is her Dad that is shifting the elf around I will let her believe it :o)

    I foresee this being such a tradition (4th year this year) that I imagine sending her emailed photos when she is away at university showing her where Sebastian showed up each morning!

    It is great fun coming up with an idea each night, as much fun for me as it is for her in the morning!

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  14. I live in Canada and had never heard of Elf on the Shelf until last year - I guess we were doing something similar back in the 80's - my husband had brought back a tiny red elf from Finland and we started moving it around every night for our daughter to find - what anticipation every morning - where would the elf be?? Moving elves are such a great idea and help the child keep believing!

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  15. Delightful story and photos!

    A DAY WITHOUT SCARLET

    A day without scarlet, they say,
    Can color the soul ashen-grey;
    For if there’s no red,
    The soul feels half-dead,
    And has no incentive to play.


    © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

    Red blossoms here, red buds here

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  16. That is a fun tradition. I wish I'd known about it when my kids were younger! Did you see the TV special? I had pinned it on my board but it hasn't been on here in Australia.

    I am hosting my weekly Pinterest party at the moment so if you have 5 Minutes please pop by. I would be so honoured if you could link up this post!

    Best wishes for a lovely weekend!
    Natasha @ 5 Minutes Just for Me

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  17. This was such fun... I loved all the creative places parents has placed him. I will be forwarding this to my daughter.

    Thanks for sharing this at my Bunny Hop Party!

    xoxo Bunny Jean

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  18. This is such a super cute Christmas tradition. I would love it if you would share it on our newly launched linky party. I really hope you can join us.

    Paula

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  19. What a fun tradition...makes me almost wish I had small children!

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  20. We have an Elf and he got into the flour last night, too! So funny! Visiting from the Tablescaper.

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  21. Love this. Only wish I knew of the Elf when my children were younger.

    Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  22. Very fun! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  23. Wonderful idea! I loved seeing all the images. Lots of imagination.

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  24. I saw the mother/daughter team behind the elf on the shelf on TV not too long ago. What a fun tradition this would make. Too much fun!!!!! Happy Seasonal Sunday!

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  25. This is such a cute idea! I may have to look into this for next year. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I hope your "wreath" turns out great.

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