No-mess elf ideas: nothing to clear up
No flour, no water, no glitter in the carpet until March. Every idea here is low mess, so the morning is for laughing at the elf, not cleaning up after it.
- Asleep in a stocking
- Hiding in the cereal box
- Stuck halfway down the chimney
- Hello note by the door
- Welcome letter from the North Pole
- Welcome breakfast
- Bursting out of a present
- Paper plane landing
- A tiny door appears
- Hitched a lift in a hood
- One last hug
- I'll miss shoe
- Reindeer food to sprinkle outside
- Goodbye letter
- Christmas Eve box
- The elf's December diary
- Packed and ready to go
- Saying bye to every room
- Flown home through the window
- Merry Crisp-mas
The list
- Asleep in a stocking: The elf has arrived and gone straight to sleep inside a Christmas stocking.
- Hiding in the cereal box: The elf has cut a window in the cereal box and is peeping out at the breakfast table.
- Stuck halfway down the chimney: Only the elf's legs are showing, poking out of the fireplace or a gap in the bookcase.
- Hello note by the door: The elf is waiting by the front door with a wobbly handwritten hello.
- Welcome letter from the North Pole: The elf arrives with an official-looking letter explaining the rules of the visit.
- Welcome breakfast: The elf has laid the breakfast table with a treat for each child and a welcome note.
- Bursting out of a present: A wrapped box under the tree has been torn open from the inside and the elf is climbing out.
- Paper plane landing: The elf has crash-landed on a paper plane with a runway of fairy lights.
- A tiny door appears: A little cardboard door has appeared on the skirting board with the elf beside it.
- Hitched a lift in a hood: The elf has arrived riding in the hood of a coat on its hook, peeping over the edge and waving.
- One last hug: The elf is holding out both arms with a note asking for a goodbye hug before heading home.
- I'll miss shoe: The elf is sitting in a child's shoe with a note that says 'I'll miss shoe!'
- Reindeer food to sprinkle outside: The elf leaves a bag of oats and sprinkles with instructions to scatter it outside on Christmas Eve.
- Goodbye letter: On the last morning the elf has gone, leaving a letter and a little drawing in the usual spot.
- Christmas Eve box: The elf leaves a box for Christmas Eve with pyjamas, a book or hot chocolate inside.
- The elf's December diary: The elf leaves its own December diary, with a page for the best bits. Your child can add a sticker or a doodle.
- Packed and ready to go: The elf sits on a tiny packed suitcase by the door with a coat and a goodbye tag.
- Saying bye to every room: On the last morning the elf is hugging the Christmas tree goodbye and wants help saying bye to every room.
- Flown home through the window: On the last morning the elf's spot is empty and one curtain is pulled back, as if it flew out in the night.
- Merry Crisp-mas: The elf has hung empty crisp packets on the tree like baubles, with a 'Merry Crisp-mas' sign.