101 Elf on the Shelf Ideas Easy Poses and Last Minute Pranks For Tired Parents


Lazy Easy Last-Minute Elf on a Shelf Ideas for TONIGHT – Unique, Funny and Simple Poses & Pranks For Christmas 2023

Uh-Oh! Did you forget about your Elf on the Shelf? Need some quick & easy ideas… or some really creative or funny ideas? Take a look at these fun and easy Elf on the Shelf last minute ideas for tonight (or in the mornings!). You’ll find lots of unique, funny (and some messy) daily Elf on the Shelf pranks, poses and ideas to help you get inspired with creative and SIMPLE ideas for your Christmas elf this year – and fun ideas for welcoming Elf on the shelf BACK for Elf on the Shelf Return Week this year.
101 last minute elf on the shelf poses, pranks and ideas


Updated on October 7, 2023

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Tips:

If you forgot to move your Elf on the Shelf last night, here are some easy morning ideas:

  • For a lazy EASY Idea – pose the Elf with a pack of powdered donuts making a mess or,
  • hide your Elf in the refrigerator as a last minute prank,
  • place the Elf under your child’s pillow AFTER they wake up,
  • leave a note from your Elf that he/she did not move last night because your child’s room was messy,
  • put the Elf inside a roll of toilet paper and unroll it down the stairs or across the floor,

LOTS more last minute ideas below.

simple hilarious elf on the shelf poses and pranks

Elf on the Shelf pranks and lazy easy last minute ideas

Lazy EASY Elf on the Shelf Ideas, Pranks and Poses - Quick Last minute ideas too.

Many parents wonder when they can STOP doing Elf on the Shelf for their child. You can STOP doing the Elf on the Shelf each Christmas when your child is 15. Many kids are over it before then but 15 years old is a good age to stop the Elf on the Shelf tradition.

Personally, I think you can safely stop doing the Elf when your child starts High School.

Naturally, every child is different and will be done at an earlier age and some kids want the Elf to show nightly for as long as they live at home (ugh!)

Last Minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Below are some super easy Elf on the Shelf ideas for tonight – perfect last minute ideas too… EVEN if your kid is being naughty.

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elf on the shelf ideas easy 2023 elf on the shelf ideas

Nightly Pranks Cheat Sheet

Take a look at this Elf on the Shelf Ideas “Cheat Sheet” – it’s a nightly calendar of pranks, poses and ideas of what to do with your Elf every night this Christmas season.

Lazy Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas and Pranks 2023 - easy elf on the shelf ideas for tonight.  Need last minute elf on the shelf ideas - try these quick and easy ideas for tonight

Two other shortcuts I’ve learned…. get the upgrade kit so your Elf can DO all the fun poses AND get the Elf on the Shelf notes!

 This Elf on the Shelf Upgrade Kit is a MUST HAVE for fun posesSee This Cute and Fun Notes To Go With Your Elf on the Shelf Each NightSee This

 

The Elf is BACK

Isn’t this a cute Elf arrival idea?

elf on the shelf arrival ideas - 2 elf on the shelf dolls in a cardboard shipping box that says elfazon that looks like the amazon logo

Or how about this idea to welcome your Elf on the Shelf back….

elf come back ideas - elf on the shelf in a hot air balloon toy on Elf's arrival from North Pole

If you’re REALLY dedicated to clever and extreme Elf on the Shelf pranks….

Look at THIS Elf mischief!

Elf on the shelf prank - naughty elf covered all the kitchen cabinet doors with wrapping paper

Just the thought of doing that AND cleaning that up makes me need this…haha!!!

Elf on the Shelf ideas for every stinkin' night!  Love this funny elf on the shelf wine glass!

This wine glass is TOO funny!

I found it here.

More Quick Elf Poses

If you need a really quick, easy and yep, LAZY Elf on the Shelf pose for tonight, this is an easy one…

Lazy Elf on the Shelf pose idea - last minute set up using a face mask hung on 2 kitchen cabinet knobs as a hammock for your Elf - with elf laying in it with a small back of cookies

Simple enough, right?

Note: see the pink arrow in the picture above? The Elf “hammock” is just one of those paper face masks we ALL have these days.

Below are 101 Elf on the Shelf ideas for this Christmas. These are pretty clever and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas that your kids will love.

Here’s a quick ‘slideshow’ of even more elf ideas, pranks and mischief…
(note: you can click at any time to stop the slideshow)

EASIEST Last Minute Ideas

Alrighty, if you truly want the EASIEST last minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas, it comes down to this…

GET A FELT LETTER BOARD LIKE THIS

Just look at the super simple poses, jokes and pranks you can do every, single night if you have a cheap felt board:

last minute elf on the shelf ideas with felt letter board

 Basic Letter Board – One Font Style OptionI Found It Here Letter Board With LOTS Of Fonts and SymbolsI Found It Here

 

I seriously LOVE my letter board – I use it for LOTS of things but truth be told…

Having a letter board with LOTS of font styles and symbols has saved me MANY, MANY nights during Elf on the Shelf season!

Does The Elf Leave Gifts?

If you’re new to the whole Elf on the Shelf thing, you’re probably wondering if the Elf should bring gifts each night?

This is totally up to YOU.

In our house, our Elf (Snazzy) DOES bring little gifts each night and leaves a big gift on Christmas Eve when he leaves.

Some gifts our Elf has left are:

That’s just a short list of what Snazzy the Elf has brought for the kids.

Do you NEED an Elf on the Shelf for each child?

We just have one Elf (Snazzy) and he provides enough fun pranks and antics for ALL the kids (and to be honest, that’s about all I can handle haha!)

Again, it’s up to YOU.

If one Elf on the Shelf doesn’t cut it this Christmas, then maybe have your kids write a note asking your Elf to bring Elf friends NEXT Christmas.

What if my child finds our Elf BEFORE he arrives?

There is nothing worse than sucking the magic out of Christmas for a child, don’t you agree?

If your child finds your Elf in the off-season, here’s a tip I’ve learned that protects the magic.

When you put your Elf away after he “leaves”, be sure to write a note and keep it with the Elf where ever you store it.

For example, leave a note with your Elf that says something like:

“You found me! I popped in early to make sure you’ve being good!”

Or something along those lines.

Ok, let’s look at some more simple Elf on the Shelf set ups and poses that are super cute AND easy enough to do last minute.

2023 Elf Ideas

Have you seen all these fun and easy Elf on the Shelf ideas and pranks? They are downright funny and so original!

If you need a good idea for that elf tonight, steal one of these new ideas other parents are using for Christmas 2023.

Great “oooops, I forgot” last minute Elf on a shelf ideas for those nights when you forget to put that crazy elf in position.

Quick and easy Elf on the Shelf idea for this Christmas
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Fun and easy Elf on the Shelf idea for tonight!


Elf on the Shelf mischief prank idea for tonight
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Easy Last Minute Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Fun and Simple Elf on the Shelf Ideas For Tonight!  easy last minute ideas

Fun & Easy Elf on the Shelf ideas for this Christmas
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simple, easy, and FUNNY Elf on the Shelf idea for tonight
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Elf on the Shelf PRANK!  I love this idea!
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funny (and simple) Elf on the Shelf idea for tonight.  Lots more ideas for that Elf on this page
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Clever idea for the Elf on the Shelf tonight!
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Funny ideas for Elf on the Shelf each night this Christmas.
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Fun idea for little kids with Elf on the Shelf.  Lots of ideas for tonight on this page
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