Elf on the Shelf

What are your Family Christmas Traditions?

Here is one we will be starting in our home this year!

Have you heard of the “Elf on the Shelf”? Well, I have actually never read the book, but the idea (as I understand it) is that when the elf is done with his preparations at the north pole, he comes to visit the children, sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and stays for a while. He watches the children each day to see if they are being “Bad or Good” and then each night he comes “alive” and reports to Santa. He quickly returns in time to make some “mischief” around the house and to hide in a different place for the children to find him the next morning!

I am SUPER excited to start this tradition, as my son is 3 now and SOOO excited and into the “being good ‘cause Santa is watching” idea - it’s kinda’ nice, and now I understand what it’s really all about ;) :P.

The following links are a couple places that I read about this idea, and they have the elf story books/and elf dolls for sale ~kind of pricy though if I do say so. In saving some money..I made my own elf! Using a Dollar Store baby, I made some clothes and a cap. Not a professional job, just my guessing, but it turned out okay. I can do a tutorial if anyone wishes. I still want to add some “jingle bells” to the cap and boots! 

Elf on the Shelf

Elf Magic

I know I blew up the picture, but don’t look too close! ;) This Dollar Tree baby doll ($1) has two right hands..lol. I guess they ran out of lefties and just turned a right upside down  :). When they get back in stock, I’ll get a different one…maybe..lol!