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Elf On The Shelf Inspiration To See You Through To Next Week

Elf On The Shelf Inspiration To See You Through To Next Week

Elf On The Shelf While there are plenty of parents who are probably too maxxed out to be adding Elf On The Shelf to their daily routine (hi, hello, I am sadly one of them), the annual tradition remains hugely popular among families in the UK and across the pond. In fact, just over one-third of UK parents (who have kids aged 10 and under) are thought to be taking part. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or are taking it up for the first time this year, here’s a quick recap of what it entails, as well as some top-tier inspiration for later in the week when you start to run out of steam... What is Elf On The Shelf? Like many new events and traditions here in the UK (ahem, Black Friday ), Elf on the Shelf originated in the US, as the story of an elf sent by Santa to watch over kids at Christmas time. Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell came up with the storybook in 2004. “We grew up with this tradition in our home,” Bell previously told HuffPost UK . “When we were children, our Scout Elf, Fisbee, would come to our home and look over our family each year. I have such wonderful childhood memories with Fisbee.” After it was rejected by publishers, the pair decided to self-publish the book in 2005 and packaged it up with an elf toy. This way, parents could make the elf pop up at different places around the house (as he did in the book), reminding kids he was on the move, keeping an eye out for Santa. Aabersold and Bell sold the books from the backs of cars and reached out to family and friends they thought might want to adopt the tradition. Then in 2007, a picture was taken of Jennifer Garner walking down the street holding her own Elf on the Shelf box set. The photo went viral and everyone wanted to know more. By 2008, Elf on the Shelf was in major retail stores. How does Elf On The Shelf work? In short, elves are “adopted” by families and named. On 1 December, they then pop up somewhere around the house – perhaps with a note saying hi to the kids . Once children are in bed, parents then place the elf (or elves) in different locations around the house so they are somewhere new when they wake up each morning. The elf then says goodbye on Christmas Eve. Elf On The Shelf inspiration Luckily for you, illusion expert Steve Buchan from the Museum of Illusions has shared eight simple elf setups inspired by real perceptual tricks. Good luck! 1. Frozen in time Elf On The Shelf Transform a bathroom or kitchen sink into a frosty wonderland. Cover the sink’s surface with cling film, ensuring it’s taut and invisible to the eye. Position the elf in the centre, making its lower half appear ‘submerged’. Then, dust flour generously around the sink’s edges and the elf’s midsection for a frozen, snowy effect. Add a second elf attempting to ‘rescue’ their friend for extra drama. “This illusion works because children associate sinks with liquid water,” said Buchan. “By reimagining a familiar household item as a frozen environment, it creates a fantastical scene that bends reality. The distorted view of the elf’s legs through the cling film adds to the icy effect.” 2. Precarious performer Elf On The Shelf Create a delightful gravity-defying scene by securing the elf’s head to the ceiling using double-sided tape. Dangle its feet and attach its legs to a strand of twinkling Christmas lights. The key to this illusion is the precise suspension and balance – it will appear as though the elf is precariously walking a festive tightrope. 3. Candy cascade Elf On The Shelf Bring some festive magic to life by creating the illusion of a tap flowing with sprinkles. Start by plugging the sink and partially filling it with small colourful treats like Hundreds & Thousands or Millions. Take a strip of clear tape, cover its sticky side with the same treats, and attach it to the tap so it looks like a steady, cascading stream. Place the elf nearby, appearing to turn the tap on. 4. ‘Rock’ climbing Elf On The Shelf Turn your elf into a daring adventurer by sticking colourful Christmas bows up a wall in a scattered pattern. Use double-sided tape to attach the elf’s hands and feet to the bows, making it look like it’s climbing. Arrange the bows at varied heights and angles for a realistic rock-climbing effect. 5. Soaring ‘spoonstick’ Elf On The Shelf Give your elf the gift of flight by mounting it on a wooden spoon as if it were a broomstick. Secure the elf to the spoon using double-sided tape and suspend the contraption with invisible string or fishing wire. Hang the spoon mid-air, creating the illusion that the elf is soaring through the room. Position the scene as if the elf is playing a game of Quidditch or taking part in a magical escapade. 6. Shadow showstopper Elf On The Shelf This one’s a bit more effort: position the elf in front of a plain white or light-coloured wall. Arrange two or three household lamps or flashlights to shine on the elf from below or at different angles to cast striking shadows onto the wall. For added fun, use coloured light filters or cellophane to give the shadows a vibrant, festive glow. You can even pose the elf with props like a candy cane sword or a paper sleigh to create a whole shadow story. 7. All tied up Elf On The Shelf Lay your elf on a flat surface and wrap it in wool or string, securing it tightly as though it’s been ‘captured’. Surround the elf with a few of your child’s smallest toys, posed like mischievous captors. This idea takes inspiration from Gulliver’s Travels, using contrasting sizes to make the elf seem gigantic in comparison to the tiny toys. 8. Mirror mischief Elf On The Shelf Use different mirrors from around the house to make it look like your elf has cloned itself or is trapped in an endless loop of reflections. Place props strategically to make the illusion even more effective – like a candy cane that seems to stretch into infinity or a tiny toy that looks giant in a magnifying mirror. Buchan added: “This repetition tricks the brain into perceiving a series of identical figures, even though there’s only one elf. By playing with depth, perspective, and visual distortion, this setup will leave kids delighted.” Related... 44 Tweets About What Parents Really Think Of Elf On The Shelf Tutor Mortified After Elf On The Shelf Slip Up In Front Of 12-Year-Old Pupil Elf On The Shelf: 7 Simple(ish) Ideas To See You Through The Week