Elf on the Shelf Update

Did everyone get their elfs out?  We started ours on the first of the month.  Yesterday I helped a friend update her elf by making the arms bendable and adding clothes.  I thought I would go ahead and repost the tutorial I did on it last year.  Have you seen the movie?  I didn't know there was one but there is and it is pretty cute.  I'm probably not supposed to say this but you can watch it on youtube here.

----------Repost----------

I was a little surprised to find my elf on the shelf was not bendable.  You see all these cute pictures of him in different poses but they are actually really hard to do because he just doesn't stay.  So I figured out not only how to make my elf bendable but to add velcro and magnets so he can hang and grab things.  Also, Tucker saw a picture of an elf online and thought it was Blitz.  I decided that our elf needed a little personalization.  So I made elf on the shelf clothes.  Right now they sell a skirt for the girl elf but I haven't seen anything for the boy one.  It was sooooo easy and I am very happy with how he turned out.

Materials Needed:

16 gauge wire (michaels)

1" velcro

small magnets

stitch ripper

needle and thread

felt and hot glue gun (for clothes)

1) Rip three seems at the end of the hand.

2) Measure the length of the arm, double it and cut the wire.  Then fold it in half and twist it up so it is sturdy.

3) Fold the ends so they aren't sharp and push the wire into the arm.

4) Sew up the hand.  Then repeat the same process for the other arm and both legs.

5) My velcro was sticky so I cut the right size and stuck them on.  I then sewed a few stitches around the edges to make sure it stays.  If you don't have the sticky velcro just use your hot glue gun.

6) Stick, or glue more velcro onto the back of magnents so your elf can now stick to things like the fridge.


7) For the clothes I just used felt I had  and my hot glue gun.  I didn't measure so there is no pattern for you.  I just kind of wrapped things around cut them to the right size and glued them.  I didn't glue anything to Blitz except the roll of paper behind his ear.  I gave him overalls shoes a scroll of paper and a little ball at the top of his hat.  Very easy and fun.

Above you can see he is zip lining and below he is climbing up our back door like spiderman.

Did you know his head can turn?  Don't feel bad if you didn't it took me over a week to realize it.

Bob is a huge hang gliding fan so of course our elf on the shelf had to hang glide.

Here is is making a snow angel.

I love this next one.  I even used the magnets to help him hold the note although you can't really tell.

Having him steal from their piggy bank was really funny to me.  But I will admit the kids didn't get it at first.  Penelope had no clue she said she found blitz and he is laying on her bank.  Tucker said he is a superhero.  I told tucker it looks like he is taking the money out and then Tucker smiled and said 'oh a burglar.'

Be creative and have fun with your elf!