Elf on the Shelf: Holiday Help Booth inspired by Charlie Brown - Free Printable

Our kids watched  Charlie Brown (Peanuts) movie special on TV over the weekend, and I thought a free printable was in order! You will need heavy cardstock, cardboard, toothpicks, or popsicle sticks to be sure the sign stays upright.  (I used toothpicks with plain typing paper, and it works.)
It is now also included in the Elf on the Shelf downloadable bundle in the store to the right!

By all means share this, pin it, print it, blog about it, but link back to this page and not directly to the printable links.

 

Check out our other Elf on the Shelf ideas and printables here!

Candy graphic courtesy of http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/krista-wallden.

Elf on the Shelf: Welcome Back Breakfast

We have an annual Elf on the Shelf Welcome Back Breakfast. Wrapping paper over the windows, sparkly tulle, ornaments from the dollar store, Gratitude Ornaments in glittery cupcake wrappers with my free printable, DIY flag banners, and Frappuccino bottles dressed up with glittery nail polish are all part of the scene.

By all means share this, pin it, print it, blog about it, but link back to this page and not directly to the printable links.

 

Check out our other Elf on the Shelf ideas and printables here!

Elf on the Shelf: DIY Gratitude Ornament and Free Printable #2

A couple of years ago, I posted about our annual gratitude ornaments. I needed a new printable for my gold and white themed Elf on the Shelf breakfast this year. 
So grab a clear acrylic ornament from your local craft store, some glitter, or other adornments that will fit through the opening,  and make a Christmas time capsule of gratitude.
By all means share this, pin it, print it, blog about it,  but link back to this page, and not directly to the printable links.
Check out our other Elf Ideas and printables here (or download them all in our store to the right.)

Elf on the Shelf: Night at the Movies - Movie Tickets and Marquee Printables

Whether you're creating an "indoor" or "drive-in" movie theater for your Elf on the Shelf (and his or her friends), you may want a few movie tickets and a sign with some of the movies that are "playing."  You can either leave the movie playing on YOUR tv screen, iPad, etc., or you can print out an image of your favorite scene from the movie you choose and secure it at an appropriate height for the movie "viewing."  
These cute little elf-sized tickets can easily be printed (cardstock is ideal, but not required) and given to each of your elves and toys.  The Marquee Sign is a suggestion of movie options, but feel free to print and let your Elf and friends be mischievous and tape over part of the sign with THEIR movie of choice!  Of course popcorn or popcorn remnants are always a plus.  Free PRINTABLE HERE (or in the bundle in the store to your right.)
Here is my original "Drive-In Movie" Elf on the Shelf post.  If you don't have doll cars, Tonka trucks, antique toy cars, or other elf-sized cars around, then check out Steak-N-Shake (not an affiliate) for their paper cars.  They had changed in size last time I was there, but I don't know if it was temporary or permanent.  Regardless, it's worth looking.  (I wish I had saved one of the big old ones to measure and figure out the needed dimensions!)

 

Check out all of my other Elf on the Shelf ideas and printables, too!

As always, I encourage you to create some of the "super special" Elf surprises, and then trade them with your friends and neighbors so that the joy (and efforts) are shared!!!

By all means, share this, pin it, print it, blog about it, but please link back to this post. 

You can purchase all of my Elf on the Shelf printables in the store to the right for easy and immediate download.

Elf on the Shelf: Elf-sized Playing Cards Printable

Our oldest son has come to really love solitaire, and I began to think of all of the fun games and silliness our Elf on the Shelf could have with his own set of Elf-sized Playing Cards.  I spent much more time than I care to admit creating these tiny little cards, but I already intend to use them for games of "Go Fish" (with goldfish crackers scattered about), 52 card pickup, solitaire, and "War" with other toys (and army men.)  Bridge, Poker (possibly playing for Hershey's kisses or chocolate coins), Rummy, Hearts (Peppermints? with peppermints scattered around the game), Spades (Trees?), Crazy 8's, or any other card game you can imagine can be done with these little cards.  You can purchase the set of printable cards for instant download in my store (to the right) for $1.  (If the store is unresponsive due to high volume, you can send $1 via PayPal to dawn (at) ownfairygodmother (dot) com and a note that I need to send you the file or link for download.) 

By all means share this, pin it, print it, blog about it, but link back to this page and not directly to the printable links.

Check out our other Elf on the Shelf ideas and printables here!

The elf shoes, elf hats, tree and candy graphics used on the playing cards are from Krista Wallden.

Elves Love Sports - Elf on the Shelf Jersey Template

For the most part, jerseys are pretty universal across many sports.  This FREE PRINTABLE template can be used for soccer, football, baseball, or whatever kind of jersey you wish for your Elf on the Shelf!  If you want to create a basketball jersey for your Elf, just omit the sleeves.  You can use the included Christmas Tree, Star, Collegiate numbers, or create your own logo or mascot for your elf.  (Jingle the Elf should probably have a jingle bell.)  I used felt so that it was a super quick project without having to finish any edges on the tiny little jersey.  

His chair is made of giant marshmallows and toothpicks.

Check out all of my other Elf on the Shelf ideas and printables, too!

As always, I encourage you to create some of the "super special" Elf surprises, and then trade them with your friends and neighbors so that the joy (and efforts) are shared!!!

By all means, share this, pin it, print it, blog about it, but please link back to this post. 

You can purchase all of my Elf on the Shelf printables in the store to the right for easy and immediate download.

 

 

DIY Princess Dress: Audrey Hepburn Costume

After purchasing the right sized lined crochet tutu top, I took rolls of 6" wide sparkle tulle and cut into lengths twice as long as I needed each to be.  I sewed 2 inch wide (by 7" lengths to allow for seams) ribbon along each end of the tulle strips.  (You *could* forego the ribbon along the ends, but I LOVE the result.) I carefully rolled each length of tulle lengthwise and then twisted it at the very middle of the length.  I threaded the twisted middle through each "hole" in the bottom of the crocheted top.  

 Once pulled through, I pulled the 2 dangling ends through the new loop.  Repeat this in the same exact direction until the entire bottom of the top has been finished.

I added ribbon straps to the top, and the dress was complete.  I sewed a small Tiffany's jewelry bag to the finger of one of her satin gloves, added a handmade necklace with a brooch, sunglasses and a tiara.  
Updated 11/1/2016 - She loved this costume so much that she wore it again this year!

My CRAZY Family: DIY Doodle Pages

 

I saw a doodle book of family members for kids to draw on while traveling, but I didn't need yet another BOOK for each child in the car.  We have plenty of books and drawing pads, etc. in our travel gear.
After creating the DIY Travel Journals with the reference pages, I pulled several doodle images from a quick Google search to use as inspiration for the kids to doodle on two family pictures.  I printed images on both sides of a sheet of cardstock and then laminated the pages. Voila!  (And they don't take up any extra space, because I can slide them into their existing activity folders.)  Just be sure that you have dry-erase markers in your arsenal of travel activities.

DIY Travel Journal for Kids

We have three kids all at varying levels of reading/writing abilities.  In an effort to make journaling this summer a little less scary, I created a couple of laminated pages for reference and they include "naming words," "action words," "describing words," and "connecting words."  My five year olds have an easier time with those titles than they do nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, etc.  
I downloaded a free printable from Activity Village, and I printed out one for each child for each day they would be traveling.  I will be creating some of my own based on some ideas I've had, but those are still to come!  Then, I added a page of ruled notebook paper and a blank sheet of paper for each day so that they can write or draw about anything that they wish for each day.
I printed labels for the front of each journal, and my 5 year old daughter helped me assemble them all!
After seeing these, my step-mom mentioned that she still has something similar from when she was a child, and she treasures it.  I hope our kids do, too! 
(Because I used images that I found on Google for personal use, I cannot share my printable files with the images, but here they are with the words alone for your reference or use!  As always please don't post these on your own site, but feel free to link to this post!)

Elf on the Shelf: Despicable Me Minions

Our family and friends had a Despicable Me 2 themed Halloween last year. We had desserts, treats, and costumes.   This Elf on the Shelf BANANA idea should hit the mark with our littles.