If you’re looking for some fun, lighthearted holiday entertainment, an old-fashioned Christmas carol may not be the way to go this year. Instead, Elf yourself with the app and free printable Elf Template in light and dark skin paper elves. Enjoy new, creative, funny, and original Elf on the Shelf Ideas daily.
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we all know that this Christmas season is a great time for a new family holiday tradition. From baking cookies for Santa, making a birthday cake for Jesus, or welcoming a family elf there are many ways you can create fun activities in the home.
Of course if you are an Elf on the Shelf fan, you are going to want to catch elf moving! Make your own JibJab Christmas ecard, create a fun paper Christmas craft Elf doll, use a stop motion app to catch your family elf moving within your home, or make your own viral ElfYourself video.
ElfYourself App
Let’s talk about the Elf Yourself Phone all. Spread holiday cheer with a fun ElfYourself App. Get ready for belly laughs when you transform your family into dancing elf dolls.
What is ElfYourself?
ElfYourself is a popular app of the holiday season. Rated E for everyone, it is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Since 2006, this Office Depot original has created over 2 billion customized elves. It features dancing elves featuring many dance styles. Upload photos of you, your family or even your furry friends. Up to five elves can be added this this adorable dancing elves video.
How much does ElfYourself App cost?
It is free to download the ElfYourself app. And I promise this free holiday app is worth it.
If you want to customize your elf dances, you will pay. There are a number of in-app purchases available which are all different types of dances/themes. You can share your Christmas movie card for free, download for $7.99 or get a season pass for $5.00
How to make an ElfYourself Video
The interface is very user friendly. Download this app to tablets, android devices or your Apoole IOS platform. Once you download the Elf Yourself App, it’s easy to create your family ElfYourself video.
Visitors upload faces of themselves or their friends and have the option to post the created video to other sites or save it as a personalized mini-film.
To get started…
1.) Upload an image of yourself using Facebook photos, your camera roll, by taking a photo, using chosen faces or connecting Instagram.
2.) Line up the mouth and position the face to center it in the elf face frame. Pinch to zoom, turn to rotate or drag to move.
3.) Choose up to 4 more Elf faces of friends, family members and/or pets.
4.) Add a personalized greeting.
5.) Choose your favorite dance style from dozens of fun holiday videos.
6.) Watch your dancing little elves star in adorable elf movies.
Let’s see your amazing dancing skills. Happy Elfing!
Elf Yourself Template
Of course have fun making your own dancing paper elf craft with a little bit of creativity. With this fun printable Christmas craft, you can Elf yourself for free!
The whole family will enjoy this cutest coloring activity and holiday craft. You could even have your Elf on the Shelf bring the supplies.
Supplies
It’s very easy to gather your Christmas Elf craft supplies. In fact, you likely have everything you need already.
- Free Elf Template Printable PDF Download (see below)
- Brads Fasteners or glue stick
- White cardstock or printer paper
- Printer
- Scissors
- Glue
- Optional: Crayons, colored pencils or markers
- Optional: The Elf on the Shelf Doll
Note: If you want a moveable dancing paper elf, use the brads fasteners available here. These will help you show off your dance moves and elf yourself with your own Christmas elf craft.
How do I make a paper elf?
First, download and print your paper elf templates. You can choose the white elf, black elf, or color an Elf to personalize your activity.
Once your paper elf template is printed (on white paper cardstock or printer paper), cut out the pieces of your Elf. Cut out the illustrations including the elf hat, arms, legs, body, head, Christmas gift box and holly. Lay your cuts aside.
Choose if you will use brads for a moveable paper elf doll or glue for a stationary Elf on the Shelf. If using brads, use scissors to poke a small hole in the shoulders and hips of your paper elves. If using glue, start gluing all the parts together.
Viola! You built your own happy Elf doll. Hang on your Christmas tree as an ornament or put on your kids’ art wall for a fun way to to display holiday flare.
Tip: You can also use the black and white printable page as cute Elf on the Shelf coloring pages. An Elf on a Shelf idea is to have your Santa’s helpers bring a cute Elf on the Shelf coloring page on one of their daily visits.
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What are some elf yourself alternatives?
While Elf yourself is an amazing platform and app that will bring a lot of holiday humor to your family, you might be looking for something a little bit within the budget… like maybe something free?!
Take a look at these alterative ideas to ElfYourself…
- Elf on the Shelf Tracker – use the stop motion app and track your Elf in your home
- Printable Elf Template – download and print our printable Elf template in the free elf on the shelf printables library. Instead of using the provided elf’s head, use Shutterfly (or another photo resource) and out out the heads of your family. Have fun creating your own elf yourself template with your family’s faces.
- Elf Crafts – Fun ideas from elf coloring pages to a paper elf puppet template, take a look at these fun Christmas crafts. Get into the Christmas spired with these cute & inspired Elf on the shelf craft ideas.
- JibJab– create holiday ecards by uploading photos of your family and friends.
Ready to download your own printable elf template? See below and have so much fun making your own Elf on the Shelf simple craft.
Printable Elf Template Cut & Play
Build your own elf with a free printable elf yourself template. This printable Christmas Craft comes in three different styles
- Elf printable coloring page you can personalize
- Dark skinned Elf template
- Light skinned Elf template
Young children will get into the holiday spirit with this easy idea you can do today!
>>Download the Free Elf Printable Template Set<<
Free Elf Printables
This freebie is found in our free Elf on the Shelf printable library!
Get all of our free Elf on the Shelf printables by entering your email address below. Look for an email to confirm you signed up. Once you confirm, look for a second email in your inbox with a link and password!
Free Printables Step by Step Directions
1.) Enter your email address here.
2.) Look for a confirmation email in your inbox and confirm you requested a sign up.
3.) We will send you a Free Printables Welcome Email with link and passcode to all of our free printables.
4.) Enter your passcode at the top of the page here and click “Access Printables”
5. Enjoy your Elf Printables.
More Printable Elf Props
Our most popular Elf on the Shelf printables can be found in our Elf Store. Shop Elf costumes, our Elf Twister board, Jokes for Kids, our Magic Shrinking Machine and so much more!
Elf on the Shelf Resources
At Frugal Coupon Living, our goal, to create an easy Elf on the Shelf season for you. This is not our first year of having an Elf in the home. With over eight years of Elf ideas, we have created a rather large Elf on the Shelf fan club full of new Elf on the Shelf ideas. These Elf on the Shelf resources are all you need to create the best Elf ideas.
What is Elf on the Shelf?
Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas Tradition. The tradition has a book and a elf doll. The book is poetic and in rhyme sharing the purpose of the Elf’s visits. The Elf visits each Thanksgiving. He/She goes and returns from the North Pole each evening. Every morning he can be found in a new location in the house. The Elf has been found in the refrigerator, fishing in the toilet, writing messages on the mirror or hanging from the lights. It is VERY IMPORTANT, the Elf is not touch each evening or his Christmas magic will be lost! Each family is able to name their special elf. The elves return to their home (Santa’s North Pole Work shop) every Christmas Eve. An Elf’s Story can also be found on DVD
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More Helpful Elf on the Shelf Links
Some call Frugal Coupon Living the biggest resource for all things Elf on the Shelf. While we don’t want to brag, we will. We have move our red little North Pole friend for year after year. We have created plenty of free printables, must have resources, inspirational Elf links and more. Use us at a platform to keep your sanity through the entire Christmas season.
Use the helpful Elf on the Shelf links to come up with create ideas, grab free printables, and answer Elf on the Shelf Questions.
- Elf on the Shelf Ideas – a Starter guide to all things elf including some of our top post ideas and Elf on the Shelf digital downloads.
- Largest List of Elf on the Shelf Ideas – Now over 600 Elf on the Shelf ideas. New ideas added daily during November and December.
- Elf on the Shelf Questions and Answers – Are you just beginning with an Elf? Could you use a refresher of all the Elf rules. Take a look at frequently asked elf on the shelf questions to get started. You will immediately be an Elf expert.
- Free Elf on the Shelf Printables – Sign up for our emails and grab these free Elf digital downloads to help you during the Elf season. Includes an Elf calendar, notes, Elf coloring pages, encouraging ideas and more.
- DIY Bendable Elf on the Shelf – Want your Elf to do all sorts of positions. This is an easy no-sew bendable Elf on the Shelf tutorial.
- Elf Shop with Digital Downloads – This is one of the best Elf shops full of printable resources to perfect the holiday season.
- Elf on the Shelf Emails with New Ideas Daily – Each day we will write you with a new Elf on the Shelf idea as well as links to Elf on the shelf resources and sometimes hidden coupon codes and freebies!
Take a look at the Elf on the Shelf Pinterest Board. Tell us what you are doing with your Elf on the Shelf this season. Is there an Elf idea we haven’t tried? Do you have any Elf on the Shelf questions. Leave a comment here or on Pinterest.
By downloading digital downloads you are accepting the copyright terms and permissions that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions. If you don’t have a printer, use Staples Online printing.
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WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.
Last Updated on November 17, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living