Christmas Elves: Wild Night on the Trapeze

Those darn elves found empty cardboard rolls and constructed a trapeze and net while the grandkids were sleeping.

My little buddy, loves waking up to see what the elves have done. I am going to miss all this mayhem when the grandkids outgrow their elves. I already have one elf who is retiring this year.

Magic Christmas Elf Idea: #12

Now here are some jumbo size playing cards! They measure 8 x 12 inches. As  you can see, the elves couldn't even hold them. I'm not sure if they were playing Hearts, Rummy or Euchre. The grand kids loved the over sized cards and can't wait to bring them to our family Christmas party.

And what are Freckles and Dimples doing with ties around their neck?

While the boys played cards, Giggles got a little crazy with ribbon. She had a trail of it everywhere and then decided to show-off her acrobatic skills. Didn't Santa tell her it's not nice to show your panties?

Magic Christmas Elf: Idea #11

Those dog-gone elves found a glass marker last night! The little stinkers had no shame in laying claim to their naughty deeds. In fact, I think they are enjoying being the center of attention.

The grandkids planted their magic seeds in the snow dirt the night before. As you can see, a giant candy cane sprouted up overnight.

Unfortunately, my daughter broke one of the candy canes and had to improvise. She wrote a note from one of the elves on napkins. Instead of a candy cane, the snow dirt produced candies.

The grow a candy cane idea has really caught on with fellow my elf loving friends. One person used sugar instead of the Insta-snow. It was also suggested to grow the candy canes in stages. Start with a mini one, then a traditional size, and finally a jumbo size. I thought that was pretty clever.

Magic Christmas Elf: Idea #9

Nothing like a Diet Coke Christmas tree. Those elves are so funny. I'm not so sure that mommy was happy about the ornaments taken from the decorated tree.

But, I bet mommy appreciated the elves help with gift wrapping.

Nothing like holiday entertainment while wrapping and decorating a pop can tree.

Magic Christmas Elf: Idea #8

Between being sick and the crazy holiday rush at work, I'm behind in my Christmas Elf posts. I'm trying to do some catching up this morning and apologize for multiple elf posts. I'm usually on top of the elfcapades, but not this year.

The Magic Mail Elf delivered a note to the kids the other night. It told them their elves would be leaving special gifts later that night. The grandkids discovered the note when they returned home from Awana club. They had a hard time going to sleep knowing a gift was forthcoming. In the morning, they found their elves in the shower with shampoo, conditioner, washcloths and Grinch soap.

Dimples had taken off his soccer shoes and shirt and neatly placed them on the bath mat outside the shower door.

These Santa bath towels were hanging outside the shower for each kid. They will use them this holiday when hot tubbing at NeeNee and Poppy's house. I am fairly certain they will use them to play Santa as well.

Christmas Elf Idea: #7

While Olivia was sleeping, Dimples, pulled out the trunk filled with American Girl doll clothes. It seems Dimples was tired of her elf attire and needed a more fashionable look. The American Girl clothes were a perfect fit. We found her wearing two mismatched boots, coat and hat.... and a tutu. Not sure about a tutu at the North Pole????

While Dimples played dress-up, the boys (Dimples and Freckles) prepared for a movie and popcorn. Freckles slid into his special hand-made slipping bag with pillow while Giggles got the popcorn started. I wonder what movie they watched?

Once the elves discovered the American Girl clothes were sized for them, they took turns playing dress-up. Below is Freckles in a soccer outfit.

Christmas Elf 2012: Idea #6

Oh my, those elves made a sleigh from a skateboard to deliver personalized ornaments from Bronners Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The ornaments are in remembrance of Grandpa Beard, Grandpa Lobbs, and Uncle Don. It included a small bell for each of the kids to ring as they hung the ornaments.

The poem from the elves read,

"We heard you lost family close to your heart.

So as secret elves, we’ve a gift to impart.
Tucked inside this wrapped box are three ornaments,
Each one hand-selected in remembrance
Of Uncle Don, Grandpa Lobbs and your Grandpa Beard.
A Christmas reminder their presence is near.
When you hang each ornament, give a ring of the bell
To let those in Heaven know all is well.
When Christmas is over, and we elves must depart,
May memories of family stay tucked in your heart."

 

And So It Begins...the Elves Arrive 2012





Those elves never cease to amaze us. This year we found them inside the van while having dinner at Applebee's. When the van doors opened, we couldn't believe our eyes. We can only guess how they managed to unlock the van doors and jump inside. The kids are thinking they jumped in the back of the van when unloading groceries earlier in the day.

However, or whenever, they wasted no time in making mischief while we were fast asleep. After the Cirque Holidaze show, the grandkids (and elves) stayed the night. This is what we discovered this morning. Dimples, Freckles and Giggles used colorful masking tape around the house. Carson's elf tried to place the blame on Carson, but that didn't fool us.



They spelled the grandkids' names, placed arrows on the floor and walls, taped the doorways and even taped the TV screen.

One panel of the sliding glass door was completely covered in red and green masking tape. And they even took the Gingerbread Man prisoner taping him to the chair.

Hearing the excitement in the kids voices and watching the joy expressed on their faces makes the elves' visit worthy of any mess they make. Thankfully, Miss O volunteered to help with clean up because, "she likes to clean".

The kids were so wired last night after the Cirque Holidaze event they couldn't sleep. It was close to midnight before they finally surrendered to the fairy's sleeping dust.

It doesn't matter that NeeNee had less than 5 hours of sleep last night, or that my once clean house looks like a North Pole battleground. The grandkids' enthusiasm is my fuel today. There is plenty of time to sleep when I'm six-feet under.

This morning the kids are running around the house with eight rolls of colorful masking tape. I'm in my office and don't even want to know what they are taping. I am guessing just about everything within their reach. They just closed my office door which leads me to believe they are taping the door shut. They are probably doing more mischief this morning than the elves will do during their entire Christmas stay.

 

Christmas 2012 Elf Idea #3 Revisited

Remember those personalized pillow cases from a former blog post? Well here they are filled with the grand kids holidays outfits (shoes and coats included). Elf passports and a letter from Santa are part of the package. The elves will need passports to re-enter the North
Pole when Santa picks them up on Christmas Eve.

Santa's letter was about the same as last year with a few edits making it relative to the past year. Of course, elf protocol rules were mentioned in Santa's letter.

We (NeeNee and Poppy) are taking the grand kids and family to a special Christmas event Saturday night. While having dinner a pre-show dinner, the grandkids' Mommy will place the elves in the van.

My daughter phoned this morning to tell me the kids are so excited that their elves will be arriving soon.

Christmas Elf Countdown 2012: Idea #5

A jar of elf kisses is one way to announce your elf's arrival (or in my case, elves). Here are a few of scenarios to consider.

• Leave a trail of the elf candy kisses from the front door to the elf. Place the elf next to the jar.
• Position elves around the jar with some unwrapped kisses. Kids will enjoy picking out a chocolate treat during the Christmas countdown.
• Place the empty jar in the middle of the floor and scatter the elf kisses for the kids to find. You might want to take a count of how many kisses you have hidden. The kids can hunt for the kisses and place them in the jar.

I purchased the jar at either Hobby Lobby or Big Lots. To dress the jar, you will need ribbon, Christmas print for cap insert, gift tag and fabric.

I found a left-over bracelet from my granddaughter's birthday party (purchased at Oriental Trading) and stretched it around the jar.

There are a host of colorful Christmas kisses at this time of year. I opted to add a few 3/4" labels to bottom of some of the kisses. Thank you, Amanda at Parties To Go for the free downloadable labels.

A 3/4" punch is perfect for cutting the labels to size. Hot glue is the fastest and easiest way to apply the labels to the candies.

A soup bowl was used as the fabric template. I printed a green and white stripe pattern for the lid insert and cut to size. Hot glue a coordinating ribbon around the rim of the outer lid. Have fun with the idea and make it your own!



Christmas Elf Countdown 2012: Idea #4

Ready, aim, FIRE! The elves are under attach for their naughty behavior. They've tried to camouflage themselves but it seems they might be out-numbered.

This will be one of the elf displays this Christmas. This photo is only a prelude to the battle that will ensue down the hallway at NeeNee and Poppy's house next week. Hopefully, it will spark ideas of your own. How about a cardboard fort for the elves, or paper hats printed in camouflage colors?

I used water glasses as the elves protective barrier, but so many other household items can be used. Build a fence using empty toilet paper rolls, or books.

I'm thinking the elves could hold a sign that reads, "I promise, to be good!" or, "HELP, Santa, we're under attack by the Grinch's army."

My imagination could go bonkers with this idea and I can't wait to set up the whole army platoon and battlefield. The grand kids (at least, the boys) will be into the bad guy vs/ good guy scenario.

You can buy the army guys at the Dollar store. Corrugated cardboard wrap, burlap ribbon, straw from baby Jesus' manger, and snippets of pine from the backyard is a battlefield in the making. There are plenty of things around the house that can be used to create this same battle ground.

Have fun with this idea and take it to the next level. Happy elfing!