Our elf has found some treasure for Santa. It turns out to be made from paper and a wax crayon, which makes it rather easy to post! 🪙
A few gentle coin rubbings reveal the raised patterns underneath. Your elf has left the paper, coins and crayon ready for another little treasure-making session.
This easy elf idea uses a familiar craft to make small Christmas decorations or gift tags. The interesting part is seeing an ordinary coin pattern appear through the paper.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- A couple of ordinary coins
- Thin white paper
- A Crayola wax crayon (paid link) with some wrapper removed
- A flat table or board
- Optional scrap card for gift tags
- A closed book to support your elf
- Paper for the treasure note
Setup:
Place a coin on the table and lay the thin paper over it. Hold the paper still, then rub gently with the side of the wax crayon until the raised pattern shows. Move to another part of the paper and try the second coin. Make a few sample circles before sitting your elf against the closed book beside them. Leave the crayon and coins nearby with “Treasure for Santa” on a note. In the morning, try turning one rubbing into a little gift tag by cutting around it and sticking it to card. Different coins give different patterns, but there is no need to make a large collection. Put the coins away once the craft is finished.
Make it cheaply:
Use coins already at home, ordinary paper and a wax crayon from the craft box. Scrap card is enough for the tags. If the children are too young for coin crafts, draw large treasure circles on paper for them to colour instead. Your elf can leave those beside the same note, keeping the little treasure story.
Try the invisible watercolour message or the North Pole sparkle shop for another elf scene.
