Our elf has opened a Christmas paper-chain factory… with one teddy assistant and a very long order! 🎄
Red and green loops are stretching across the table, spare strips are waiting beside the glue, and our elf is still working on the next link. We think he may be decorating the whole North Pole by himself.
This easy elf idea sets up a simple festive craft using coloured paper or old gift bags. Leave a few spare strips so the children can help finish his chain in the morning.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- Assorted coloured craft paper (paid link) — choose red and green sheets, or use scraps from old gift bags
- A Pritt glue stick (paid link) or small pieces of tape
- A short paper chain made in advance
- A toy helper and a little note
- A stable seat or box for your elf
- Optional lightweight white card (paid link) if you need some for the homemade pieces
- Optional: The Elf Behavin’ Badly printed paper-chain kit (paid link) – 100 pre-cut strips and a sticker sheet
Setup:
Make a short chain by looping one paper strip, fastening its ends, then passing the next strip through before joining it. Lay the finished section across the table and let one end hang gently over the edge. Sit your elf beside the chain with a partly finished loop resting between his mittens; a small piece of tape underneath keeps it there. Add a neat pile of spare strips and a teddy helper. His “Elf chain factory” note can include an order for the children, such as “three more loops for the tree”. Keep the glue and loose strips together on a tray for easy tidying.
For a ready-made factory, use the printed strips from the paper-chain kit and its stickers to join the loops. Leave a few strips beside the elf for the children to finish. This is an alternative to cutting plain paper, rather than another thing you need to buy.
Make it cheaply:
Old wrapping paper, magazine pages or the coloured sides of gift bags make cheerful links. Cut the strips in advance if you’d like the children simply to join them. Tape works if there’s no glue stick, and even a chain of plain paper looks festive with little stars drawn on each loop.
For another little adventure, try the Lego house build or the chief tinsel officer.
