Our elf followed an extremely suspicious map and found treasure… in an egg box! 🏴☠️
He’s borrowed a paper pirate hat, marked the spot with an X and opened a chest full of shiny bits. There may be a chocolate coin or two, which makes this a very successful expedition.
This funny elf idea uses a homemade treasure chest rather than a full pirate playset. A few folds and a little doodling are enough to turn him into a North Pole treasure hunter.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- An empty cardboard egg box
- Shiny buttons, wrapped chocolate coins or paper coins
- Scrap paper for a map and pirate hat
- A pen and a little tape
- Optional brown paper or paint for the chest
- A small “Found it!” flag
Setup:
Open the egg box and place a few pieces of treasure in its cups. You can cover the outside with brown paper, or leave it plain and let the shape do the work. Draw a simple map with a winding dotted path and a big X, then put it beside the chest. Fold a black paper pirate hat and fit it loosely over your elf’s red hat. Sit him securely against a cushion or low box, with one mitten resting on the map. If you make an eyepatch, leave it lifted above his eyes so he can still be recognised. Add the “Found it!” flag near the open lid, ready for the morning discovery.
Use what you have:
Draw coins on yellow paper or cover cardboard circles with clean scraps of foil. There’s no need for bought chocolate coins, a costume or a toy parrot. Brown packaging makes the hat, chest covering and map. You could hide one extra paper coin nearby for the children to find after they’ve examined the elf’s haul.
Try the museum of tiny things or the shoe train for another elf adventure.
