Elf Craft

This elf craft is just so completely adorable. It starts with a simple paper lunch bag and then becomes a festive elf that you can use as a Christmas decoration or play with, making up all kinds of amazing stories about the journeys he’s been on. There is no limit to the fun you can have with this one.

Note that if you’re planning to do this craft with a little one, lots of help will be needed. There are plenty of steps and some more advanced scissors skills required. But it can still be an enjoyable craft that you complete together. Be sure to let your kiddo be as independent as possible without the task leading to frustrations (for both of you).

Get the templates for our trio of Christmas characters and make them all this holiday season…

Fun Facts about Elves

• Christmas elves live in the North Pole with Santa and Mrs. Claus
• They live in colorful gingerbread houses.
• Elves are small in size, being less then 4 feet tall, with pointy ears and rosy cheeks.
• Making toys keeps them busy all year long.
• Germans believe that elves have super powers and are amazingly beautiful.
• Popular elf names are Jingle, Buddy and Charlie for boys and Nellie, Elfie and Trixie for girls.

To learn more about Santa’s elves, check out this article by Kidadl.

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Combine Reading with Crafting

The best way that I can think of to elevate any crafting experience is to combine it with reading a good book. Here are some of our favorite books about Christmas elves.

SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG

• Paper lunch bag
• Newspaper
• Pompom
• Clothespin
• Green paint
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Scotch tape
• Markers
• Crayons
• Optional: mini pompom
• Christmas elf craft template

The master list that we use for every single craft project we make here is like a capsule wardrobe…but for crafts. Once you fill your bag with the basic, just mix and match for hundreds and hundreds crafts…so much creativity. No more running to the store ten times and then never actually getting around to crafting in the end.

Save this Christmas elf craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…

How to make an Elf Craft

Step 1: Paint the Bag

• Lay out some newspaper on your crafting surface.
• Pinch a pompom with a clothespin to form your “paint brush”.
• Place your paper lunch bag on the newspaper, flap side down.
• Paint the front of your lunch bag green, leaving the top inch or so unpainted.

*If you really don’t want to get out the paint, use crayons or markers instead. It will look somewhat different but will still be just as cute.

Step 2: Use the Elf Craft Template

• While your paint is drying, download and print your Elf craft template.
• Use the template to cut out all of the parts for your Christmas Elf craft.
• We cut the hat and mittens from red, the cuffs from white and the boots from green.
• His head can be whatever flesh tone you would like.

Step 3: Decorate Your Elf’s Head

• Glue the hat onto your Elf’s head and put the bottom of the hat in place using your glue stick.
• Draw his facial features and hair using markers and crayons.
• Optional: Glue a mini pompom to the top of the hat.

Step 4: Create the Legs and Arms

• Cut 2 strips of white paper about an inch wide each.
• Draw on some red stripes and fold them into an accordion. These are his legs.
• Attach an elf shoe to each of the accordion folded strips of paper.
• Next cut 2 strips of green paper, each about 1″ wide.
• Now attach your mittens and cuffs to those strips of paper.
• Use your markers to embellish in any way that you would like.

Step 5: Trim the Top

• Now that the paint has dried, cut the top 2 inches or so off of your paper lunch bag.

Step 6: Add the Elf’s Belt

• Cut a thin strip of black paper, about 1/2 wide, to form the elf’s belt.
• Glue it in place about 2 inches from the bottom of the bag and trim away any excess.
• Now cut a yellow buckle for the belt and glue it in place (as pictured).

Step 7: Build the Body for Your Christmas Elf Craft

• Using your glue stick, attach the legs to the back of your paper lunch bag at the bottom.
• Then trim down the arms until they are a length that will reach around and just barely touch in the front when the bag is fully opened.
• Glue each of the arms in place so that they are sticking out at a 90 degree angle on each side of the paper bag, just above the belt. *Be careful not to glue them onto the bag’s flap.

Step 8: Stuff It

• Open up your paper lunch bag fully.
• Tear strips of newspaper and crumple them into balls.
• Place the balls one at a time until the bag is stuffed but not over-filled.

Step 9: Attach the Head

• Gather the top of the lunch bag,twist it and put scotch tape around the top.
• Then use tape again to attach the elf’s head to the gathered up top of the bag (as pictured).

Step 10: Have Him Hold Something

• Now cut out something for your elf to hold. We chose to make a little paper candy cane.
• Use the glue stick to place his hands on each side of the item.

Now that you know how to make this elf craft, it’s time to make him some friends. Get the entire collection of Christmas character templates to make Rudolph and Santa Claus too. They make great DIY Christmas decorations or play things.

Enjoy this reading of “The Littles Elf” together…

Save this Christmas Craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…