An elf supply list might sound a bit over-organized. But ask any parent who has hunted the house for googly eyes at 10:40 p.m. on December 9th. Shop once in late November, pack an elf box, and your December evenings get a whole lot calmer.
First, the good news: you need very little that's new. Most of it is already in your kitchen drawer, bathroom cabinet or craft bin. The list below shows what our ideas call for – and what you can happily skip.
How to use this elf supply list
- Check before you shop. Walk through the list at home and tick off what you already have.
- Match it to your plan. If you're following our 24-Day Elf Plan, you won't need everything. Cross off what doesn't come up.
- One box for it all. A shoebox with a lid, on top of a wardrobe, labeled something boring like "Tax Papers." In our experience, no child has ever opened one of those.
The basics
- An elf door (handmade or store-bought) – how-to in How to Make an Elf Door
- A printer, printer paper and some cardstock for paper crafts
- Scissors, a glue stick, craft glue
- Tape and removable mounting putty
- A thick marker and a few colored pencils
- Small envelopes, or our envelope templates in Blank Stationery & Envelopes
- LED tea lights or a battery-powered mini light string
- A flashlight on a dim setting – for nighttime missions
Craft supplies
- Googly eyes, ideally self-adhesive and removable
- Yarn or string in a few colors (for yarn webs, clotheslines, fishing lines)
- Cotton balls and cotton wool
- Modeling clay or play dough
- Pipe cleaners
- Felt scraps (for doormats, hats, blankets)
- Craft sticks and toothpicks
- Empty matchboxes
- Small clothespins
- Glitter, if you're brave – or glitter stickers, if you love your vacuum
- Leftover wrapping paper
You don't need to buy furniture, a mailbox or a suitcase – they're all printable in our Elf Papercraft Props.
Kitchen supplies
- Food coloring (liquid or gel; one bottle lasts the whole month)
- Powdered sugar
- Flour
- Marshmallows
- Cereal
- Small candies
- Star or tree cookie cutters
- Ingredients for one batch of cookies
- Carrots (for reindeer greetings)
- Birdseed or oats for a bird feeder
You'll find all the kitchen ideas in Breakfast & Kitchen.
Bathroom classics
- Spare toilet paper (honestly, more than you think)
- Shaving foam
- Rubber ducks or other bath toys
- A washable marker for mirror messages
Ideas: Bathroom.
Decor for a cozy elf home
- Fake snow, or just cotton wool
- Small pine sprigs, moss and pinecones from a walk
- Tiny jingle bells (for the goodbye)
- A fabric scrap as a blanket
- A small box or tin as an elf wardrobe
- Bottle caps as plates
Want whole themed worlds? You'll find complete printable kits in our Printable Elf Sets.
Household items you already have
Plenty of our ideas need no shopping at all. All you need is:
- Shoes and slippers
- Socks
- Stuffed animals
- Books
- Pillows and blankets
- Framed family photos
- Spoons, bowls, an egg carton
- Chairs
- Toothbrushes
- The TV remote
These everyday things often make the funniest props. When everyone's shoes are swapped around in the morning, it costs nothing and gets a laugh every time.
What you don't need
To be honest, a lot of store-bought elf accessories are cute but optional. Wooden mini furniture, pricey elf dolls, giant kits with hundreds of pieces – nice to have, never necessary. Kids remember the story and the surprises, not the equipment.
Keep safety in mind while shopping
- Small parts: Googly eyes, beads and tiny bells are choking hazards. With kids under three, only use them where toddlers can't reach.
- Button batteries: Many LED lights run on them. Look for secured battery compartments.
- Food coloring: Use it sparingly – it can stain fabric and grout.
- No real candles anywhere near cotton, paper or greenery.
FAQ
How much does an elf season cost?
That depends on what you already own. With household items, printables and a few small extras like googly eyes and food coloring, most families keep it pretty modest.
When should I shop?
Late November. That leaves time to print paper crafts and pack the box before the elf moves in.
Where do I hide the elf box?
High up in a closet, in the basement or in the car. The point is that nobody stumbles across a bag full of googly eyes by accident.
What if I run out of something mid-month?
Just swap the idea. No-Mess Ideas and 5-Minute Pranks are full of ideas that use only what's already lying around.