No-Sew Bendable Elf on the Shelf Hack

 

As my kids are getting older, our Elf on the Shelf, Luna has to start getting more creative. Thankfully my kids are still little so she doesn't have to get too creative...yet.

If you don't know what Elf on the Shelf is, basically you read a story to your children that describes how the elf works, name your elf, and watch as your elf magically moves around the house making messes and having fun. Each night your elf goes back to the North Pole to tell Santa if your children have been good or bad. If the elf is touched then the elf disappears back to the North Pole. You can find Elf on the Shelf at almost any retail store around Christmas time or buy it  HERE on Amazon (affiliate). 

Most of  Luna's Adventures have been toddler friendly. She likes to hide in Christmas decorations but she came with her hands sewn together. 

At first, I liked her hands being sewn together because it made it easier for her to hang on things like door nobs or a Christmas tree branch but the more creative she gets, the harder it is for her to pose and stay still for hours on end so this year I decided to cut the thread and give Luna an upgrade. 

Luna's upgrade was given the night before she got her magical powers back from the North Pole and she became mobile. Her upgrade was super easy to do and best of all it was FREE!

Luna can now bend her arms and legs more easily. She is now able to pose in crazy dance moves for hours on end, hold objects, and hang in different positions than before. So far she seems to be enjoying her upgrade and I think your Elf on the Shelf will too. 

To upgrade your elf, all you will need are four small/medium paper clips or some other kind of easily bendable wire.

First, straighten out all the paper clips the best you can.  

 

Next, look for a small opening between stitches and carefully push a straightened paper clip into each arm and leg. Be careful not to pock the other end out of your elf's body. 

You may get stuck at your elf's knees or elbow. I found that it was easier to go through the knee and elbow area by wiggling the paper clip to the edge of the stitching. It may take a little trial and error but you can do it!

I couldn't find an opening at my elf's hand but I found one at the top of her arm. 

Once you get the paper clip in as far as you can, you can cut off the excess or grab the middle of the arm/leg and carefully pull the last little bit inside. Try your best to maneuver the paper clip inside the cotton filling to help avoid it poking back out in the future. 

Wah-la, now your elf's upgrade is complete and they can move, bend and be more creative with their midnight mischief. How cool and easy was that?! 

If you can't find a hole between the stitching to stick the paper clip through you can carefully cut the stitches and sew it back up or use fabric glue but I personally think this way is so much easier and you don't chance ruining your elf. 

I'd love to know what your elf is now doing that they couldn't before with their upgrade in the comments below!

Here's what Luna has been up to with her upgrade:

 

Check out some of Luna's Adventures from last year before her upgrade HERE!

YCheck out these posts for more Elf on the Shelf ideas:

• Elf on the Shelf - No Sew Bendable Elf on the Shelf Hack
• Elf on the Shelf Daily Prank Guide - 24 days of elf pranks for both younger and older children
• Elf on the Shelf - The Adventures of Luna 2017
• Elf on the Shelf - The Adventures of Luna 2018
• Elf on the Shelf - The Adventures of Luna 2019
• Elf on the Shelf - The Adventures of Luna 2020

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