How to put an Elf on the Shelf inside a balloon

Looking for a silly but easy Elf on the Shelf idea? Here's how to put an Elf on the Shelf inside a balloon!

Some people take elaborate measures to set up hilarious and messy scenes with their Elves on the Shelves (is that the right plural? ha!)

I like to make our elf silly and fun - but not messy, and nothing overly complicated.

One of the funniest ways to easily hide your elf is inside a balloon!

I will warn you - your elf is not going to fit inside a normal balloon. You need an XL one for this. Luckily, I had a pack on hand from when I tried my hand at making a DIY pinata (do not recommend).

Anyways, as long as you have the right balloon, this is a super easy Elf idea!

How to put an Elf on the Shelf inside a balloon

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 5 minutes

What you need:

• Elf on the Shelf
• XL oversized balloons - these are the ones I used but they appear sold out, try these instead!
• Balloon pump
• Glass or jar that the elf will fit into
• String or something to hang the balloon with

What you do:

1. Take a minute to stretch the balloon with your hands, especially the part with the opening.
2. Blow up your balloon. It's easiest if you have a pump, but you can use your mouth. Do NOT tie it off. This is basically just to stretch it out.
3. Let all the air out (carefully).
4. Place your elf in a jar or glass that has a mouth/opening big enough for the elf to fit in, but as small as possible. Alternatively, if you have a canning funnel that he will fit through, that works too.
5. Stretch the opening of the balloon over the glass or jar. This can be a 2 person job.
6. Tilt the jar and dump the elf into the balloon.
7. Remove the jar from the balloon's opening, put it on the pump, and blow it up again.
8. Tie off the balloon (the hardest part for me!)
9. Add a string and dangle from a light fixture or somewhere it can hang.
10. Enjoy!