We’re convinced one of the best Christmas movies of all time is Elf! Will Ferrel is the perfect Christmas elf!
Ever since it was released, we’ve made it a tradition to watch it every year as a family.
Now that our kids are older they’re loving the movie just as much too, so we decided to make this free printable elf craft for kids!
They’re a great Christmas activity for kids to do at home plus they come with a free template so it’s super easy to recreate.
Read on for step-by-step instructions or watch our video tutorial to see how simple these adorable Christmas elves are to make!
Also, be sure to check out all of our fun elf crafts for kids for even more themed ideas.
Elf Yourself Craft
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Supplies
- Photo of your child’s face (about 2″)
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Brads
- Scissors
- Glue
- Small hole punch
- Laminator (optional)
- Laminating sheets (optional)
- Elf template (click the “click here to get this freebie” image at the end to open the form)
Directions
Start by downloading the elf template and printing it out. Once you have the template printed, gather the materials needed for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this character to life!
First, cut out all the pieces of the elf and your child’s face (or a photo of each student, if making it in the classroom). Glue the elf hat on top of the child’s head.
Next, encourage your child to put a little glue on the top of the white collar and glue your child’s photo on top of the collar.
Using the small hole punch, punch out all the white circles on the elf printable.
Place the arms behind the elf bodies, then insert the brads and attach both arms. Place the legs behind the body, then insert the brads and attach both legs.
Now, guide your child to put some glue on the top of the elf’s body (where the neck would attach) and slide the white collar underneath the arm brads.
Finally, help your child position the back of the elf coat (the black piece) behind the green coat and glue only the top 1/2″ of it to the elf’s body.
That’s it! Be sure to check out our Christmas crafts while you’re here! Your kids will love creating more fun DIYs like this one!
Christmas Unit For Kids
Create a week-long Christmas unit study to keep all the festivities and learning going! Below are some of our favorite DIYs and activities to get you started.
We’ve also included some free templates to make it even easier for you! Keep reading to discover some fun Christmas resources the whole family can enjoy.
Kids’ Christmas Books
Festive books are a great starting point for your Christmas unit! Reading aloud to kids is one of the best things you can do for their development. It can help them develop essential language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, and listening comprehension.
In addition, reading aloud to kids also helps them develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative writing skills. As they listen to the story, kids are actively engaged in trying to make sense of what they’re hearing.
They’re also exposed to new ideas and concepts that they can explore further on their own. Reading aloud to kids is a great way to foster their love of learning and set them up for success in school and beyond.
Below are some of the top Christmas books to read to your kids!
Dasher: This wonderfully illustrated Christmas book for kids gives you the back story on one of Santa’s favorite reindeer, Dasher! Girls will especially love to read this since Dasher is a girl.
Construction Site On Christmas Night: Fans of the fun characters of the construction site books have to add this Christmas-themed story to their collection. See how the trucks get ready for Christmas!
How To Catch An Elf: Kids everywhere love the silliness of this Christmas story. The rhymes and the illustrations will draw the kids in as well. This is a Christmas book kids will want to read every year!
Quick Christmas Crafts
Add in some more fun Christmas activities with these fun ideas (they all come with printable templates!):
Related: Grinch Handprint Card Craft
Elf on the Shelf Paper Bag Puppet – Christmas is a super fun holiday and a great time for family, friends, and of course, easy elf activities!
This printable Christmas project is not only a fun activity for kids, but it also helps bring the Christmas spirit to life. All you need is a paper bag, some construction paper, and a glue stick to make this festive elf!
Reindeer Headband Craft – This adorable reindeer is not only fun, but it’s also easy to make! Simply print out the free template, cut out the pieces, and assemble as directed.
Once your child is finished, you’ll have a festive headband that’s perfect for the holiday season. Best of all, this activity takes just a few minutes to make, so it’s perfect for the last-minute and will be a fun memory for your kids!
Gingerbread House Paper Bag Craft – Looking for a bright and cheery gingerbread house decoration? This gingerbread house is just the thing! It’s super cute, and the kids can customize it however they like with pom poms, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and more.
Plus, it’s a fun little project to make – even the youngest of kids can join in. Make this activity a new holiday tradition for your family and create a whole village of gingerbread houses!
Grinch Tissue Paper Craft – Calling Santa’s little helpers! The Grinch is a classic Christmas character, and this is the perfect art project to bring him to life. On top of that, it’s a super fun idea for fine motor practice.
All you need is some tissue paper and a few other supplies and you’re ready to go! This holiday DIY would look perfect on your adorable Christmas bulletin board in the classroom!
Christmas Activities
One of the most fun activities for kids is using dot markers. They are not only fun for kids to use but they offer a great workout for their little hands!
These Christmas do a dot printables will keep your young ones busy all season long. Your kids will have a blast working through these free printables, and then they can give their work to family members and friends as special gifts!
Santa is coming from the North Pole and we have these free printable Santa worksheets to help your little ones learn the letter S.
We’ve also included some fun printables that’ll help them with handwriting and scissor skills! This one’s perfect for young children and is a great way to get them into the holiday spirit. No prep is needed – just download it now and get ready for a lot of fun!
Your little elves are going to love our Christmas matching worksheets! These printables are a great way to practice visual discrimination and problem-solving. As they match the objects on each page, they’ll also work on their fine motor skills! They’re perfect for independent work or as a group activity for kids of all ages!
These Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear activities are a great way to combine storytime with fun, hands-on learning! You can use these activities after reading the book or as a standalone activity. They’re perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners who are learning handwriting, numbers, and more. Older kids will love them, too!
Try out this cute gingerbread house paper plate craft!
Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!
Elf Yourself Craft For Kids
Make this simple and fun photo elf craft for kids this Christmas!
Materials
- Photo of your child’s face (about 2″)
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Brads
- Glue
- Laminating sheets (optional)
- Elf template
Tools
- Scissors
- Small hole punch
- Laminator (optional)
Instructions
- Download the elf template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.
- Cut out all the pieces of the elf and your child's face.
- Glue the elf hat on top of your child's head.
- Put a little glue on the top of the white collar and glue your child's photo on top of the collar.
- Using the small hole punch, punch out all the white circles on the elf printable.
- Place the arms behind the body, then insert the brads and attach both arms.
- Place the legs behind the body, then insert the brads and attach both legs.
- Put some glue on the top of the elf's body (where the neck would attach) and slide the white collar underneath the arm brads.
- Position the back of the elf coat (the black piece) behind the green coat and glue only the top 1/2" of it to the elf body.
- Using scissors, cut the excess black off the sides of the elf coat.
Elf Template Printable PDF Sign Up
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.
Angela
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
Please send Buddy the Elf craft
Sam
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
Since you’re a subscriber, you just need to click the “Click Here To Get Your Freebie” image at the end of the post and then enter your email in the form. After that, it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈
Lindsay
Friday 22nd of December 2023
Please send Buddy the Elf cutout.
Sam
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
Of course! All you need to do is click the “Click Here To Get Your Freebie” image at the end of the post and then enter your email in the form Once you've been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it'll automatically redirect you to the download page.
Greg
Wednesday 20th of December 2023
Please send Buddy the Elf cutout.
Dathen
Saturday 23rd of December 2023
@Sam, I signed up but never received the link for download. It's taking me to a page with coloring sheets.
Sam
Thursday 21st of December 2023
Of course! All you need to do is click the “Click Here To Get Your Freebie” image at the end of the post and then enter your email in the form Once you've been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it'll automatically redirect you to the download page.
sabaritha
Wednesday 20th of December 2023
It so cute.
Sam
Wednesday 20th of December 2023
Thanks 🙌
Tricia
Wednesday 20th of December 2023
Buddy the elf is cute for the kids!
Sam
Wednesday 20th of December 2023
Thanks, Tricia!