Elf on the Shelf Door

Every Christmas our kids look forward to our elf friend returning to our home.  

This year I came up with a creative way for him to appear- through an Elf on the Shelf door!

Of course he could just enter through the regular front door or through the chimney like his jolly boss.

BUT, it’s much more magical and fun for the kids to use a miniature elf door to come in and out of our home every day!

Today I’m sharing exactly how I decorated our cute Elf on the Shelf door in just a couple of minutes.

I found the perfect rustic elf door kit that I fell in love with.  

They’ve got all sorts of amazing miniatures that are perfect for fairy gardens, elves, and doll houses.  

You won’t believe all the tiny details!

Elf on the Shelf Door Tutorial 

Supplies:

• Enchanted Elf Door Kit
• Red spray paint
• Glue dots
• Miniature decorations and accessories (optional)

The elf door kit came with a wood door, a shelf platform, and two screws.  I chose to just use the front door, since my elf door was going to be seasonal and temporary.

STEP 1.  Spray a light, even coat of glossy red spray paint (or any other color you would like) over the front and sides of the door.  

Let dry and repeat to add a second coat of paint.

The back of the door won’t show, so it’s up to you whether you want to paint it or not

STEP 2.  Once the door is completely dry and you are ready for your elf to make an appearance, you can attach the door to a wall or a shelf.  

I chose to place our elf door on with glue dots so it would stay for a while, but not be permanent.

STEP 3.  To decorate the elf door for Christmas, get creative!  

You can add a small wreath, a doormat, tiny Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, and more!

I added a tiny tray of piping hot cocoa in a Christmas mug, some gingerbread cookies, and some holiday donuts.  

It just doesn’t get much cuter than a tray of tiny treats, does it?

You’ll find tons more adorable miniatures for Christmas and any other time on Miniatures.com.  

I can’t wait for December when our elves officially come back and can use our new magical Elf on the Shelf door!  

I love the bright red color and style of the door, especially since it matches our red front door. 😉

So what are some of your favorite Elf on the Shelf traditions?  

I can’t wait to see the trouble our little elves get into this Christmas!

 

 

This article was updated in November 2024 and was originally posted in October 2017.