DIY Christmas Elf Door – Magical Elf Ideas

Are you ready for the arrival of your elf this year? Celebrate the arrival with a little extra magic for your kids. We have fallen in love with elves during the holiday season and The Elf on the Shelf, so why not make it even more magical with a DIY Christmas Elf Door?!

The Christmas Elf Door

This is a fun Christmas craft idea you can do in a group or by yourself, and everyone will love it. You can never go wrong with a little bit of magical decor in your house for the holidays. The kids really get a kick out wondering when their elf will be popping in and out.

These sweet little elves encourage kindness, gratitude, and giving. They’re the perfect recipe for combating entitlement and materialism this Christmas season. Plus, they’re so whimsical and fun! 

Want to learn more about our kindness elves and discover how you can make your own kindness elf door to welcome gratitude this Christmas?

Keep reading for all the best elf ideas and random acts of kindness to do during the holiday season.

affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.

Starting a New Elf Tradition

This year, you can start a new tradition with The Kind Elves. They’re a sweet alternative to the popular Elf on the Shelf for many families. Instead of using negative reinforcement, the kindness elves focus on positive, character-building activities. 

You can use elves with your kids this Christmas to teach kindness, love, and gratitude. There are all kinds of amazing kindness elf ideas!

Using the kind elves instead of a mischievous elf on the shelf this year allows you to teach your kids that gifts aren’t given because you deserve them but given out of love and gratitude. 

The kind elves share kind ideas and notice when things are nice. They might appear with a mixing bowl in the morning and suggest we make cookies for our neighbors. Sometimes, they leave notes about things they noticed, like when children share toys and play nicely together.

Having Holiday Fun With Elf Ideas

Christmas elves can be just as magical as the elf on the shelf ideas we’ve shared in the past. I’d say it’s even more magical to have help encouraging your children to focus on showing gratitude, kindness, and love this Christmas season.

You can read more about why I love kind elves so much and how we use them in our home here.

Here are some ideas about how to set up your elves this year for extra magic and kindness fun with your kids.

You can use any of these printable Christmas acts of kindness activities with your kindness elves. Get ready for a Christmas to remember!

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness for Kids

25 Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Printable

12 Days of Christmas Acts of Kindness Fun

Free Christmas Kindness Coloring Pages

Random Acts of Kindness Christmas Basket

Free Christmas Calendar & Random Acts of Kindness Cards

Add Magic With an Elf Door This Christmas

Have you seen fairy doors? These tiny doorways can be found at the base of a tree in your garden or along the baseboards in your home. Fairy doors encourage the fairies to come in and spread magic around your house.

Take a page from the fairies this Christmas and add a special entryway for your elf friends. An elf door can arrive with the elves as a fun way to kick off this new kindness elves tradition. Or, you can involve the kids in making your own elf door to encourage their arrival.

You can get super creative with building your kindness elf door and use whatever you have on hand. After all, recycling found items and old craft supplies is kind to the planet, and that’s a wonderful way to welcome your new elves in the spirit of kindness. 

Not feeling crafty? You can purchase an elf door on Amazon.

Check out these really cute Christmas elf doors:

Miniature Red Christmas Elf Door

Miniature Door with Lights and a Wreath

Christmas Elf Magic Door

Elf Ideas

Here’s what we used to make our very own DIY elf door for Christmas:

• Popsicle Sticks
• Green Paint (color optional)
• Glitter
• White Chenille Sticks
• Fancy Buttons and Baubles
• Glue
• Painter’s Tape

Elf Door Instruction

First, glue your popsicle sticks together to form the door. Use an Exacto knife to trim the top of the wood pieces (optional)

Then, paint them green (or whatever color you choose).

Finally, we sprinkled on some glitter to make the kindness elf door even more magical this Christmas. 

I decorated the edge of our door with white chenille sticks that make it look snowy and filled with winter magic.

Homemade Elf Door for Christmas

Then, we added some fancy buttons, a silver one for the doorknob, and a faux pearl bauble that kind of looks like a snowflake.

Once everyone was satisfied with our DIY elf door, I attached it with painter’s tape to the baseboard.

Elf Door

Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive All Year

How can you keep the Christmas spirit alive all year? With elves, of course! They can stay as long as your family needs them around. 

Even without the kind elves, there are many fun and encouraging ways to help your children show gratitude and share kindness throughout the year. Plus, most of them aren’t expensive, just your time.

Check out a few favorite ways to encourage gratitude and some excellent random acts of kindness to keep the spirit of the kindness elves alive all year:

Gratitude Journal

Why not start a gratitude journal this year? Beginning in the new year, record all the things you’re thankful for and “count your blessings.” Share them with your family or keep them to yourself. You can use this printable gratitude journal to get you started. 

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Don’t you love scavenger hunts? They’re great for getting kids up and moving while encouraging them to develop observation skills. Plus, scavenger hunts are tons of fun to do as a family. This gratitude scavenger hunt printable will help your kids focus on things they appreciate, promoting a positive mindset along the way.

Encouraging Kindness in Kids at Home

Are you looking for more ways to teach kindness and encourage your kids to be kind to one another?

Check out some of our favorite random acts of kindness that kids can do at home.

These ideas are easy for kids to do, cost-friendly, and helpful in redirecting your children towards kindness and love all year round.

Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas

What’s your favorite way to have some fun during Christmas and throughout the year?

Do you have elves at home during the holidays?

Share your tips and tricks in the comments. I can’t wait to read them and try a few with my kids too.

ELF DOOR CRAFT INSTRUCTIONS