15 Sweet Christmas Nail Designs Inspired By Candy Canes

— @heluviee on Instagram

If the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear; the chicest way is to paint your nails with a festive design. And there’s plenty of fun holiday motifs to pick and choose from, since the colors of the season are timeless and can usually be easily incorporated into just about any design you already love. Plus there’s a plethora of holiday nail stickers you can find online to make accomplishing nail art designs a breeze. But some of the cutest Christmas nail designs this year have to be the ones that incorporate the classic holiday treat: candy canes.

Some trends that surfaced in 2023 can be used to your advantage when incorporating red and white stripes into your nails, such as colored French tips or nails that have a nude base color with a festive design over it.

You may be hoping for a set of nails that aren’t too long and subtle and sophisticated enough for work yet still cute enough for a party. Or maybe you want to be bold and go for some long acrylics with a loud, sparkly pattern. Whatever your heart desires this Christmas, there is a nail design for you.

Keepin’ it Classy

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This adorable nail set by @naileditbeauty incorporates colored French nails and a Christmas-y design. If you’re doing this at home, take a look at this sticker pack, which includes tiny reindeer stickers and little candy canes that can fit on your nails.

Candy Cane Outline

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@Natalie_thedollshouse designed these nails, which are pretty simple to do on your own because two of them are just solid red. But, the design isn’t too hard either because you can paint the outline of the pinky nail with these thin nail brushes and then grab some candy cane nail stickers for the other.

Wavy Canes

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These nails by @luxenailandbeautylounge have a neutral base and wavy, red and white design with a shiny finish. They’re not too hard easy to achieve if you have natural nails and don’t want them to be too long, and due to their organic shape, you don’t have to worry about being incredibly precise.

Making Spirits (& Nails) Bright

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These nails by @heygreatnails have a bit of a twist on the French nail trend. One half is just a regular French nail, and the other half sparkly red. The red and white combination is perfect for the holidays and the sleekness of the design will have everyone at the office party complimenting your nails.

Candy Cane Accent Nail

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@Heluviee designed these nails that have a few elements to them. While two are French tips and one is solid red, there’s also one that has a candy cane stripe design using red and silver polish. But what makes them stand out is the pointer finger, which has teardrop shapes on each end of the nail that you can paint on with these brushes.

Stripes & Snowflakes

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There is a lot going on with these nails by @nylove_nail. If you don’t have long enough nails to fit all of the stripes, snowflakes, and angled tips, you can try out these clear press-on almond shaped nails, and to make your life easier, paint the designs onto the press-on nails before you attach them to your nail beds.

Maroon > Red

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These nails by @nails.by.iz_ swap the bright red for maroon, so if you’re more into jewel tones than primary colors, these are the ones for you.

Red and Silver Angled Tips

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Angled French tips are so cute, and these nails by @thehotblend are made even cuter with the angled design on the bottom of the nail as well. A thin, angled brush would be helpful for achieving this look.

Santa’s Favorite Candy

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Santa’s certainly one to indulge in candy canes, and these nails by @jodiesbeaute adorably reference that. Using the French tip as a Santa hat is genius.

Blue Christmas

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This pinwheel design by @pop_polished is a reminder that you can always do a Christmas design using colors other than red and green. They may not be in classic red and white you’d expect of candy-cane nails, but there’s no mistaking the peppermint swirl.

Red and Green Canes

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These red and green striped French tips by @bylucyalana_x are so festive. She used sparkly red nail polish and sparkly green nail polish to really make these nails pop and feel festive for the holidays.

Run Run Rudolph

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These nails by @kathryncollins_naillash_artist have both a red and white striped design as well as a Rudolph accent nail that your kids will love because, well, Rudolph is kind of the hero of Christmas.

Matte Holiday Nails

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Each of the long matte holiday nails by @pegi_nails are rocking a different design, but you can still stick to the same main colors and make your life super easy by grabbing a set of decals to pull off a smiliar look at home.

Gingerbread and Candy Canes

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Another design your kids will love: these cute, smiling gingerbread cookies with candy canes by @gsbeautybase. These gingerbread man stickers would be perfect if you can’t paint them on yourself.

North Pole Nails

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These red and green nails by @nailartbysofia_ feature peppermint swirls and polar bears with scarves — it really doesn’t get more wholesome than that.

Whether you want to go merry and bright or neutral with a holiday twist, your Christmas nails will shine with any of these candy-cane-inspired designs on them.

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Watch An Exclusive Clip From The 'Baby Shark's Big Movie'

— Nickelodeon/Paramount+/The Pinkfong Company

The song “Baby Shark” has been stuck in our heads since 2015 and, sorry parents, it’s not going anywhere. Because in just a few days, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and The Pinkfong Company will premiere the property’s first-ever feature length original animated movie, Baby Shark’s Big Movie. Yes, your kiddo’s favorite yellow sharky is swimming onto screens on Paramount+ starting Friday, Dec. 8, and Romper has an exclusive look at the adorable, musical adventure.

The movie follows Baby Shark and his family as they move to Chomp City — the big city of sharks. It’s all new and exciting... but without Baby Shark’s beloved bestie, William, it’s also pretty hard. And it gets even harder when a conniving pop starfish, Stariana, plans to steal his gift of song to dominate all underwater music. How will he break her spell and restore harmony to the ocean?

The story is brought to life by a star-studded cast including Ashley Tisdale as Stariana; Aparna Nancherla as Gillie, Stariana’s cute but chaotic assistant; Ego Nwodim as Leah, Mommy Shark’s BFF from college and Chloe Fineman as Lannie, her sweet and energetic daughter; ENHYPEN as an underwater K-pop band of belugas; Cardi B as rap icon Sharki B (get it?!) along with her IRL family, Offset (Offshark), Kulture (Kulture Sharki), and Wave (Wavey Shark; and Lance Bass as... TV announcer Lance Bass!

And, of course, if your child is a fan of the Baby Shark series they can look forward to their favorite regulars — Kimiko Glenn as Baby Shark, Luke Youngblood as William, Natasha Rothwell as Mommy Shark, Eric Edelstein as Daddy Shark, Debra Wilson as Grandma Shark, and Patrick Warburton as Grandpa Shark — holding down the main cast.

In this clip, we get an eye-popping first look at Chomp City... set to music naturally! Get ready to start singing “So dive on in! Go and live your best new life!” on repeat.

This being Baby Shark, your kiddo can also look forward not just to a movie but a new album of fin-tastic songs by Matthew Tishler, Andrew Underberg, Chen Neeman, Doug Rockwell, Tova Litvin and Pinkfong.

The first season (26 episodes) of the hit preschool series Baby Shark’s Big Show! is available now to stream on Paramount+. The series launched globally in 2021 across Nickelodeon-branded channels and platforms and is currently in its second season.

​​​Baby Shark’s Big Movie premieres Friday, Dec. 8 on Paramount+.

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Felicity Huffman Addresses College Admissions Scandal For The First Time

— Boston Globe/Boston Globe/Getty Images

Felicity Huffman has given her first interview about her involvement in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal. Sitting down with ABC7 Eyewitness News, the Desperate Housewives actress opened up about why she took part in the 2019 scam that led to her serving 11 days in prison and how, if she didn’t, she’d be a “bad mother.”

“People assume that I went into this looking for a way to cheat the system and making proverbial criminal deals in back alleys, but that was not the case,” Huffman, who is married to actor William H. Macy, told ABC7 in the interview that aired on Thursday. “I worked with a highly recommended college counselor named Rick Singer. I worked with him for a year and trusted him implicitly; he recommended programs and tutors and he was the expert. And after a year, he started to say, ‘Your daughter is not going to get into any of the colleges that she wants to.’ And so, I believed him.”

Over 30 wealthy parents, including Huffman and Fuller House actress Lori Loughlin, were accused of paying Singer a total of more than $25 million to fudge test scores and bribe college coaches in order to get their children admitted into elite universities such as Yale, Stanford, USC, Wake Forest, and Georgetown, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In January of this year, Singer was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison.

“When he slowly started to present the criminal scheme, it seemed like — and I know this seems crazy at the time — that that was my only option to give my daughter a future,” Huffman told ABC7. “I know hindsight is 20/20 but it felt like I would be a bad mother if I didn’t do it. So, I did it.”

“It felt like I had to give my daughter a chance at a future,” Huffman added. “And so it was sort of like my daughter's future, which meant I had to break the law.”

In 2019, the same year the scandal took place, Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in a California prison and served 11. She was also ordered to pay a fine of $30,000 and perform 250 hours of community service, according to court documents. At her sentencing, she said, “I am deeply ashamed of what I have done. At the end of the day I had a choice to make. I could have said ‘no.’”

Huffman admitted to paying Singer $15,000, which was made to look like a charity contribution, to correct her daughter Sophia Grace Macy’s SAT test answers in 2017. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, according to court documents. Huffman said at her sentencing that her daughter told her, “I don’t know who you are anymore, Mom. Why didn’t you think I could do it on my own?”

Huffman served her prison sentence in October 2019 and completed the others aspects of her sentence, including community service and a year of supervised release, in October 2020.

“I think the people I owe a debt and apology to is the academic community,” Huffman told ABC7. “And to the students and the families that sacrifice and work really hard to get to where they are going legitimately.”

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Sandra Day O’Connor's Husband & Kids: Her 3 Sons Were "Proud" Of Their Mom

— David Hume Kennerly/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Sandra Day O’Connor made history as the first woman to become a Supreme Court Justice back in 1981. When President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the bench, he called her a “person for all seasons, possessing those unique qualities of temperament, fairness, intellectual capacity, and devotion to the public good which have characterized the 101 brethren who have preceded her.” She was even more than that, of course. O’Connor, who died at the age of 93 on Dec. 1 due to “complications related to advanced dementia,” was also a mother of three sons who were proud of her until the end.

She married her Stanford classmate John Jay O’Connor in 1952.

Sandra Day O’Connor grew up on a remote ranch in Arizona, and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in a 2015 tribute to O’Connor, “she has shown time and time again that she is a true cowgirl,” per CNN. That cowgirl would eventually attend Stanford Law, where she met classmate John Jay O’Connor, who was one year behind her. The two went on to marry in 1952, and two years later John O’Connor was drafted and sent to Germany. As a new wife, she went with him, and worked as a civilian attorney before returning to the United States in 1956 to live and practice in Phoenix, Arizona. And to welcome the first of her three sons.

Scott O’Connor was born in 1958.

Sandra Day and John Jay O’Connor, who passed away in 2009, were both attorneys working in Phoenix when their oldest son Scott was born in 1958. Scott, like his younger brothers, was raised to be an active person by his mom. O’Connor’s three sons spoke to AZ Central about walking to and from school together, and taking up extracurricular activities like sports and musical instruments at the encouragement of their mom. Scott recalled to the outlet that their family home was an “activity center” for the other kids in the neighborhood, with their modest home boasting a trampoline and sport court to be used by everyone. “Bottom line, our parents liked to have fun,” he said. Scott O’Connor continues to live in Phoenix to this day.

— Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images

Brian O’Connor was born in 1960.

The former Supreme Court Justice stepped away from her job as an attorney for five years after the birth of her second son Brian in 1960, but all three of her sons laughed at the idea that she took a “break.” In fact, she had so many volunteer commitments during that time that her sons recalled her saying, “the only way she’d be able to extricate herself from all of those other commitments was to actually go back to full-time work,” per AZ Central. Brian, like his older brother Scott, also lives in Phoenix.

— Mike Moore/WireImage/Getty Images

Jay O’Connor was born in 1962.

The youngest member of the family, Jay, was born in 1962. Jay grew up and moved to California, but he always stayed close to his mother. Especially when she decided to share her dementia diagnosis in 2018. “This is a point of reflection for her and her family,” Jay told AZ Central at the time. “We are so proud of what she has done, in her life and her career.”

— David Hume Kennerly/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Her sons were proud of her. You can’t say any better than that.

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60 Christmas Eve Instagram Captions To Describe Your Festive Feelings

— Halfpoint Images/Moment/Getty Images

The advent calendars have reached their end, the kids are tucked into bed, and the tree is sparkling in the corner of the living room. If you want to take a picture and share it online to remember this feeling forever, you’ll need the perfect Christmas Eve Instagram caption.

Christmas tree on Christmas Eve Instagram captions

Need the perfect Christmas tree Instagram caption to commemorate this year’s tree? You could choose something sentimental, funny, or movie-inspired to share with your photo.

• “Underneath the treeee!” — Carrie Underwood, Underneath the Tree
• “Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” — Larry Wilde
• “Ah Christmas, the most beautiful time of the year. Pretty decorations, friendly people, festive holiday dress. And all that lovely music. But perhaps the most beautiful thing about Christmas is the Christmas tree itself, all lit up, decorated for the holidays.” — John Loy
• “He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” — Roy L. Smith
• “I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.” — Linus Van Pelt, A Charlie Brown Christmas
• All spruced up and ready for Santa.
• Sugar and spice and everything wrapped nice.
• The calm before the storm.
• Santa, stop here.
• We’ll never fir-get these Christmas memories.
• “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” — “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” by Clement Clarke Moore

Christmas Eve dinner Instagram captions

When you come to the end of another year and sit around a table with the people who’ve seen you through highs and lows, let’s just say it can give you all the feels. Also, sometimes your mom’s perfect table setting skills just call for a quick photo shoot.

— svetikd/E+/Getty Images

• “The fondest memories are made gathered around the table.” — Unknown
• The joy of Christmas starts in the kitchen.
• If you think my belly is full, you should see my heart.
• It’s not what’s on the table that matters, but who’s in the chairs.
• Bless the food before us, the family beside us, and the love between us.
• Which side is your family on: ham or turkey?
• Don’t measure your table by how long it is, but how many loved ones you can fit around it.
• “They celebrate with you, they cry with you, they hold you when you need to be held. They laugh with you. They're mean with you! They're always there, and it's just a priceless thing to have.” — Jennifer Lopez
• “After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations.” — Oscar Wilde
• “The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood.” — Richard Paul Evans

Christmas Eve Instagram captions for pics with family and friends

Are you having dinner at home, or going out with your besties? Whether you’re celebrating Christmas Eve with your family, or close friends who feel like family, these quotes will help you capture the moment.

• “Christmas isn’t just a day, but a state of mind.” — Miracle on 34th Street
• “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” — Buddy the Elf, Elf
• They’re more humbugs than sugarplums, but they’re my humbugs.
• “The jolliest bunch of a–holes this side of the nuthouse.” — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
• “Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” — Peg Bracken.
• “That's what Christmas memories are made from, they're not planned, they're not scheduled, nobody puts them in their Blackberry, they just happen.” — Deck the Halls
• “Siblings: children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together.” — Sam Levenson
• “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” — Jane Howard
• “When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching — they are your family.” — Jim Butcher
• “The best of all gifts around the Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family wrapped up in each other.” — Burton Hills
• “There's nothing that makes you more insane than family. Or more happy. Or more exasperated. Or more…secure.” — Jim Butcher

Christmas Eve Instagram captions of your kids sleeping

Sleeping kids are cute as it is, but there’s something a little magical about their snoozing faces on Christmas Eve, probably because you know just how excited they’ll be in the morning. Isn’t that what Christmas is about?

• I told them that Santa won’t get here till 8 a.m. so I can sleep till at least 8:15...
• I hope they’re dreaming of nutcrackers and mice king and sugar plum fairies.
• All is calm. All is bright.
• I told them the sooner they fell asleep, the sooner Santa would come.
• Well, time to finish the wrapping.
• “‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” — “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” by Clement Clarke Moore
• “The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.” — “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” by Clement Clarke Moore
• “Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” — Santa Claus, The Polar Express
• “Alas! How dreary would be the world if there was no Santa Claus! There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.” — Francis P. Church
• “I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and true love. Don't even try to tell me different.” — Dolly Parton

Christmas Eve Instagram captions for pics of milk and cookies for Santa

If you’ve ever wondered about Santa’s favorite kind of cookie, Mrs. Claus has actually shared his top 10 list before, and basically, you can’t go wrong with chocolate chip. Once they’re all plated up next to a glass of milk, don’t forget to snap a pic and share.

— FatCamera/E+/Getty Images

• I have a feeling the carrots for the reindeer will not get eaten.
• Santa (aka my partner) will be happy to see I baked his favorite cookies this year.
• I hope Santa likes slice-and-bake.
• One last attempt to sweeten the deal before Santa leaves presents under the tree.
• Remember that Christmas is more than about presents. There are also cookies.
• Holiday wishes, gingerbread crumbs, and peppermint kisses.
• Does Santa still drink dairy?
• For Santa Claus, a balanced diet means a Christmas cookie in each hand.
• It was tough, but we managed to save a few Christmas cookies for Santa Claus.

Christmas Eve Instagram captions for your Elf on the Shelf’s last day

Need the perfect Elf on the Shelf caption to say “see you next year” to Santa’s little helper? Whether you feel a little sentimental about your elf or are ready for it to GTFO, see which caption speaks to you.

• Considering throwing this little guy out, once and for all.
• Our favorite house guest is heading home with Santa tonight.
• See you in 11 months, little guy.
• One last elfie together before he heads back north for the year.
• It’s been another month of mischief, but for now, it’s time to say goodbye.
• It’s not goodbye, just see you next year.
• Back to the North Pole for now.
• Believe in your elf.
• Sayonara, snitch.

No matter which Christmas Eve Instagram caption you choose, your followers will love having a glimpse into your family’s festivities. More importantly, you’ll love having a little moment in time to look back on for years to come.

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23 Mischievous Elf On The Shelf Ideas

— Courtesy of Samantha Darby

With the holidays fast approaching, parents everywhere have one thing in common, and that's a need for more Elf on the Shelf posing ideas. If you're kind of tapped out, these ideas for mischievous Elf on the Shelf ideas are sure to leave your kids in stitches. After all, no one said the elf has to play nice 100% of the time.

Fortunately, all of these jokey ideas for Elf on the Shelf mischief are still appropriate for kids, using toilet paper rolls, family photos, and basic kitchen equipment to great effect. Plus, they're all pretty easy to put cobble together and take down in a day. Your kids will be amused by the elf's latest adventures, but you won't be left with too big of a mess to clean up. Everyone wins.

With whatever craft supplies you have on hand, a little bit of time, and a sense of humor, you can essentially prank your kid every night with the help of the elf. But of course you're only doing the whole elf thing to make your kids happy, and well-behaved, so it's a little more wholesome than most pranks. It really is a family tradition your little ones will remember for years to come, so give these mischievous Elf on the Shelf ideas a whirl for the most memorable Christmas season yet.

Wrapping the toilet

— Jennifer Parris

It’s funny, but definitely not ideal when your kid’s just woken up and needs to use the potty — desperately. And it’s actually easier to pull off than it looks. You’ll need 1-2 rolls of wrapping paper. Just drape the paper over the toilet and tape down some sections to give it shape. Do the same for the toilet tank, too.

Stage a hostage situation

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If you have two elves in your home, set them up so it looks like the more mischievous of the two has taped the other one onto the turntable. Your kids will love it even more if the elf is actually spinning when the come downstairs. And if you don’t have a record player, there are other precarious places around the house you could do something similar.

Create a climbing wall

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With a few bows, you can have your elf climb any surface to reach any prize. Maybe they’re after the cookie jar on the kitchen counter or trying to reach the place where you hide everyone’s Christmas presents. This one is easy to put together in a few minutes, and you probably have a bag of bows somewhere in the house already.

Melt a fellow toy

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If your kids have an Olaf figurine somewhere in the house, pop him on a skillet in a puddle of water to make it look like your naughty elf is melting the poor snowman. You could also replicate this mischievous elf on the shelf idea in the microwave, using a hair dryer, or near an iron. The options are endless.

Craft a shoebox car

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If you have an empty shoebox lying around, use construction paper or craft supplies to turn it into an elf race car. Whether your elf is solo or has friends, send them zooming down the stair railing, across a mantle, or across a curtain rod.

Make a play on words

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All you need for this elf on the shelf mischief idea is a fresh piece of toast and a Post-It note. Poke your elves arms through the holes and write a little note about how chilly it is in the North Pole, but that it’s nice and toasty in the kitchen.

Sippin’ in the kitchen

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If you have hot cocoa supplies for the chilly days ahead, one of the sweetest ideas for elf on the shelf mischief would be to have your elf break into the goodies. They can perch on some peppermints and sip on cocoa, maple syrup, or some other sweet drink. It’ll definitely give your kids a giggle to catch them in the act.

Build a ball pit

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All you need is a bucket or bowl and some craft pom poms and boom: a very elfish ball pit is born. Whether you pose your elf like they’re about to dive in, or with their head barely above the pom pom balls, your kids will get a kick out of this playful setup.

Flour angels

— colaistehomeec/Twitter

No matter the weather outside, your elf can make a contained mess indoors with flour pr powdered sugar snow angels on the dining table. Or, if your elf is particularly naughty, they'll make glitter angels.

Set a silly trap

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Pick up some festive streamers (plain red or green will do just fine too) and quietly criss-cross them over your child’s door after they doze off. When they wake, they’ll find your mischievous Elf on the Shelf tried to trap them in their room overnight.

Makeover a mirror

— elfontheshelf on Twitter

The possibilities for mirror decorations are endless. Reindeer antlers, Santa beards, and silly messages are all a good start. And if you're concerned about stains, then some washable window markers may be the safest tool.

Go on Instagram IRL

— joannebuss on Twitter

Elves are savvy social media users. For instance, this one knows all about Instagram, but you could make similar cutouts for Twitter or Facebook-style posts as well, and the possibilities of debauchery that you can "capture" the elf in are endless. Just make sure you're keeping it PG for the kids. And if you need some help crafting the perfect cutout, there are lots of free, printable elf props online.

Start a snowball fight

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OK, yes, we’re back to the craft pom poms, but if you’re going to be in that aisle for ball pit supplies anyway, grab a package of white fluffy balls while you’re there. Two birds, one stone (or two elf ideas, one errand). This elf has a cute snowball crate, but you don’t even need that! Just pile up the snowballs next to your elf, pop one in its hand, and stage another stuffed animal or two to look like they’ve been in a wintry battle overnight.

Make a TP snowman

Basically, any pose involving toilet paper will crack up your kids, naughty as it may be. And this indoor snowman is especially fun and silly.

Leave a window message

Posing the elf outside with a message on the window is a pretty novel approach, but this family must've kept the windows and doors locked, as well as the fireplace flue. And whether you're going for creepy or funny, tweak your message to whatever is appropriate.

Stage a snack attack

If you have a retro popcorn maker, then this idea is kind of obligatory. Of course he would sneak into the machine to sneak in a snack. But the elf can show up in all sorts of other weird places in the kitchen, too. Maybe he's found under the cake dome with a couple of half eaten cupcakes, for instance.

Pose with a pet

If you have any pets in your family, then incorporate them into the fun. Stage your elf to look like he's trying to "catch" a gerbil — without harming or freaking out the sweet critter, of course — and if you have a dog, there are plenty of shenanigans the two can get into.

Stage your elf’s arrival

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When your elf returns for duty this year, imagine what it would look like if his travel plans went a little awry. Maybe his toy car broke down, or his helicopter crashed into the Christmas tree. Whatever toys your child has that would help an elf get from the North Pole to your living room, use them in an inventive way.

Practice elf care

Aww, this is a cute idea. Your elf can take a bubble bath in marshmallows. To give it that mischievous twist, surround the elf with some of your most prized beauty products, from bath salts to makeup, and complain to the kids that the elf got into all your good stuff the next morning.

Go camo

It looks like the elf's face can stand up to all sorts of decorations. Paint your elf's face in camouflage, stick him in the Christmas tree, and lay — or toss — few ornaments on the floor. You can make it look like he was trying to destroy the tree because he didn't like the decor.

Spider elf

The spider elf does... whatever a spider elf does. Make a mini Spider-Man mask for your scout elf and let him pretend to be your kid's favorite superhero for an evening. Make sure you pose him hanging from a piece of ribbon or twine for the full effect.

Elf-ify a family photo

Elves just want to fit in, too. Cut out a few elf hats from red construction paper and adhere them to a family photo, placing the elf nearby. Your kids will love seeing themselves (and you) dressed up like their Elf on the Shelf. As far as Elf on the Shelf mischief goes, this idea is pretty easy to pull off.

Meme-ify the elf

This looks like one thirsty elf. Your kids may not pick up on the meme, but parents sure will get a kick out of this interesting Elf on the Shelf getup that riffs off the Dos Equis beer advertorial. And look how fancy the elf is — it makes him look kind of hip. And mom — I mean, the elf — is obviously super hip.

So, what sort of silliness will your elf get up to this Christmas? Be sure snap lots of pics of this year’s Elf on the Shelf mischief for your kids to remember.

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16 'Lazy Mom' Easy Elf On The Shelf Ideas

— Jennifer Parris

There’s something so pretty and simultaneously petrifying about the holidays. In one moment, you’re waxing nostalgic about chestnuts roasting over an open fire, and in the next, you’re losing your breath wondering how the heck you’re going to get everything bought, baked, wrapped, and decked before it’s too late. And then, in comes the Elf on the Shelf. Yes, the elf is about to make its entrance, and you’re going to want some ‘lazy mom’ easy Elf on the Shelf ideas to get you through the holidays that require zero effort but offer maximum laughs from your littles — and here they are.

But can we back up for just a second? To be fair, the Elf on the Shelf is a commitment, of both time and creativity, two things you might be short on right about now. Because no matter when you welcome the doll into your digs, you’re going to have to do it every single day until Christmas without getting caught — heaven forbid your kid catches you touching the elf with your bare hands. And when you’re running around trying to keep things merry and bright, moving a doll around your house each morning before your child wakes up (and in a fun and festive scene, no less) you’re just going to end up with Grinch vibes. So maybe it’s not that you’re “lazy” per se, but just a busy parent trying to survive the holiday season and while you want to make everything magical, you’re simply on a time crunch.

For our slothful sisters out there, we see you. And these incredibly easy ‘lazy mom’ Elf on the Shelf ideas will make your kids happy and not make you feel panicked, which is a total holiday win/win.

“Camping” in the dresser

— Elf on the Shelf

Stick your elf in a sock that’s long enough to look like a makeshift sleeping bag (no ankle socks here), open one of the drawers of your kid’s dresser and lay them on top the folded clothes. And don’t stress if you don’t have an elf or even Christmas-themed option to tuck them into — really anything option from your drawer or your kid’s will do.

Fishing for coins

— Elf on the shelf

Tuck your elf’s arms and head in between the couch cushions, lift their butt up, and sprinkle around coins and any other small knick knacks that might be found in someone’s pocket around them. Actually, if you have a bowl of trinkets next to the washing machine where you dump anything you’ve fished out of any pocket, now’s the perfect time to raid that stash of bits and bobbles.

Hide and seek in the tree

— Jennifer Parris

OK, this is the easiest Elf on the Shelf idea ever, so save it for a night when you’re really maxed out. Step 1: Stick doll in tree. Step 2: There is no Step 2. You’re done. (And you’re welcome.)

Freezing in the fridge

— Jennifer Parris

When you forgot to move the elf, you’ll need a super-fast setup. Wrap your elf in a holiday hand towel and then stick them in the fridge. Give your kid some cold case clues as to where their elf might be hiding. This one also ranks as one of the easiest Elf on the Shelf ideas, ever. Thank goodness.

Playing with their food

— Jennifer Parris

Take two pieces of bread and make toast. Then place your elf in between the slices and tell your kids that their elf wanted to be all warm and (wait for it), “toasty”.

Making snow angels

— Jennifer Parris

Your Elf on the Shelf wants to get in on the snow angel action, too in this super easy set-up. Let them have fun splashing around in sprinkles, then. Spill some sprinkles on your kitchen counter and form the image of a snow angel.

Hanging out in the manger

— Jennifer Parris

There’s no reason why you should let that beautiful manger scene go to waste. In a totally respectful way, place your elf alongside one of the wise men, or even at the seat of honor next to Joseph and Mary, because your elf wants to adore Baby Jesus, too.

Taking a bath

— Jennifer Parris

Elves sure can dirty as they fly back and forth from the North Pole to your home. That’s why it shouldn’t be shocking to see your elf taking a bath in the morning. Find a toy tub that your elf can fit into and place some candy inside, such as peppermints, or even mini marshmallows or sprinkles. Heck, it just might encourage your kid to take a bath.

Writing a note

— Jennifer Parris

You’ve been telling your kids to stop leaving their grubby little handprints all over the mirror. But the elf is a total rule breaker. Have your Elf on the Shelf write a cute note to your kid, like on a bathroom mirror, for example. Keep it short and sweet, though, because you know who has to wipe it up afterwards.

Sipping on syrup

— Jennifer Parris

If they’re anything like Buddy the Elf, your elf probably loves maple syrup. When you’re getting breakfast ready, set out a bottle of syrup, place a straw inside, and let your elf hang from the top of the bottle. They’ll look like they’re drinking the syrup, which will give your kids a laugh while they’re eating.

Swinging in on a candy cane

— Jennifer Parris

You bought all these candy canes under the assumption that your kids like candy canes, and shocker, they don’t. So you can put them to good use by hanging your elf from a candy cane. For a more festive feel, you can hang the candy cane from one of the strands of light on your tree.

Using cereal to spell out a message

— Jennifer Parris

Sure, you could just grab note paper and write a quick note to your kid. But why use a pen when you can spell it out with cereal? You can use any cereal to write something sweet, like, “Hi!” or “Be good.”

Eating cookies

— Jennifer Parris

Ten seconds is all it takes to whip up this super easy Elf on the Shelf idea. Open some cookie packages and remove almost all the cookies, sans a couple for your elf to hold. When your kid cries and asks who ate all the cookies, simply point at the elf.

Baking with Santa

— Jennifer Parris

This setup looks complicated, but it’s not. Sprinkle some flour on your kitchen counter and sit your elf with their back against the flour and sugar canisters. Add a mixing bowl with a whisk and any other décor that might match for a sweet scene.

Playing with a printable

— Jennifer Parris

There are a bunch of free printables that you can find online for your child to fill out. But if you’re looking for something for your elf to do, too, your child can catch their elf trying to write a secret message, or color in a holiday scene.

Playing with TP

— Jennifer Parris

Ack, your kids are already awake, and you didn’t move the elf yet. Stack two rolls of toilet paper together and place your elf inside. Stick the rolls on top of the toilet and you’ve got an easy breezy Elf on the Shelf scene that’ll take 15 seconds flat.

If you’re looking for ‘lazy mom’ easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, look no further. You can pull off these easy ideas in mere minutes in the morning and then go back to sleep until your kid comes looking for you…and their elf, too.

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