Before you get started, here’s what you need to know about this popular Christmas tradition.
Ornament ideas for your garden
Ornaments add that little extra sparkle to your garden. They give you a chance to express your personality and creativity, whilst making your garden memorable for visitors.
Adding ornaments that resemble living creatures are a particularly great way to engage children so if you have some little ones in the family, they will love to be involved in choosing or simply coming to visit any characters you bring into your garden.
Garden Gnome
With designs that range from the understated to the outlandish, garden gnomes are a fun and easy way to add personality to your outdoor space.
The right garden gnome placed in the right spot can also work wonders for highlighting certain features of your garden. For instance, a garden gnome with a wheelbarrow is sure to draw attention to your favourite flower bed, while a gnome with a fishing rod can liven up a pond or water feature.
You could even have one gnome per person in your household which you can choose, name and place in your garden individually.
Garden Statues
Like garden gnomes, garden statues can be a great way of projecting your own personality into your garden. Garden statues can add texture, character and charm to your garden as well as helping to create a natural, calm and serene environment. They can resemble animals, people, mythical creatures and much more to catch the eye.
Garden centres and garden retailers are great places to start if you’re looking for ideas or inspiration.
Bird baths
Bird baths not only provide an oasis for birds but will also attract all kinds of other wildlife to your garden. Insects such as butterflies and bees will be attracted to water in a bird bath which is great news for your garden as these beneficial insects help to pollinate flowers in your garden.
There are many versions of bird baths available, ranging from simple shallow troughs on a raised platform to more ornate ones with water features such as mini waterfalls. Why not pay a visit to your local garden centre to check out what they have to offer.
Garden markers
These garden markers are easy to make and would look beautiful in any garden. You can use them to identify the names of garden plants, herbs and seedlings in your garden.
All you need are a handful of stones, a paintbrush and paint. Acrylic paint is ideal for this as it’s both weather resistant, permanent and can be bought in store or online from retailers such as Hobbycraft and The Works.
Bug Hotel
Bug hotels not only attract wildlife, but you can also get creative and make them a real talking point in your garden. You can make them any size, paint them any colour and shape them however you’d like to. Read our short guide on making your own bug hotel.
Other ornaments
Whether you are walking through a garden centre or looking for something online, there are likely to be all sorts of ornaments that unexpectedly grab your attention, such as the charming ducks pictured above.
You don’t need to have anything in mind, because often when browsing you will find something that you simply connect with, or think will work perfectly in your garden.
What are the two rules of The Elf on the Shelf?
Elf 101: The children should not touch the elf, or he will lose his magic. Scout elves arrive during Scout Elf Return week and head back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. No exceptions!
Well, that’s the whole fun of this Christmas tradition, isn’t it? The possibilities are just about endless, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to keep your elf out of the reach of curious hands if you have little kids and where family pets can’t get to them (we learned that lesson the hard way!). Also, keep in mind that no one can touch the elf, so you’ll want to keep him out of high-traffic areas of the home. If he takes up residence in the sink or dishwasher, for example, those spots will be out of commission until the next day.
How do you introduce The Elf on the Shelf for the first time?
When you first get The Elf on the Shelf, he or she comes with an illustrated Christmas book that explains the whole backstory. So, traditionally, during Scout Elf Return Week (November 22-December 1), the elf arrives. If this is the elf’s first trip to your house, you’ll have a bit of work to do! Your Elf needs a name, for starters. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best The Elf on the Shelf names! The children should be encouraged to tell their new elf any wishes or secrets. Elves are great listeners!
It depends on the child, but we recommend three years old, or as soon as he or she starts to understand the magic of Christmas. Of course, if there are older siblings in the house, the tradition will start even sooner than that. There’s really no harm in starting earlier—your child just might not be as engaged at an earlier age.
What’s a good The Elf on the Shelf gift?
Elves come with everything they need to get settled in their new home, but feel free to add some The Elf on the Shelf clothes or accessories to make the experience more fun! These additional items might even inspire some more elf magic.
Now that you know what the fuss is all about, what are you waiting for? Add a little mischief to this year’s Christmas celebration with the following hilarious The Elf on the Shelf ideas. (And check out these funny The Elf on the Shelf memes while you’re at it!)
