Elf on the Shelf Story: Game Ideas

What's the Story behind Elf on the Shelf?

By now, you've probably heard of Elf on the Shelf. You've probably watched a YouTube video, searched Pinterest for Elf on the Shelf ideas for moving, or shared funny Elf on the Shelf memes on Facebook. But, what's the real Elf on the Shelf story? How did it came to be so popular? We've got that and more fun games and ideas for Elf on the Shelf. Enjoy!

Oriental Trading donated the items for this post.* 

It may contain affiliate links for your convenience.*

6 Edible Apple Crafts for Kids

Here are 6 fun, easy things to do with apples!

Apples, Apples, Apples! It's September and the best apples are ripening on the trees. Around here, the apples and pears are falling off attracting wasps and bees. I need to collect these gifts from nature and do a creative craft for kids like this first fun apple idea from It's Gravy Baby.

Monster apples and pears from It's Gravy Baby blog.

What could be better than than scent of fresh apple pie?  Why not try to add some sensory play to your play dough? It's Gravy Baby also offers up this apple pie scented play dough. She must have a lot of apples too!

Apple Scented Play dough.... can you smell it?

How about this wormy apple craft from Babble.com?  Worms are squishy, ooey-gooey, fun. This edible apple snack is perfect for Kid's Birthday Party Treat, a Halloween Edible Apple Craft, or an April Fool's day surprise.

Apple Worm Craft for Kids from Babble.com

I'm not really a Star Wars fan, but lots of people think I am. You want to know why? I'm a Sesame Street fan. I LOVE me some Sesame Street. My favorite character is Super Grover. This translates to a special appreciation for Yoda from Star Wars. I even named my favorite pet bunny after him. So, when I saw this green apple craft for kids depicting Yoda I was all, I've got to try that one. Wait, no, I mean, I have to DO that one! Check it our for yourself at Bit Rebels.

Edible Star Wars Craft for kids from Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons.

Why is it watermelons make the cutest crafts for kids or baby shower edible art? I just love these mock watermelon slices made from green apples and jello. Find out how to make them at Chocolate on my Cranium blog.

Mock watermelon slices apple craft for kids snack.

And finally, you've probably seen better versions out there in the blogosphere, but this was one of our first craft idea posts for our summer camp. Turkey Edible Apple Crafts for Kids with Dollar Store candy. Since then, I try to make healthy edible art and crafts for kids!

Turkey Edible Apple Snack Treat for Kids.

Recommended Reading:

Apple Kids and Acorn Frolics: Linework Pattern Workbook

Apples by Gail Gibbons


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Kitchen Kids: Homemade Edible Snowballs Make an Ice Cream Snowman to Eat

Make a Homemade Edible Snowman for a Party: Think Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Want to make a snowman? This cute little guy is perfect for a birthday party or holiday get together. Just make ice cream balls and freeze them in advance. So, gather the kids in the kitchen and build your own eatable (edible) snowmen. Enjoy!

Make a Snowman from Ice Cream Snowballs.

Build your own eatable snowman as a party activity.

To Make Edible Snowman Art You Need:

Vanilla Ice Cream
Pastel or Peppermints (Soft wedding mints are kid friendly)
Candy for Decorations
Chocolate Syrup
Optional: Shredded Coconut, Powdered Sugar



Have a snowman decorating party with mini snowballs.

How to Make Ice Cream Snowman Dessert: 

With a melon baller, scoop mini ice cream balls.
Place balls on wax paper on a cookie sheet and keep in freezer.
Let set for 15 minutes.
Remove balls one at a time and roll in crushed mints and/or coconut.
Serve 3 balls in a dessert dish with assorted candies.
Build Snowman.

   

Ice Cream Snowman made from Mini Snowballs for  Winter Holiday Party. 

Recommended Reading: 

Recipes for your kids to mix and make*

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Kitchen Kids ~ Kids Creative Chaos Cooks ~ Holiday Treats Available on Amazon.com and Createspace ~ Kid's Mix and Make Cookbook

Edible art and crafts for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for Kid's to make.

I am excited to announce our first Kitchen Kid's Series Cookbook is available for purchase. Starting today, you can purchase a print version at Createspace for under $3. 

Now available at Amazon.com, so be sure to include it in your wishlist.

Holiday Treats is full of simple mix and make recipes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve with easy to follow instructions for kids of all ages. We've also added a few games to keep the kiddos busy while Mama or Daddy cooks in the kitchen. The perfect gift for budding bakers. 

Do you remember your first cookbook? Tell us about your favorite holiday recipe in the comment section below. We love to hear from you.


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Kitchen Kids: Edible Mayflower Sandwich Snack for Thanksgiving Craft

Make a mini Mayflower Ship Sandwich Snack to celebrate the Pilgrims landing in America: Thanksgiving Craft for Kids

Get your kids in the kitchen for this edible Thanksgiving Craft. This snack craft is an easy, fun activity for afterschool or preschool class. It is fun to make an edible Mayflower ship craft. Enjoy!

Mayflower Edible Thanksgiving Craft.

You might also like this Fall Thanksgiving Craft, Painting with Pumpkins, Gourds, and other squash.

Attach cheese slices by making an eatable cream cheese paste on your Mayflower Sandwich Ship.

Fruit Snack Passengers = Madagascar Penguins.

You need:

Hot dog buns 
Cheese Slices (Yellow and White)
Pretzel Sticks
Cream Cheese
Optional: Goldfish Crackers or Character Fruit Snacks

To make:

Hollow out the center of 1/2 of  bun.
Spoon in cream cheese.
Cut cheese slices diagonally into triangles.
Slide pretzel thru one side of slice to form a sail. 
Note: This doesn't work well with room temperature cheese, so we used cream cheese as a paste. Stick sail into the cream cheese. Use mini pretzels for steering wheel and life preservers. Insert Goldfish crackers tail end first to represent passengers. Serve with baked chips and pumpkin salsa. Eat. 

Recommended Reading:

Cranberry Thanksgiving (Cranberryport)*

Kids Creative Chaos Cooks (Kitchen Kids Book 1)*

Eatable Art Snacks for Kids








ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Gingerbread House: What's outside the window? Penguin and Snowman Peanuts, Popcorn, and Marshmallow Edible Holiday Craft Snack fo Kids

How to make a fun Gingerbread House with Marshmallows and Popcorn and Cute Penguins and Snowmen

Mayhem and I had a yummy, crafty time making this edible Christmas scene with candy cane sleighs and peanut snowmen and penguins. Enjoy!

Marshmallow and popcorn Christmas snow scene.

Candy cane sleigh with holiday characters including
peanut penguin and gingerbread marshmallow man.

 Materials:

  Halloween candy

  Christmas candy

  Popcorn

  Marshmallow shapes

  Unsalted peanuts

  Waffle cones

  Ice cream cones

  Icing

  Edible Glue

  Gel food coloring

Popcorn snow scene.

I made peanut snowmen magnets/pins a few years ago. This prompted me to come up with an edible version for the holiday.  These snowman peanuts are coated with our edible glue, the eyes are Wilton's icing coloring.

How to make a cool Gingerbread house scene.

We glued a cheerio on the bottom of the penguin and snowman to serve as a base. The penguin's hat base is also a cheerio, but the snowman sports a circle cut from Fruit Stripe gum.  The noses are made by dipping a toothpick into gel food-coloring.  Use a pair of scissors to cut the top hat and scarf from gum.

The sleigh is made from two candy canes glued together with icing.  The base is a leftover Almond Joy from Halloween with a big, round gum drop as the back of the seat.  Santa's bag is made from the base of an ice cream cone and filled with jelly beans.  The little mouse atop the sleigh is just a peanut sitting sideways. Did you see that little gingerbread man and those Christmas tree reindeer?  Those are store bought mini-marshmallow shapes.


Recommended Reading:

Best Christmas Party Ever

Bear Stays Up for Christmas Book*






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)