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How to Give Your Elf on the Shelf Bendy Arms & Legs

December 13, 2013 by Erin 11 Comments

elf

We love our Elf on the Shelf.  His name is Alfie.  The kids think it’s so much fun to find where he is hiding or what funny thing he got into every day.  And I love watching them!  Ahh.  Memories.  Honestly,  I have just as much fun trying to think of funny things for him to do.  When they notice he’s moved from a spot, they tear through the house looking for him.  It is hilarious and so much fun!

We got Alfie just last year, so we’re still fairly new Elf on the Shelf parents.  🙂   But, when we opened the box, I was surprised that his little felty arms and legs weren’t bendy.  I saw so many posts with Elves doing hilarious and clever things that required bendy limbs.  (Like bench pressing marshmallows, or zip-lining into the Christmas tree, or baking cookies.)

I wanted our elf to do these hilarious and clever things, too…. so I fixed him!

I performed a little elf surgery, and in 5 minutes (and for 1 dollar and without sewing!)  we now have an elf that can compete with all the other clever bendy-armed elves.  Alfie feels much better about himself now that he can grasp things!  😉

But, since I made Alfie bendable last year, he’s already fixed.  I needed an unsuspecting elf  to perform surgery on and take pictures of, so that I could share it all with you.  The Healthy Hen and I hatched a plan.  Her elf, Fred,  is boring and un-bendy.  He feels sad.  (She’s more sporty, less crafty!)  We met in a dark parking lot, late at night m with our elves in Kroger bags.   The switch was made.  Our children searched empty houses for elves that were not there.  heehee.

I sliced, cut, poked and prodded Fred all while my kids were in the next room!  🙂  It’s done.

And he feels so much better.

bendy-elf-2

What you need:

  • Wire
  • Scissors
  • Wire Cutter (you could even use scissors depending on how thick your wire is.)
  • An elf

What you do:

  1. Choose a wire.  (any thick wire will do. Floral wire, steel wire, whatever you have) The shiny colored wire I used is from the Dollar Tree.
  2. Get your wire cutters and wire out.
  3. Snip a teeny tiny hole in the hand or foot of your elf.  Do not let your children watch.
  4. Straighten out a length of wire and shove it into the flimsy elf limb.  You might have to wiggle it a little bit because there is useless cardboard in there.  (really for thirty bucks an elf you’d think they would have done this for you!)
  5. Get the wire in there as far as it will go.
  6. Snip off the excess wire, leaving just a little bit sticking out.
  7. Wiggle the last bit in by pulling the hand or foot over it, so that it doesn’t come back out of the hole later.
  8. Repeat for all limbs.
  9. DONE!  You now have a bendy elf.  Congratulations.  Go and pose him doing something fantastic!
  10. You could stitch up the 4 tiny holes, but I didn’t.  I just kind of smooshed the felt around until the holes looked kinda closed.  You can’t even see them.  And the kids don’t touch the elf, so no biggie!

bendy-elf

If you’re stumped for ideas of what funny things your elf can do each day, check out this sweet Elf on the Shelf calendar that Steph made at A Little Moore.  She rocks!

We got Alfie last year in the middle of December.  So it’s not too late for you to run to the store and start this hilarious tradition.  Or you can buy one here.

Here is a little video I made to show the process.  It’s my first.  Be kind!  🙂

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Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, DIY

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Comments

  1. Felicia says

    December 3, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    I must have one from a brand new batch of elves. My dang elf is sewn at the elbows and knees…I guess I need to use a seam ripper? It’s almost as if they intentionally did it to thwart the wiring procedure.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      December 8, 2015 at 7:55 am

      Oh no!! haha. Why the heck don’t they just make them with wires at the beginning? So silly.

      Reply
  2. Kerri Mosher says

    November 30, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    Thank you for sharing this video, Plan to make our 3 Elves bendable tomorrow. They will be able to do so much more and it will make things easier for us.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      December 13, 2016 at 9:45 am

      WOW! You have three elves! That is some dedication! I barely remember to move our one! Good luck.

      Reply
  3. -Meo Kyser says

    December 6, 2016 at 7:20 am

    You are my new bestie! So simple yet never entered my mind! I have struggled forever with this issue! Thank you for this post; Taffy will have the power of bend by the end of the day ❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • Erin says

      December 13, 2016 at 9:44 am

      yay!!! I’m so glad Taffy can bend now! How’s she doing?

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Elf on the Shelf 2013 Calendar | A Little Moore says:
    December 13, 2013 at 11:23 am

    […] you want you elf to be a little more flexible! Check out this great tutorial from Erin at A Bird and a Bean! How to make your elf Bendy! So […]

    Reply
  2. Elf on the Shelf: Lets Get Physical (and bendy!) | A Little Moore says:
    December 14, 2013 at 12:01 am

    […] to do for years now the surgery just had not been scheduled. That is until my friend Erin from A Bird and a Bean made this tutorial and in less than five minutes Chippie had his groove on, bendy style. I […]

    Reply
  3. Elf on the Shelf: When the Kids are Away the Elf will Play! | A Little Moore says:
    December 17, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    […] ruler that I broke earlier today on accident because it had holes in it and it made for easy tying! The bendy trick from Erin at a Bird and a Bean has made our elf so much more […]

    Reply
  4. Links I'm Loving: Twas (almost!) the night before Christmas | Chickabug says:
    December 20, 2013 at 11:01 am

    […] Then, give your Elf bendy arms and legs (to enable all the more realistic hijinks) with A Bird and a Bean. […]

    Reply
  5. How To Make Your Elf Bendy! says:
    November 8, 2014 at 9:50 am

    […] few years my elf was non bendy and I used tape and string to rig him up. Well, my friend Erin and a Bird and a Bean is brilliant. She made this brilliant tutorial and said I could share it! Thanks Erin, your rock! […]

    Reply

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