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Tips to Create the Perfect DIY Elfing Treat Bag

Written by: | Published: November 29, 2016 | Updated: September 05, 2023

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MerryAndBright #CollectiveBias

‘Tis the season to spread some joy. Today I’m sharing some tips and tricks to help you create the perfect DIY Elfing Treat bag. Whether you want to surprise a neighbor or send some holiday cheer to someone across the country, you can create a fun Elf surprise they will love! Today’s Christmas fun idea is in coordinate with American Greetings and M&M’S, they’re a fabulous combination to make the perfect DIY elf treat. PLUS there’s a free printable you can grab for your Elf adventures!

Tips to Create the Perfect DIY Elfing Treat Bag
Tips to Create the Perfect DIY Elfing Treat Bag

American Greetings #MerryAndBright Sweepstakes

Tips to Create the Perfect DIY Elfing Treat Bag

We love to make these holiday treats for our neighbors and friends. I also like to put together a little surprise box for my nephews. They just live across town, but it’s a fun surprise that let’s them know I’m thinking about them.

What is Elfing:

Elfing is sharing a fun holiday surprise with someone special. Have FUN and help spread some Holiday Cheer!

How to Elf Someone:

Elfing is simple. Gather some treats, put them in a bag or other container. Add a note to tell them they’ve been “Elfed”. Place the treat on their doorstep, ring the bell and run away before they see you. Or Ship your elf treat to someone special.

You don’t have to get fancy or spend hours crafting to make your Elf treat bag. If you want to go all out and hand make a bunch of treats or doodle all kinds of art on your bag, you can. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or time either. Simply grab a few fun items from the store and a bag and you’re good to go. I love all the different holiday products from American Greetings. They’re super cute and absolutely affordable. Makes crafting, decorating and giving extra treats that much more fun.

How To Make the Perfect Elfing Treat Bag
How To Make the Perfect Elfing Treat Bag

What you need to make your own Elfing Treat Bag:

An Elfing printable – make sure to include the cute printable with your treat bags so those you’ve gifted know what to do next. Then watch the holiday fun spread through the neighborhood!

A gift bag – you can purchase a predesigned gift bag or buy a solid colored bag and decorate it. I used a sharpie to doodle my red holiday bag.

Tissue paper or wrapping – it’s not a surprise if everyone can see what’s in the bag. Besides, adding tissue and gift wrap add more holiday fun to your treat bag.

Wrapping for Elfing Bags
Wrapping for Elfing Bags

Candy – M&Ms milk chocolate or peanut fun size are perfect, especially if you are trying to put together a treat bag for multiple people (more than one kiddo in the family).

A holiday card – so you can write a little note to your secret Elf friend. There are so many cute cards to choose from, including singing kittens! I had a really hard time picking my favorites.

American Greetings Elf Card
American Greetings Elf Card

A cute toy, fun games or other holiday items – American Greetings currently has an adorable plus polar bear you can buy at a discount when you purchase 3 American Greetings holiday cards.

Cute plus bear and greeting cards from American Greetings
Cute plus bear and greeting cards from American Greetings

Ribbons, Bows and Stickers – finish off the Elfing treat bag with a bow. You can also decorate the bag with holiday stickers… yep, American Greetings has those too!

Decorating your Elfing Bag:

As I’ve said, you can buy pre-decorated bags (this mini penguin bag is my favorite!) or you can decorate your elfing bags yourself. I used a black marker to draw on this red foil bag. I also used some holiday stickers to add extra fun and color. There are no rules for decorating, do whatever you’d like. Add more color or glitter. You can even decorate the pre-designed bags… we added a bow to the penguin bag to add some fun dimension to the design.

Christmas Bag Doodle by Jen Goode
Christmas Bag Doodle by Jen Goode

Shipping Your Elfing Treat Bag:

I like to ship my treat bags already put together. You can package up the treat bag as though you were hand delivering it, and then place it in the shipping box with some extra tissue, peanuts or bubble wrap. Putting tissue in your treat bag really helps to keep everything in place. Then, when your friend opens their box, the Elf surprise is all ready to enjoy. Don’t forget the free Elfing printable!

Where to Buy:

I picked up all these supplies at my local Walmart Neighborhood Market. Always great prices and the selection of American Greetings holiday products is fabulous! (did you see that penguin? So Cute!)

American Greetings in the stationery aisle at Walmart Neighborhood Markets
American Greetings in the stationery aisle at Walmart Neighborhood Markets

 

Fun holiday gift wrap
Fun holiday gift wrap

 

Get the whole family involved! The kids can help shop for goodies and put together their own Elf treats. It’s a great way to spend some time together while spreading positive holiday goodness.

Get more Elfing inspiration

Free printable for your Elfing surprises
Free printable for your Elfing surprises

 

download this art by Jen Goode

Download the Elfing printables here.

Bonus! Cash back offer on American Greeting holiday cards

I hope you have tons of fun putting together your own DIY Elfing Treat Bags. Have a blast spreading cheer all of your own neighborhood!

 

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Jen is Passionate about Creativity. She is the owner and "doodle in charge" of JGoode Designs, a Denver based design studio. She is an illustrator, mixed media artist and creative lifestyle blogger. Jen has been a creative professional since 1998 but says she's been an artist since she was old enough to eat glue.

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2 thoughts on “Tips to Create the Perfect DIY Elfing Treat Bag”

    • Elfing is new to me this year too. I first heard of it when I was connected with the ideas for American Greetings. We always book friends for Halloween… we love this idea too!

      Reply

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