Mandy’s Holiday NDAD Creation

Dec 26, 2012 | 11 Comments

This just popped in my inbox today and I had to post being that we’re still Christmas-adjacent.  I mean I just watched a medley of Bad Santa/Elf a few hours ago.

Greetings from South Dakota, Marisa!  I love seeing your creations and all the great reader creations out there!  The weekend before Christmas, all my daughter could talk about was the Elf on the Shelf – she really thought we needed one in our house.  For a moment, I contemplated running out to the stores after she went to bed, but a few things stopped me in my tracks…

1. We live in Sioux Falls, the biggest shopping center in South Dakota. Stores would be super busy.

2. It was the weekend before Christmas, and the Elves might be sold out.

3. The Elf retails for $29.95, and I can’t see myself spending that kind of money on a toy we only see one month per year and the kids can’t actually play with it (if you touch the elf, it will lose it’s magic!)

4. The weather outside was freezing, and I was snuggled up on the couch with a nice, warm blanket watching movies with the family.

That last #4 is reason enough to get crafty!

A few weeks earlier, my coworker gave me a bag full of clothes (yay free!) to try on and this is the piece that got my internal wheels turning… 

New Dress A Day - DIY - Cardigan

BEFORE

How will Miss Mandy transform this into something Elf on the Shelf-y??

I printed a few doll clothing patterns from the internet to give me a guide for the shirt…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Elf on the Shelf - Patterns

For the top!

…and skirt…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Elf on the Shelf - Patterns

The Skirt

The ruffle on the sleeves served as the perfect over-skirt for the dress. 

New Dress A Day - DIY - Elf on the Shelf - Patterns

The sleeve’s edge!

My daughter has so many Barbie dolls, so I knew she wouldn’t miss one.  I added the newly made ensemble to the doll and, voila!!  Homemade Elf on the Shelf!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Elf on the Shelf - Patterns

AFTER

My daughter was so excited to see our elf in the fruit basket on the kitchen table the next morning.  All day long, I would catch her sneaking up to her new elf and whispering in her ear.  Thanks so much for your inspiring blog!

Mandy, thank you so much for sharing this amazing piece with us.  I think you recreated something really fantastic and how special that your daughter had her own, one-of-a-kind elf.  Kudos to a fabulous remake – I would totally wear this if it came in my size – Marisa Elf on the Shelf next year!

In all · Reader Creations
  • Gail

    This is an “Elf On The Shelf” that I actually like! Our family must be the only people who have not gotten into this fad. My 12-year-old son wants nothing to do with the store-bought “Elf On The Shelf” because he thinks that the elf is creepy. And the rest of us agree with him, so no elf for us. But this Barbie elf is cute, not creepy. I like it!

  • Paula

    Can’t believe that they would charge almost #30 for an “Elf on the Shefl” I think the one my Mom had when I was a kid and had for about 40 years cost about .25 cents….LOL guess that dates me pretty much. This one is much cuter too!

    • Amanda Davis

      my Auntie Annie had the dustiest oldest little Elf way back in the 70s, lol, I wonder what happened to him, lol….

      • Judy B

        This is so weird! I’m 50 years old and I swear I never heard of the “Elf on the Shelf” until a few weeks ago. Now I’m seeing references to it everywhere. I thought maybe it was a new trendy thing that I just hadn’t heard of (often the case), but now I hear it’s been around 40+ years???

  • Amanda Davis

    What a creative mom you are!! This is fantastic! Great idea!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ethne-Hedren-Denham/100000830136133 Ethne Hedren Denham

    Oh, come on now people, the elves aren’t creepy! Mandy’s Barbie elf is adorable and those of us whose kids received the “Elf on the Shelf” from Grandma and Grandpa (for example) love them – and my hubby and I have had loads of fun making sure the magic was amazing. Mandy – I might have to make some outfits next year – good idea! If you check on Pinterest, you can see lots of elf-posing ideas – I did a photo run-down on my blog too, but can’t do a URL link in the NDAD comments, sorry!

  • Dawn

    Very cute idea : ) We had a bag full of elves when I was little, don’t know what happened to them so I bought one on ebay a few years ago. This year I found the cutest elf/troll. I tried hiding my cute elf/ troll in a few places this year but everybody thought he was creepy and called him the evil troll. I think he’s adorable! (check out my blog to see him)
    thriftygirl51@blogspot.com

  • Diane2809

    There was no “elf” when I was growing up (I guess that dates me) but this just gave me an idea for next year when my grandson will be old enough to understand…I have an elf that belonged to my parents and sat in their tree as long as I can remember – they are both gone now so I inherited the elf. I will use it instead of springing so much money for the new “gimicky” one. Thanks for the inspiration! And I love your Barbie elf!

  • Jeanette

    Fun to see someone from where I live – in Sioux Falls – I read the blog daily and love how creative you are

  • brenda

    upcycling and not purchasing something so expensive just because of its trendiness BUT instead made her little girl happy with her creativity and genius. See how you are having such an influence!!
    this is so encouraging to see someone take it another step in the

  • Joanna

    I like this elf Sooooo much better than the real Elf on the shelf. I just can’t get over his creepy eyes! Eeewwww!