Spread cheer this holiday season by elf-ing your neighbors,  friends, or co-workers! We’ve got a cute “You’ve Been Elfed” free printable for you to use with your goodies, plus lots of treat ideas. 

A cute printable with three elf graphics on the bottom. Text overlay reads, "You've been Elfed! Someone who thinks you're extra sweet has left you this special holiday treat."

Here’s a fun activity to spread holiday cheer to your friends, family, and neighbors. You can even use this free printable to make holiday gifts for work. 

Our You’ve Been Elfed printable is free and easy to use. You may also like our free Letter to Santa Templates. Happy holidays! 

What is You’ve Been Elfed and How do You Play? 

You may have been “Booed” at Halloween – we have! This is a fun tradition in which kids leave a bag of treats with a note explaining that the recipient has been “booed” and should play it forward by booing others.

You’ve Been Elfed is the Christmastime version of this fun prank. It’s a great example of Random Acts of Kindness. Kids especially delight in this wholesome form of ding-dong-ditch. 

To be an extra sneaky elf, you can dress up in your best Christmas sweater and elf hat. 

To play along, make a gift bag, box, or basket filled with goodies. Attach our You’ve Been Elfed printable and you’re ready to play! 

Treat Ideas to Include in Your Bag 

When it comes to You’ve Been Elfed, one of the best ways to enjoy the experience is by giving a gift. If you’re looking for some ideas, here are a few suggestions:

  1. Christmas cookies 
  2. An Elf on the Shelf 
  3. Cookie cutters 
  4. A gingerbread house
  5.  Santa hat or elf hat
  6. A copy of “The Night Before Christmas” or another Christmas book or movie
  7. Cozy spa day kit with fuzzy socks, bath bombs, nail polish, and face masks 
  8. A Christmas ornament
  9. Holiday stickers 
  10. Art supplies 
  11. Homemade Christmas slime 
  12. A festive mug 
  13. Homemade hot cocoa mix
  14. A festive stuffed animal
  15. Christmas candy or treats
  16. Puzzle 

These are just a few ideas to get you started – the possibilities are endless! You can also make You’ve Been Elfed even more fun by making up your own game rules, like giving someone a festive prank gift and having them pass it on. Whatever you decide, You’ve Been Elfed is sure to bring some holiday cheer.

Poem and Text Ideas 

There are no rules for what to write on your Elfed notes. We like to keep it simple with this classic poetic phrase: “Someone who thinks you’re extra sweet has left you this special holiday treat!” 

You can also leave a page of instructions requesting that the recipient you Elfed pass on the cheer by doing the same for their friends. 

A You've Been Elfed bag hangs from a courtyard doorknob.

You’ve Been Elfed Free Printable 

You’re welcome to use our free You’ve Been Elfed printable tag! Simply download here and print as many copies as you need. 

Terms of use: This printable is for personal use only and may not be sold or distributed online. 

Yield: 1 Elf Bag

You've Been Elfed Free Printable

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $10

Use this cute You've Been Elfed printable label to gift holiday treats to your friends, family, or at work.

Materials

Tools

  • Printer
  • Tape or Stapler

Instructions

  1. Click the link for the You've Been Elfed printable. Print at home or online. You can resize as needed. 5x7 prints nicely for gift bags and boxes.
  2. Fill a gift bag or box with holiday treats.
  3. Attach the printable note to the gift bag/box with tape, staples, or even a ribbon or twine.
  4. To deliver your You've Been Elfed package, quietly sneak up to your recipient's porch (or office at work) and leave it. Quickly leave. You can ring the doorbell if you'd like.
  5. Wait for your friend to find their package. Keep spreading that holiday kindness and cheer!

Notes

What Should I put in my Elfed bag?

There are no rules, but some good options include Christmas cookies, ornaments, Santa hats, candy, art supplies, and toys.