Elf on the Shelf Coloring Pages for Christmas
Bring holiday fun home with free Elf on the Shelf coloring pages! Our site, Visual Coloring Pages, offers a large collection of festive elf coloring sheets designed for kids (and kids at heart). These pages show Santa’s mischievous elves doing all sorts of Christmas activities – for example, building toys, wrapping presents, or sipping cocoa by the fire. Each design is a high-quality PDF you can download and print on standard US letter or A4 paper. Coloring these cheerful scenes is a fun way to celebrate the season and keep little hands busy. (For even more free holiday printables, check out our Mother’s Day coloring pages and Father’s Day coloring pages – and blast off into space with our Alien coloring pages for out-of-this-world fun!)













































Downloading and using the coloring pages is easy. First, scroll through the collection until you find a picture you like. Click on the thumbnail or link, and a printable PDF will open in a new tab. Then simply print that PDF on regular 8.5×11″ paper (or A4) and start coloring. All pages are free to use – you can print and color them at home as many times as you want. They’re intended for personal or classroom use, so teachers and party hosts can print extras for art activities. For example, these sheets are perfect for libraries, classrooms, or holiday parties, giving kids a jolly activity to enjoy together.
- Step 1: Scroll and select the elf page you like (the image itself is low-res, but clicking it opens a high-quality PDF).
- Step 2: Click to open and download the PDF (it will load in a new window). The download is fast and free!
- Step 3: Print the PDF on letter or A4 paper. All our elf coloring pages fit standard paper sizes.
- Step 4: Grab crayons, markers, or colored pencils, and color the page. Enjoy coloring the scene and get into the Christmas spirit!
Once printed, the coloring pages can be used again and again. Many families and teachers reuse them each year. As one coloring site notes, you can “freely download or print to your heart’s content” after opening the PDF. So feel free to make copies for friends, classrooms, or any festive event – they’re a simple way to spread holiday cheer.
Free Printable Elf on the Shelf Coloring Pages
Our Elf on the Shelf collection includes dozens of free printable sheets, each showing Santa’s helpers in fun holiday scenes. These pages are all free PDF downloads – you don’t have to pay or sign up for anything. For example, a recent collection offers 44 mischievous Elf on the Shelf coloring pages that you can download and print. The elves in these pictures are surrounded by classic Christmas details like snowflakes, ornaments, mistletoe, reindeer, candy canes, and decorated trees. Each sheet is hand-drawn and full of cute, festive art.
The variety of elf scenes is huge. You’ll find elves doing everything from silly antics to sweet moments. Some example pages (in our collection and others) show: elves racing to wrap presents under twinkling lights, cheerful elves gathered around a decorated Christmas tree, naughty elves sneaking cookies from the kitchen, and sleepy elves building a gingerbread house. One page shows an elf in a stocking with candy canes, while another shows a tiny elf knitting or cozy by a fireplace. Our elves are even ice skating on a frozen pond and playing musical drums with cookies around them. Whether it’s “three naughty elves on the shelf” or a single elf holding a giant candy cane, each page tells a story. For instance, one coloring page depicts an elf testing out a toy train in the workshop; another shows elves wrapping gifts and placing huge candy canes around the house. We also have elves having hot cocoa by a snowy window and elves around the Christmas tree planning their holiday fun. All of these scenarios are designed to spark a child’s imagination and fit the Christmas theme.
Every printable is high-resolution and fits on letter or A4 paper. This means the pictures have plenty of space for coloring; younger kids can practice filling in large areas, and older kids can add details or shading. In fact, these pages are made for all ages: big open spaces to color for toddlers and preschoolers, and intricate lines for older children, teens, and even adults. One site emphasizes that the collection “features all kinds of adorable elves” and is “fun for both kids and adults”. So even if your little one just scribbles or your older child uses more detailed artwork, these pages work for the whole family.
Using these elf coloring pages can make a cozy holiday activity. Coloring is not only fun, but also educational and calming. Studies show that just 10–15 minutes of coloring daily can decrease stress, boost creativity, and improve hand coordination. By giving children Elf on the Shelf coloring pages, you’re helping them practice color recognition and fine motor skills (holding crayons, staying inside lines) while they’re happily engaged in a Christmas theme. It’s a win-win: they get creative time, and you keep them entertained on snowy days or as part of holiday crafts.
Scenes and Ideas in the Coloring Pages
Let’s explore some of the popular types of scenes you’ll find in elf coloring sheets. Each coloring sheet is like a little winter story:
- Workshops and Gifts: Many pages show elves in Santa’s workshop. Elves may be assembling toys (like a toy train) or wrapping colorful gifts under Christmas lights. Color the presents in bright reds, greens, or pinks, and give elves festive outfits. These pages capture the busy preparation for Christmas morning.
- Decorating and Baking: Look for elves decorating trees, hanging stockings, or baking treats. One common scene is elves building a gingerbread house or baking Christmas cookies. You might find an elf sneakily stealing a cookie from the jar, ready to eat it away from Santa’s watchful eye. These fun sheets encourage kids to add lots of detail – colorful ornaments, icing on the gingerbread, or sprinkles on cookies.
- Christmas Tree Parties: Some coloring pages show a group of elves gathered around a Christmas tree, celebrating. For example, after Santa’s big night is done, elves relax and plan their holiday time around the tree. Kids can decorate the tree with stars, lights, and candy canes in their coloring.
- Cozy Winter Moments: Other sheets feature cute cozy scenes – an elf sipping hot cocoa with marshmallows by a snowy window, or elves knitting in a living room with a warm fireplace. These pages often have repeating patterns (snowflakes, gifts, candy canes) that kids can color in any way they like.
- Playful Mischief: The Elf on the Shelf is known for silly poses and pranks, and our pages capture that spirit. You might color an elf hanging from a shelf by its toes, sitting upside-down in a stocking, or caught playing a game (like Twister) with another elf. Some sheets even show elves in funny hats or with magic wands, adding a “touch of magic” to the scene. This lets kids choose wacky colors (purple elf, rainbow stocking, etc.) to make the pictures really pop.
- Outdoor Fun: A few coloring pages take elves outside. One shows elves ice skating on a frozen pond near the North Pole workshop. Another might have elves building a little snowman or sledding. For these, kids can color bright winter coats and snowy backgrounds to bring out the chilly fun.
No matter which scene you pick, there’s plenty to fill with color. The simple backgrounds (a room, a shelf, a snowfield) and repeated elements (snowflakes, stars, holly) help younger kids color more easily. At the same time, older kids can add creative details – maybe give the elf a sparkle on the hat, or draw extra presents under the tree. Each page is an open invitation: use bright reds, greens, golds, or any colors your child loves for Christmas.
Coloring Tips and Uses
To get the best results, use the right supplies and setup. These pages are black-and-white line art, so they work well with crayons, colored pencils, markers, or even watercolor paints (if printed on thicker paper). Encourage kids to use bold colors for Santa’s red suit or the green tree, and don’t be afraid to mix colors (blue and purple for shadows, etc.). Because the designs are quite large, you can use chunky crayons for the main areas and finer pens or pencils for details like berries or hair.
Here are some creative ideas to make coloring these pages even more fun:
- Group Coloring Activity: Print multiple copies and have a family coloring night. Each person can color a different elf sheet, then display all around the house. This also works for classroom coloring or holiday party craft tables. As one crafting blog suggests, these free sheets are perfect for libraries, classrooms, or Christmas gatherings. They keep kids busy for a while and can be an alternative to games.
- Color and Decorate: After coloring, cut out favorite elves and paste them into a homemade card or hang them as ornaments. Children can add glitter, stickers, or cotton for snow to personalize the pictures. For example, glue white cotton balls on Santa’s beard or sprinkle fake snow on the windowsill in the drawing.
- Personalized Elf Letter: Use a coloring page as part of an Elf on the Shelf letter. Kids can color the elf and then write their Christmas wishes underneath, turning it into a letter to Santa that they helped decorate.
- Color by Number / Learning: Make it educational by turning a coloring sheet into a color-by-number game. Label different parts of the picture with numbers and decide what color each number stands for (1=red, 2=green, etc.). This adds a learning twist for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
- Fridge Art and Gifts: Encourage kids to color a page and then give it as a gift. Grandparents and friends will love a homemade holiday coloring picture. Or let children hang their finished pages on the fridge or wall – it’s a great way to display their art and get into the Christmas mood.
- Digital Coloring: If you have a tablet or computer, use the PDF as a printable template for digital coloring apps. Kids can color on a touchscreen, which might be cleaner (no markers on the carpet!) but still lets them use all the colors they want.
Remember, the goal is to have fun and be creative. There’s no right or wrong way to color – every child will make the elf pictures uniquely theirs. The simple, clean lines of each coloring page make it easy to start, and each finished page is a little Christmas keepsake.
Why Elf on the Shelf Coloring Pages Are Great for Kids
Elf on the Shelf coloring pages are popular for a few reasons. First, they tie into a beloved holiday tradition. The Elf on the Shelf is a cute storytelling idea (kids hide a toy elf around the house each night), and these coloring pages let children play with that elf character in art form. As one parent’s guide suggests, coloring these pages is “quality time” you can spend singing carols and coloring together by the tree. It brings the family together for a calm holiday activity.
Second, coloring is a low-pressure but educational activity. Young kids learn about colors, patterns, and improve their hand control as they stay inside the lines. Tweens and teens also enjoy coloring as a way to relax – researchers even find that a short coloring session can lower stress and sharpen creativity. These themed sheets are seasonal, which makes coloring even more exciting during the holidays.
Third, the holiday theme helps children get excited for Christmas. Each page has cheerful images like candy canes, stockings, Santa hats, snowflakes, and happy elves – things kids associate with presents and fun. Seeing those images to color can inspire them about the holiday. Plus, when a kid colors an elf page, they might think about their own home Elf on the Shelf traditions, extending the fun.
Finally, we make it easy and free. Sometimes parents spend too much on crafts, but our site provides free PDFs. You don’t need to buy a special book or subscribe. As one coloring site advertises, these elf coloring sheets are “all free for you to download and print”. We simply ask that it stays personal use – don’t sell or repost these images. Other than that, print as many as you like and share the holiday spirit.
FAQs
What are Elf on the Shelf coloring pages?
These are printable coloring sheets that feature scenes with the popular “Elf on the Shelf” character. Kids can color elves doing Christmas activities (like decorating, baking, or playing). They come in PDF format and are themed for Christmas fun.
Where can I find free printable Elf on the Shelf coloring pages?
You can download them for free from websites like Visual Coloring Pages (our site) and other craft sites. Just go to the page, click on an image, and open the PDF. There is no cost, and you do not have to create an account – just print and go!
Are these coloring pages suitable for young children?
Yes! The collection includes simple designs with big areas for toddlers and preschoolers, as well as more detailed images older kids will enjoy. Younger children can color the main shapes, and parents or older siblings can help with smaller details if needed.
Can I use these Elf coloring pages in a classroom or at a holiday party?
Absolutely. These pages are perfect for group activities. You can make copies and hand them out at school, day care, or a Christmas party. They’re great for keeping a group of kids engaged and creative. Just remember, the sheets are free for personal and classroom use, but should not be redistributed for profit.
What supplies do I need to color these pages?
Only basic art supplies are needed: crayons, colored pencils, markers, or gel pens all work well. Any age can use whatever they like. If you print on heavier paper, you can even use watercolor paints. Arrange a comfy coloring spot with a table or lap desk, and let kids use their favorite colors to make the elves come to life.