Elf-Sized Elf on the Shelf Playing Cards and Game Ideas

Ready to really inspire magic with your Elf on the Shelf? Print out these fun Elf on the Shelf playing cards so that your elf can have some fun with their friends and your kids. Download these tiny Elf on the Shelf playing cards so your elf can have all kinds of fun playing classic games like Go Fish, Snap, Old Maid, Crazy 8s, and more! 

If your kids are like mine, they look forward to your elf arriving each year, along with an elf on the shelf arrival letter the day after Thanksgiving. 

From then on, it is all fun and games with our Elf. Sure, he does some mischievous things around the house, but for the most part, it is some good clean fun like Elf on the Shelf photo props, and Elf on the Shelf Sized Games, including these mini Elf on the Shelf playing cards. 

When my kids saw their Elf playing cards with Ken and Hulk, they were laughing so hard and were so excited. I knew this was a tradition we needed to do each and every year. 

Our Elf of the Shelf Playing Cards are easily downloadable, so you can print and play in minutes! If you want to ensure that your cards last through many Elf on the Shelf visits or if the elf will be leaving them for the kids to play with after, be sure to laminate them. 

How Can I print these Mini Playing Cards?

You can print these mini playing cards right at home. All you need is to download the PDF and have a color printer that will print double-sided. I highly recommend printing on a cardstock or laminating to ensure durability. 

Elf on the Shelf Playing Cards

In this Elf on the Shelf Playing cards download you will get a complete set of playing cards, 52 cards in a PDF format. There are even two jokers “elf shoes”. 

Supplies Needed

• Elf on the Shelf
• Elf on the Shelf Name (if they are a brand new elf)
• Printer / colored ink
• Cardstock 
• Scissors / papercutter

Mini Card Game Ideas

There are many card game ideas that you can play with the kdis with your mini elf on the shelf cards. Here are some of our favorites. 

Go Fish

Go Fish is suggested for ages 5+, and only requires a 52-card set.

To Play:

• Choose one person to deal with the cards. If there are fewer than 4 players, each player gets 7 cards; if more than 5, each player gets 5 cards to begin. 
• The dealer gives each player their cards, facedown. The remaining cards go into the middle, or “ocean”.
• The player to the dealer’s left goes first. 
• Each player takes a turn asking other players for certain suits (or kinds) of cards. If that player does not have the card requested, the asker is told to “go fish” from the ocean pile. 
• Once a player has four cards of the same suit, they will place those cards face up like a “book”. 
• Whoever has the most “books” at the end of the game wins!

Snap

Snap is suggested for ages 6+ and requires more than two sets of cards if more than 3 people are playing.

To play:  

• Choose one person to deal all the cards out to the players.
•  Players should not look at their cards and leave them in a pile facedown.
•  The person to the right of the dealer places the first card on the table face up next to their face-down cards. Every player will end up with two piles in front of them.
•  The goal is to notice when two faceup cards match. The first person to yell SNAP gets all the cards in the matching piles! 
• The person with the most cards at the end of the game wins!

Old Maid

Old Maid is a fun game the whole family can play! The goal is to not get the Old Maid.

To play:

• Before starting, the dealer will remove one of the Queen cards so there is no match.
• Choose one person to deal all the cards out to the players.
• Each player will make pairs with the cards they have. Once that is done, the person to the left of the dealer will present their cards, facedown to the person next to them. The goal is to get a pair for a card you already have. 
• If a pair is made, that person puts their pair down and then presents their cards to the person to their right. 
• This continues around the circle until one person has the remaining unpaired Queen. They are the “Old Maid”!

Crazy 8’s

Crazy 8’s is a fun way to incorporate math into family game time.  This game is appropriate for ages 5+. 

To play:

• Choose one person to deal 5 cards to each player, face down. The remaining cards go in a pile in the middle. 
• The dealer will flip the first card over from the pile in the middle to be the discard pile. 
• The person to the left of the dealers will need to place a card that matches the number or suit of the discarded card. 
• This will continue around the table. 
• If a player is unable to match the number or suit, they must draw a card until they are able to play (or up to 5 cards, whichever comes first).
• An 8 card is “wild,” so it can be used in place of another card. When used, the player must state what suit will be next. 
• When a player is out of cards, the round has ended. The players with cards will add up their cards. Face cards are 10 points each, numbered cards are their face value, Aces are 1 point and 8’s are 50 points. 
• After adding up the total, the game will start again with a new dealer.
• Once a player reaches 100, the game is over. The player with the least amount of points wins! 

Other Fun Elf of the Shelf Activities

Can’t think of a way to announce the arrival of your Elf on the Shelf? We have you covered with our Elf of the Shelf Arrival Letter!  

Now that your Elf on the Shelf has arrived, it needs a name! You are sure to find one the whole family can agree on in our list of 140+ Elf on the Shelf names!

Grab your free Elf on the shelf printable cards

Download your free Elf on the Shelf Printable playing cards. Cut them out, and let the fun begin! 

Don’t forget to share your elf on the shelf playing cards with us on Instagram! Tag us @micheletripple. We can’t wait to see the fun!

How Do I access my free printables?

Fill in the form above. You will receive an email in your inbox. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder! You will then click to confirm your subscription. Once confirmed, you will be sent your printable through your email.

How Do I Print a PDF?

You’ll need a program that supports PDFs. Adobe Acrobat is a great option. Open the program, click File, then print. Select your printer and the number of copies you want to print. Be sure you click double-sided if you want it to print on both sides.

Can I resell these?

You may not resell any printable found on our website or in our resource library. You may use them for class parties, at church, at home, or in the classroom. You may get these printed at an office supply store or copy center at your own expense.