Elf on the Shelf Story
Meet the Mastermind Mom Who Came Up With the Elf on the Shelf
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When it comes to putting parental creativity to the test, nothing does the job quite like the Elf on the Shelf. The book and corresponding "scout elf" have fast become part of thousands of families' Christmas traditions, and now there's a celebratory Birthday Tradition Elf to keep the fun going throughout the year. We chatted with Chanda Bell, one of Santa's favorite employees, and cofounder of the Elf on the Shelf, to learn about the mischievous North Pole resident's humble origins.
POPSUGAR Moms: Let's begin from the beginning. How did the Elf on the Shelf come to be?
Chanda Bell: Both my mom and I have backgrounds as teachers. I was an English, reading, and social studies teacher and stayed home to become a mom and was just absolutely broke. My husband's also a teacher — we did not have two pennies to rub together. My dad employed me to come work for him two days a week. They lived about an hour away, so I'd bring my infant son and stay with them. It was during that time that I looked up one day and saw our [family's] very own elf that we had growing up with. He was up on the shelf, just staring back at me. I looked at my mom and said, 'Mom, we should write a story about our elf.' And it really was just that, there was no intent to start a business. I didn't know I'd eventually be working for Santa Claus! It was really a way for my mom and I to spend some time together. I think that our backgrounds as educators certainly played in. We just combined our skills and passions and ended up writing what is now The Elf on the Shelf.
We couldn't get anyone to publish it. Long story short, we ended up self-publishing. Ignorance is definitely bliss, and we had no idea what we were getting into — we're so glad it happened that way. We put our first order of 5,000 units on my husband's and my personal credit card. It was quite the adventure, for sure.
![PSM: How did the tradition take off?
CB: Like every good tradition, this one's evolved over time. The elf got a name, he now does more than just fly back and forth. The story as it's written is based upon our own family's personal tradition [Chanda ultimately founded The Elf on the Shelf with her mom, Carol Aebersold, and twin sister, Christa Pitts] and the experience of our elf. "Fizzy" was our elf’s name.
I always knew how special this tradition would be to others because we knew what it meant to us growing up. I'm 40, and I remember talking to my elf, telling him what I wanted for Christmas . . . as a tradition, I knew what this would mean for families.
I'm so thankful that everything happened the way that it did. I think if a publisher had picked it up, I don't think that they would have loved [the Elf] the way we do.](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/jCvsuHrcMIoUVDMnBS9M1FJSwN8/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2014/09/11/115/n/24155406/4b5168d1755b5237_1577/i/PSM-How-did-tradition-take-off.jpg "PSM: How did the tradition take off?
CB: Like every good tradition, this one's evolved over time. The elf got a name, he now does more than just fly back and forth. The story as it's written is based upon our own family's personal tradition [Chanda ultimately founded The Elf on the Shelf with her mom, Carol Aebersold, and twin sister, Christa Pitts] and the experience of our elf. \"Fizzy\" was our elf’s name.
I always knew how special this tradition would be to others because we knew what it meant to us growing up. I'm 40, and I remember talking to my elf, telling him what I wanted for Christmas . . . as a tradition, I knew what this would mean for families.
I'm so thankful that everything happened the way that it did. I think if a publisher had picked it up, I don't think that they would have loved [the Elf] the way we do.")
PSM: How did the tradition take off?
CB: Like every good tradition, this one's evolved over time. The elf got a name, he now does more than just fly back and forth. The story as it's written is based upon our own family's personal tradition [Chanda ultimately founded The Elf on the Shelf with her mom, Carol Aebersold, and twin sister, Christa Pitts] and the experience of our elf. "Fizzy" was our elf’s name.
I always knew how special this tradition would be to others because we knew what it meant to us growing up. I'm 40, and I remember talking to my elf, telling him what I wanted for Christmas . . . as a tradition, I knew what this would mean for families.
I'm so thankful that everything happened the way that it did. I think if a publisher had picked it up, I don't think that they would have loved [the Elf] the way we do.
![PSM: How into the elf do your kids [Chanda's son is 12, and her daughter is 8] get?
CB: It's what I do for a living, but I have the extra magic of getting to celebrate as a mom. My children are absolutely enamored with their elf. My daughter talks about it year-round. My son (before he found out "the truth") was equally as enamored. A lot of our fun product ideas come from them.
Elves really match the personality of their families. Some fly back and forth to the North Pole every night. Others are extremely creative. We're probably somewhere in between. He leaves notes every now and then or will spell something out in M&Ms. The thing I'm most proud of is the way that my kids create special memories.
The Elf on the Shelf ($30)](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/OpmpN8B_xPqliRyyjUyAJl_z0AU/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2014/09/11/114/n/24155406/d36f52c93b9902a9_0197_boxset_ltboy_elfonboxset_silo_RGB/i/PSM-How-elf-do-your-kids-Chanda-son-12-her.jpg "PSM: How into the elf do your kids [Chanda's son is 12, and her daughter is 8] get?
CB: It's what I do for a living, but I have the extra magic of getting to celebrate as a mom. My children are absolutely enamored with their elf. My daughter talks about it year-round. My son (before he found out \"the truth\") was equally as enamored. A lot of our fun product ideas come from them.
Elves really match the personality of their families. Some fly back and forth to the North Pole every night. Others are extremely creative. We're probably somewhere in between. He leaves notes every now and then or will spell something out in M&Ms. The thing I'm most proud of is the way that my kids create special memories.
The Elf on the Shelf ($30)")
PSM: How into the elf do your kids [Chanda's son is 12, and her daughter is 8] get?
CB: It's what I do for a living, but I have the extra magic of getting to celebrate as a mom. My children are absolutely enamored with their elf. My daughter talks about it year-round. My son (before he found out "the truth") was equally as enamored. A lot of our fun product ideas come from them.
Elves really match the personality of their families. Some fly back and forth to the North Pole every night. Others are extremely creative. We're probably somewhere in between. He leaves notes every now and then or will spell something out in M&Ms. The thing I'm most proud of is the way that my kids create special memories.
The Elf on the Shelf ($30)
PSM: Where did the idea for the Birthday Tradition come from?
CB: Elves are ageless, elves are timeless. We got so many letters from children asking if their elves that they love could come back for their birthdays. It came from our fan base. We would never put out anything to be kitschy or to make money. It really is about creating special family moments. It's about tradition, and people long for that. Our goal is to make that simple for them and help them create traditions and family memories.
PSM: Tell us about what the Birthday Tradition encompasses.
CB: My mom and I got together to figure out how to incorporate the elves into kids' birthdays and for it to be meaningful and not just for them to show up.
There's a tradition where the elves decorate chairs for the special birthday person for 24 hours. The children have to invite the elf. They can write a note; we have an elf invitation creator online; or email us. There is a variety of ways it can happen. The elf puts on the birthday costume and decorates the child's chair for their birthday. Sometimes it has little gifts or trinkets attached. My daughter had her elf come back in May. We talked about it for weeks. They just fly in for 24 hours, in time for their special day, then it’s time to go back to the North Pole!
