A creative mum decided to create her own Elf on the Shelf by using a condom.
Sapphire Grimes-Williams, 24, loved the idea of letting her daughter Alayla Kelly pop a balloon with the toy elf inside.
But instead of forking the £16 on the adorable toy, the mum decided to craft her very own – by using a Johnny.
After creating it herself with a balloon, Sapphire used a fresh condom and was thrilled when the full toy slipped easily inside.
The mum had considered buying larger balloons online but claims the delivery date would have been too late.
Sapphire admits the contraception was “slimy” and she had to give it a good wash.
Photos show the condom looking unrecognisable for its new use which was decorated with sequins, smaller balloons and bows.
The five-year-old was thrilled when she saw the return of the Elf on the Shelf.
Sapphire, from Shrewsbury, said: “I’m a bit overwhelmed by the attention I got. I wasn’t expecting it at all.
“My sister was like, ‘to be honest with you, it is an absolutely amazing invention’ but my family are used to me doing things like that.
“I wasn’t expecting that reaction.”
The mum was stunned to see someone advertising the toys for £16, so she decided to make it herself.
Speaking about the creation, she said: “I thought about using a jar but I liked the idea of my daughter popping the balloon on the day.
“It just wouldn’t get in the balloon so [I had to use a condom]. I used a couple because they were breaking as I was putting it in.
“It went in. It was quite easy actually. I was quite chuffed. It went into the condom really easily. I was quite surprised about it.
“I didn’t really think of it being a funny idea but I sent it to my sister and she said, ‘Sapphire, that’s absolutely amazing’.”
Sapphire claims Alayla loved the balloon when she woke up last week to find the elf waiting for her in its condom quarantine.
She shared pictures of the creation online, revealing the use of the condom, which secured more than 3,000 likes and comments.
The personal trainer said: “Alayla’s reaction was brilliant.
“I put it down in the evening and she woke up to it in the morning, and all I heard from her was, ‘mummy come here now’.
“I asked, ‘what’s the matter, what’s wrong?’, she said, ‘come here’. I walked into the room and she said, ‘the elf is back – in a balloon’.”
Sapphire added: “I read out the letter to her and she was like, ‘mum, do we get him out now?’.
“I said, ‘no baby, he’s got to stay in there because he needs to self-isolate’.
“She has picked up on the virus quite well so she understands he’s got to stay in there because he’s come from the North Pole.
“I told her he’s got to isolate. It’s been a really good response.
“I thought, with a child touching a condom, there would be a lot of mixed reviews from people but obviously to her it’s a balloon.”