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How to Make Christmas Nativity Crafts

lbrummer by lbrummer

Nativity Scenes to Craft

Christmas is a favorite time of year for children and for the child in each of us. We all have memories and mementos of Christmas' past. Have you ever thought about making a nativity scene that could become a family heirloom? Would you if you just knew how to make one? In this article I'll show you how to craft Christmas nativity scenes. Small children love having their own nativity and especially if they have had a hand in making it. This lens will show you pictures of different nativity scenes and stables and take you, at a click, to directions on how to make them. Some of the nativity scenes are easily made and a couple of them will take more time and effort.

Nativity Stable Scene

a family heirloom

holy-family-in-nativity-sceneThis first Nativity Scene is the most time consuming, but also the one that you will treasure when you have finished it. It could definitely become a family treasure especially if everyone has some small part of making it. The step-by-step directions for this Christmas Creche are found by clicking on this link, Nativity Stable Scene.

Nativity Cube

using Digital Pencil Too figures

cube-nativityThis little cube stable is just the right size for the 2 inch sized Holy Family. I also used these Mo Manning digital stamps for the " Pop-up Nativity." The digital stamps are so convenient because you can size them to whatever size you need-no need to buy stamps of every project. They can be purchased at Digital Pencil. Mo gave me written permission to use the printed stamps for this project. This is an easy project for the kids to make. Last year the second grade class made them before Christmas during one of our art classes. They really enjoyed making them. Here are the directions and patterns for this little Nativity Cube.

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It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself. ~Charles Dickens

Nativity Sets

If you don't have the time, or the wish to make a nativity scene, here are some beautiful sets that will soon become a highlight of your Christmas holiday decorations. I have eight children and a few years ago, each of their families recieved a nativity set for Christmas. The following year they recieved stables for the sets. Years ago I started giving them their family Christmas gift at Thanksgiving so they could use the gift that Christmas. It has become one of our family traditions, that the grandchildren look forward to. One year they recieved Christmas dishes, the next year gold plated tableware, etc.
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Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men falling to their knees in adoration of the sweet baby, the incarnation of perfect love. ~Lucinda Franks

Craft Stick Christmas Nativity

from Craftbits

craft-stick-nativitySuch a simple, but beautiful Christmas creche. Who would believe, from the looks of this project, that it is made from craft sticks and wooden dollpins? I really like the stained wood look although I suppose a person could paint them also. I would suggest having the older kids do this, as a grandmother I know that I would appreciate it as a homemade gift from a grandchild. The directions are simple and easy to follow. You'll find all the information on Craftbits.

Kids & Glitter

art and craft blog

kids-and-glitter-logo

This is a perfect blog for the elementary teacher who needs to have art classes, but doesn't have time to prepare for them. This site has projects for students grades 1-6. Each project shows pictures, supplies lists, directions and patterns. Some also include PowerPoint presentations to enhance the lesson. If you visit this site, you'll want to bookmark it for future uses. Visit the Kids & Glitter home page.



Pop-Up Nativity

with Mo Manning figures

pop-up-nativityWhat kid wouldn't want a Nativity of their own. This is sure to be a keeper. The figure illustrations are copyright Mo Manning, so you will have to purchase them from her at Digital Pencil Too. Once you have her nativity illustrations, you can size them however you want and use them for other projects. Size the figures about 3 inches tall for this project. Mo gave me written permission to use the printed stamps for this project.
You will find the directions and patterns for the Pop-Up Nativityhere.

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

Star Attraction

birth announcement

star-frameIt's always fun to do a project with smiling faces-it puts you in a happy mood and that is very important during the Christmas season. In this project happy star faces surround the framed poem about a star announcing the Baby on Christmas day. The kids will understand that Jesus is the reason we're celebrating Christmas, so this is a good project to use at school or church. The directions and patterns can be found on the Kids & Glitter site.

Nativity Scene

from Catholic Icing

nativity-scene-from-catholic-icingWhen you have little children who want to "do projects" and you want to keep the cost minimal, this great looking Nativity scene is just what you're looking for. One of the supplies needed is tp or paper towel rolls, so you'll want to start saving and collecting them right away. You could also use the empty gift wrap rolls that you'll be using soon. Very nice directions and patterns for this Nativity Scene can be found at Catholic Icing.

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Amkatee A variety of very interesting and informative articles.
JoshK47 Josh writes on a wide variety of things, from physical fitness to video games to sci-fi TV shows.
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tonigrundstrom Articles on many different and interesting subjects.

Tissue Box Nativity Set

from Mommie911

Recyling is a lesson on it's own, but with this project your child will see how, with a little imagination, something useful can be made with something that could be just tossed. I thought this was another project that would be fun to do with a child and one that he or she might save for years to come. You can find the directions and patterns for this Tissue Box Nativity Set on the Mommie911 site.

Christmas Nativity Books

remembering the reason for the season

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Portrait of Mary and Jesus

using oil pastels

mary-jesus-portraitChristmas card pictures of Mary and Jesus were the guide to our oil pastel art. We lightly drew an outline with pencil before starting with the oil pastels. This is another great project to use for a school or church lesson about the Nativity of Jesus. The students love working with the oil pastels, especially using them to show shadow. This project, "Portrait of Mary and Jesus," with directions is on this page of the Kids & Glitter site.

Clay Pot Nativity

from Craftily Ever After

clay-pot-nativityIsn't this little three piece Nativity just too cute? This would be so cute and appropriate sitting on a shelf in the kitchen or dining room. I was searching for other nativity crafts to feature on this lens and thought you would probably love this set too. The site has easy to follow directions and pictures to help you make this project. Craftily Ever After is the place to go for this Clay Pot Nativity.

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~Peg Bracken

Starry Night in Bethlehem

starry-night-in-bethlehemWe called this project "Starry Night in Bethlehem" because we were fashioning this project after the Van Gogh painting "Starry Night." With this project we hope to imagine the starry night being a special one in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. For the directions for this project, we take you to the "Kids & Glitter site.

And so, this Christmas season
may our hearts with gladness glow,
As we read the blessed story
That took place so long ago.
--Alpha L. Buntain

Standing Nativity

another use for the Digital Pencil Too figures

standing-nativityThis little stand up Nativity uses one sheet of card stock. I have included a blank pattern for the stand up which will help with placing the figures. I used the Nativity stamps from Digital Pencil Too, and sized them to Joseph (6 inches tall) and the shepherd (5 3/8 inches tall.) These are the same digital stamps as used in the projects, "Pop-up Nativity" and "Nativity Cube." Here are the directions for this Standing Nativity.

Crocheted Nativity Set

from favecrafts

Making a Nativity set with crocheted figures would never have entered my mind, but I saw this while searching for different examples of Nativities and was impressed with this set. I don't do alot of crocheting anymore, but it looks like I'll have to get my needles out to make this----it would be a perfect gift for someone in the nursing home. It would be easy to store and unbreakable. favecrafts is the place you'll find this creche.

Christmas Music

This is really a nice way to be able to listen to the music before ordering. If you click on a CD you'll be taken to the Amazon page and under the picture of the CD on the left side there is a button called "Listen." Then you can choose which selection you want to hear. Cool!

God's Gift Wreath

cardboard wreath

gods-gift-wreathThe basis of this wreath is a cardboard circle. A banner reading, "God's Greatest Gift," reminds us why we celebrate the greatest holiday, Christmas. This is an easy project that would work perfectly as an addition to a school or church class reading the Christmas story. You can find this project, with directions and patterns, on this Kids & Glitter website page.

Away In the Manger

from Family Fun

away-in-the-mangerThis little folk art Nativity creche is an outstanding craft for the children to make. Just imagine how proud and happy they will be to display this homemade manger and all the figurines. Pipecleaners, yarn and cotton balls are some of the supplies used in this homemade creche. The site also has very easy to understand directions and pictures to help put the set together. Check this site out, I'm sure you'll be glad you did. This "Away In The Manger" project is from Family Fun

Great little One! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth.
~Richard Crashaw

Manger Scene

from Scrapbook Scrapbook

manger-sceneThis Manger Scene project from Scrapbook, Scrapbook has printable patterns available on their site. This is an appropriate project for little kids as well as for elementary age children. A very nice Nativity project for a family or for a church or school class. Everything you need for this project in found on the Scrapbook Scrapbook site.

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Wooden Nativity

from Scrap Warrior

nativity-by-scrap-warriorThese Christmas Nativity figures are made with clay or wooden flower pots and wooden balls. There is an example of a painted set, but I really like the natural colored clay pots and wooden heads. This is another little Nativity set that would look nice on a shelf or in a curio cabinet. I think I'm going to have to start a collection of homemade with love Christmas creches. For pictures and directions go to Scrap Warrior

At Christmas, all roads lead home. ~Marjorie Holmes

Please Share a Christmas Memory

or thought

  • tonigrundstrom Dec 30, 2011 @ 3:49 pm | delete
    These are great craft ideas for Christmas. Blessed by a SquidAngel.
  • hamshi5433 Dec 29, 2011 @ 9:04 am | delete
    I love this idea! Might give it a try next year..I enjoyed it very much..
  • Oracle_Post Dec 23, 2011 @ 8:57 pm | delete
    Great and informative lens for the upcoming Christmas!
  • JoyfulPamela Dec 23, 2011 @ 4:42 pm | delete
    I love your ideas to create fun family Nativity sets! I'm featuring this on my Christmas Bible lens. *Squidoo Angel blessed!*
  • RenaissanceWoman2010 Dec 17, 2011 @ 9:29 am | delete
    I love these nativity craft ideas and appreciate all of the resources here. The music video is wonderful -- great song. And, I absolutely love the quote about love being what one hears in the room when pausing the other activities long enough to listen. Yes!
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My name is Loraine and I live in a small village, Bow Valley, Nebraska. I am sort of retired, but there are too many things I still want to do. I volu... more »

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start a family tradition

Kurt Adler UL 10 Light 16-Inch Platinum Angel Treetop

Kurt Adler UL 10 Light 16-Inch Platinum Angel Treetop

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