DIY Modern Nativity
Level:
Beginner
How-To:
Christmas Decor, Nativity
Seasonal Event:
Christmas
MATERIALS:
- Air dry clay
- Craft wooden rectangles
- 6” x 5”
- 5.35” x 2.6”
- ½” plywood square or craft plaque 12” x 12”
- Small wooden craft stars
- Wire and bamboo skewer
- Linen ribbon
- Toothpicks
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Create the walls of the stable with two of the 6” x 5” pieces. Place one down on your work surface and add a line of hot glue along the 6” edge. Place the 5” edge of the other piece into the glue and hold until secure. You should have vertical wall and one horizontal wall.
- Make the shingled roof of the stable. Layer 4 of the smaller 5.35” x 2.6” rectangles on top of each other, adhering just along the longer edge.
- With the walls standing, glue the roof on.
- If desired, adhere the walls to the wooden base with hot glue to make the stable extra sturdy.
- Make baby Jesus out of the air-dry clay. Roll a ½” ball for the head and a cylinder to match for the body. Roll out a cylinder for the manger that is slightly longer than Jesus with his head and body put together. Press the manger flat and shape the bed and sides with your fingers. Place baby Jesus into the manger and set him aside to dry.
- Create Mary out of air-dry clay. Roll a 1” ball for her head, and an about 1” x 2” cylinder for the body, place the cylinder so that it’s standing taller than it is wider and use your fingers to smooth it into a bell shape. Stick a toothpick into the top of the bell shape to act as the “neck” and place the head onto the toothpick to secure. Set her aside to dry.
- Create the wise man out of air-dry clay. Roll a large cylinder then round the top, roll a 1 ½” ball for his head and a ¼” ball for his hands. To create his staff, pierce the ball for his hands with a narrow popsicle stick or bamboo skewer. Attach the hands and head in place with a toothpick.
- Create the lamb out of air-dry clay. Roll a 1” ball for the head and roll it under your hand until you have a cylinder with one narrower side. Roll a 1” x 2” cylinder for the body. Roll small pieces for the tail and ears. Attach the head to the body of the lamb with a toothpick. Attach the ears and tail, if the clay is a little dry and won’t stick, just add a dab of water, smooth with your fingers then attach.
- To create the springy star, roll a ½” ball of clay then cut it in half, this is the base. Cut a length of wire and hot glue one end to the back of the wooden star. Wrap the rest of the wire around a bamboo skewer or narrow paintbrush leaving the end of the wire straight. Stick the straight end of the wire into the clay half-sphere. Set aside to dry.
- Cut a piece of linen ribbon long enough to act as Mary’s shawl. Fold the two front corners of the ribbon to itself then glue the shawl onto Mary’s head.
- Once all the clay pieces have dried for 24 hours or until completely dry, arrange them into the stable. Glue the star in place on top, set into your décor and enjoy!
