Nativity scenes are one of the most iconic Christmas decorations around and there are so many styles from which to choose.
Some are elaborate and detailed, while others may be small and simple.
But no matter the style, nativities can be pricey. Instead of buying one, try making one to save yourself a few bucks. Here's how to make a simple DIY Christmas wooden nativity.
1. Take the medium-sized peg doll and cut out a circle of felt that is twice as wide as the doll is tall (this doll was about two inches tall, so we cut out a four-inch circle). Cut a one-inch hole in the center and cut open one side.
2. Wrap the circle of felt around the doll up to its "neck," keeping the felt tight against the doll's "body." Hot glue the felt together where it meets and cut off the excess.
3. Trim the bottom of the felt "dress" according to the doll's height.
4. Cut out a rectangle of a different color of felt that's long enough to go over the top of Mary's head and touch the bottom of her dress on both sides and wide enough to touch the bottom of her dress in the back.
5. Hot glue the center of the square of felt to the top of Mary's head.
6. Hot glue the bottom of the felt on the head to the bottom of Mary's dress in the back.
7. Hot glue the two front corners of the felt on Mary's head to the bottom of the front of her dress.
8. To get the excess felt out of the way, pinch it together in the back and glue it down.
9. Cut off the excess felt.
And that's it for Mary!
1. Cut a rectangle of felt and hot glue it around the large peg doll, removing any excess from the bottom.
2. Cut a second rectangle of felt in a different color that goes halfway down the doll's body when draped over its head.
3. Hot glue the felt to the top of the dolls head and to the sides of its body.
4. Pinch the back of the felt together and glue into place.
5. Cut off the excess in the back.
6. Wrap a piece of string or twine around the doll's head and glue it into place in the back. Joseph is done!
1. Cut out a triangle of fabric that's twice as wide as the small doll is tall (this doll was about an inch tall, so the triangle is two inches wide) and just tall enough to cover the body of the doll up to its neck in both front and back.
2. Hot glue the felt in place on both the front and the back of the doll.
3. Glue down the sides of the lower part of the felt triangle to the sides of the doll.
4. Wrap one side of the triangle around the doll and glue it in place.
5. Wrap the other side around and hot glue it down. Baby Jesus is ready!
6. Your little nativity scene is ready to be displayed!
Get creative and hot glue popsicle sticks together to make a creche for your nativity scene.
Show off the nativity you made by hand. It'll be a conversation piece the entire season!
Morgen Henderson is a writer who grew up in Utah. She lived in the Dominican Republic for a year and a half, where she was involved in humanitarian service. Some of Morgen's work has appeared in State of Digital, The Next Scoop and TechPatio. In her free time, she loves to travel, bake, master DIY projects and improve her Spanish skills.