Christmas crafts: Nativity crafts for kids

We love doing crafts in the run-up to Christmas. Over the years we’ve made a few different nativity-themed crafts, ranging from simple preschool crafts, such as the ‘Baby Jesus in the manger’ craft through to more involved craft projects, like our shoebox nativity scene. They’ve all been a lot of fun to make and some of them have become part of our Christmas decorations each year. Here are a few of the nativity crafts that we’ve enjoyed making.

 

 

 

Baby Jesus in the manger

This is a simple craft which is perfect for toddlers or preschoolers.

 

You will need:

• A paper bowl
• Brown paint or a brown paint pen
• Shredded yellow tissue paper
• A cardboard tube
• A white paper napkin
• A small oval shaped piece of cardboard (we cut ours from another cardboard tube)
• A black marker pen
• A glue stick

 

1) Paint the paper bowl brown inside and outside and leave to dry. We used a paint pen but I think paint would work better for this if you have more time.

 

2) Spread a layer of glue on the inside of the paper bowl and fill with shredded yellow tissue paper.

 

 

3) Cover the cardboard tube in glue and wrap the white paper napkin around the cardboard tube.

 

4) Draw a sleeping face on the oval piece of cardboard and glue to the front of the tube.

 

5) Place the cardboard tube baby Jesus on top of the tissue paper hay in the paper bowl manger.

 

 

 

Shoebox Nativity

This is a fabulous craft which my girls absolutely loved making. We made ours a few years ago and it still comes out every Christmas so it’s lasted well! The figures are mostly made from plastic cups, polystyrene balls and scraps of felt. It’s a great craft for preschool or primary school aged children to make although adult help will be required for younger children. You can find full instructions on how to make the shoebox nativity here.

 

 

Angel tree topper

Our angel tree topper was made in memory of our own angel, Jessica. I used the same technique to make our Jessica angel tree-topper as we’d used to make the figures for the shoebox nativity the previous year, but added a little more detail with the arms and used wool for the hair rather than felt. It takes pride of place on top of our tree now instead of a star. This is a lovely craft for primary school aged children to make. You can find full instructions here.

 

 

 

‘Stained-glass’ nativity scene

This ‘stained-glass’ nativity scene made from black cardboard, coloured tissue paper and contact paper is a great craft for primary school children. It looks very effective displayed in a window, especially at night with a light shining behind it. You can find full instructions on how to make it here.

 

 

 

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