How to make a Baby Jesus and Manger with Your Children

It is the season to get out the Nativity sets and teach our kids about the meaning of Christmas. I like this project because it is a great craft to do with kids and it gives them their own manger and baby Jesus to play with. My kids adore this homemade baby Jesus and manger. They like putting in the raffia "hay" to make a soft bed for the baby. You can also make this a game. Each time your child does something thoughtful or selfless give them a piece of "hay" for the baby. The goal is to have the manger full by Christmas.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glue Gun
• Glue Sticks
• 12 popcicle sticks
• 2 2x2" (1/4" thick)
• Raffia
• cotton ball
• White felt square 4x4"
• Skin color fabric (cloth bandage wraps work well) 4x4"
• Gold glitter
• Burlap square 4x6"
• 2 pieces of cardboard 4x1"
• Brown colored string 3"

1. Plug in your glue gun and make sure a new glue stick is inserted.
   Arrange all of your materials on your work space.
   Take 8 of your popsicle sticks and cut them in half.
   Sprinkle about a Teaspoon of gold glitter on a plate or newspaper.

2. When the glue is heated thoroughly you are ready. Take 2 popsicle sticks and 1 of your wood squares (2x2). Place the wood square so that the point is facing North. It should look like a diamond on your work surface. Glue the 2 popsicle sticks on the 2 bottom angles (they will make a "V"). Repeat with the other wood square. You have now make the 2 ends of your manger. Let dry.

3. Now take the 2 cardboard rectangles. You will be gluing these to the 2 ends of the manger you just made. Take one manger end, stand it up with the popsicle stick legs standing up on the table. Glue the short end of the cardboard rectangle to the underside of the manger end. Take the other manger end and line it up with the cardboard manger side you just glued. This should also be glued to the underside of the wood diamond.

4. Repeat on other side with other cardboard rectangle. Let dry. You have just made the manger frame. Note: you will have a small opening at the bottom of the manger where the baby Jesus will lay. Don't worry we will be covering this later.

5. Take the cut popsicle sticks and glue them vertically along the cardboard rectangles (manger sides). This will resemble the bars of a crib. Let dry.

6. Take your burlap piece and glue it to the inside sides of your manager, this will keep the baby Jesus inside the manger. Let dry. You just completed the manger.

7. Now for the baby Jesus. Take your cotton ball and make it the size your desire for the baby's head. Take your skin colored fabric and wrap it around the cotton ball creating a head. Secure with the string. Make sure there are no wrinkles. Take your glue gun and draw a circle of glue on top of the head immediately dip into your gold glitter. Now the baby Jesus had a crown/halo etc. Draw a face. I just make two sleepy eyes (2 small u' s for the eyes and a little smile).

8. Take your white felt square, lay on table. Place your baby head on top. You will wrap the felt square around the brown fabric to resemble a swaddled baby. Make sure the head is sticking out. Secure with glue.
   Let dry.

9. Fill your manger with the raffia hay. Place the baby inside.

Tips & Warnings

• You could get really creative and paint the manger or decorate it with glitter.
• Make it a game: Hand out the hay, one strand at a time, in acknowledgement of good behavior. Have it filled by Christmas.
• Warn your children about the hot glue.

[sneedc]

on 12/22/2008 Good family project for this time of year. Baby Jesus is my favorite.

[rorsich]

on 12/19/2008 Cool! Not big on religion myself, atleast not really, but I will pass this on!

[kkemp]

on 12/15/2008 Great idea!