While bought nativity scenes are beautiful. They are often easily broken. There is something really magic in the family making a nativity scene of their own, and doing it together.

For the stable
Materials you will need:

• Cardboard box or small wooden crate
• Match box
• Brown Paper
• Cardboard
• Gold Glitter
• Toy sheep, cows, goats, camels and a donkey
• Short pieces of straw

• Cover the cardboard box in brown paper. If you are using a crate you don't need to cover it
• Place the straw on the floor of the stable
• Place the animals at the back of the stable
• Cover the matchbox inner with brown paper and place on the straw. This is the manger.
• Fold a piece of material to look like a baby and place it in the manger.
• Cut out a star from the cardboard. Spread glue on both sides and sprinkle gold glitter on the star. Hang it above the stable.

• 6-7 toilet roll inners
• 6-7 ping pong balls
• Scrap pieces of material
• Gum Paper
• Tissue Paper
• Tin foil
• Pieces of wool
• Glue

• Cover each toilet roll inner (keep three separate) with scraps of material. You could use sacking cloth for the shepards. Use blue for Mary and choose a color for Joseph.
• Glue a ping ball on each inner for their heads.
• Glue headdresses on each one and tie a piece of wool around their heads.
• Draw their faces using a fine permanent marker.

• Cover the three remaining inners with pieces of bright colored gum paper.
• Using tissue paper, tin foil or wrapping paper create a different cloak for each Wise man. Glue to one side of the inner.
• Glue their ping pong ball heads on.
• Make headdresses for them too, or fashion crowns out of card or gum paper.
• Draw their faces using a fine permanent marker.

Have a wonderful, memory-making family time!!

Blessings from Africa
MissTy (Tania Collins)
Tania is a single mom to 2 special red-heads (8 & 5 yrs). To support them she has 2 infant websites growing and developing at Total Baby Guide and at TotalBabyGuide. Why 2 sites? Check her blog for her story.