Clay Pot Nativity

Last December, I found a box of little clay pots at a thrift store.

Thirty for $1.25!

I didn't need them.

I had no idea of what I would use them for.

But, they were SO tiny and SO cute,

I  had to buy them.

A few days later,  I found Jennifer's craft

at Kids on the Grand.

Perfect!

To make it easier for my daughter, I glued the beads on the night before.

For Joseph and Mary and I bought the kind with one flat side.

Beka painted the pots and the basin,

then glued moss down.

Baby Jesus just needed a square of fabric,

some cotton,

pretty sure this is from a bottle of Advil,

'cuz I'm thrifty like that,

and one tiny bead.

A little glue, a little folding, and a little more gluing.

The beard was a little scraggly.

 

Her sister is a cosmetologist, so Beka was very confident

she knew just how to trim a beard.

 

The finishing touch was to set the family on a slice of wood

I had squirreled away in my craft room.

Do you keep things just because you like them

and you think you might need them some day?

A fun, inexpensive craft, a fun memory, and a holiday

decoration we'll use for years.

Jessica from Craftily Ever After had her own version.

I loved her idea of using burlap.

Janet posted this one at Design Dazzle.

Isn't it adorable?

This craft is a good way to inspire your family

to keep

Christ

in

Christmas.

Hanging on a Tree

Sometimes, those good intentions from previous Christmas seasons can be a head start for another year.

Two years ago, I ordered some adorable nativity craft kits from Oriental Trading Company, made a few the first year, made a few with the neighbors the second year, storing  them in my antique buffet in the dining room for two years altogether.

I packed them in a wicker basket with glue guns and brought them to my  homeschool co-op.  The rules require me to be in study hall with Rebekah 8:30-3:15 every Wednesday.  I have found we enjoy the time more if I bring a craft, an educational project or a game to share with the other kids.

The nativity kits were a bit complicated for young kids, so required an adult or two constantly at attention with the glue gun. When I made them with much younger kids, I glued most of the stable together and glued the clothing on ahead of time.  It really takes a trial run ahead of time, sometimes, to know how well a craft time with kids will go.

I love watching kids create, and give them the freedom to make changes as they want. Kids often have good ideas of how they want things to look, and will think of things adults don't.

My heart was thrilled to ask these kids what they knew about the Lord and His birth and to hear the precious truths their parents are storing up in their hearts. One young girl wanted to give her nativity set to her grandpa because he wasn't a Christian, and she was very concerned about him. Another young man began sharing about the Rapture, and the appropriate verses he was learning in a Bible class.

I made sure each child wrote their name and the date on the back of their ornament to commemorate their achievement.

The young kids went excitedly home with a precious treasure, something they made, and could hardly wait to hang them on their Christmas trees.

But, more importantly, they have the treasure of the truth of the Savior's birth stored up in their hearts, and will have eternity in Heaven if they hang their sins on the tree where He was crucified.

Matthew 1:21

"And she shall bring forth a son,

and you shall call his name JESUS:

for He shall save His people from their sins."