This craft is an easy activity with the kids and a great way to focus on and celebrate Jesus this Christmas season.
Materials needed:
- White card stock
- Brown paint and paintbrush
- few pieces of straw
- glue
- black marker
- construction paper or paints in blue, tan, brown and yellow
- gold star sticker (optional)
What to do:
- For the manger, we painted the side of the child's curved hand with brown paint and stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock. I have also seen a footprint as the manger or a handprint with the 4 fingers (no thumb) as the feet/stand. We cut two pieces of brown construction paper and glued them criss-cross for the base of the manger.
- We glued a few pieces of straw to line the manger with.
- For Baby Jesus, we cut blue construction paper in the shape of a swaddled body and a tan circle for the face onto which we drew the eyes and mouth with black marker. We then glued the baby to lay on top of the manger. You may also choose to use paint or colored markers to draw Baby Jesus or stamp the child's fingerprints for the body and head.
- For a finishing touch, we drew a gold star in the upper corner. You may instead glue a gold star or use a glittery sticker of one.
- You may have the child add the following poem:
"I used my hand to make a manger, a place for Jesus to lay. I'll use my heart so full of love, as a place for Jesus to stay."
Merry Christmas!
