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“Away in a Manger” Craft – Guest Post by Jocelyn

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Today is the Nativity day!  Like last year I am going to get out all of our different nativity sets and let the kids play with them each individually during quiet time.  My kids love it, and it is fun to see them interact with the different nativities.


I am very excited to have Jocelyn as a guest writer today!  I found her amazing blog last year and then later found out that she actually knows my sister from when my sister lived out in DC.  Small world!  

Joceyln is an amazing mother, writer, crafter, and missionary you can read more about her here.  Her blog We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ is spiritually uplifting and something I look forward to reading daily.  So go check it out! 

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“Away in a Manger” Craft


My daughter made a manger/baby Jesus ornament just like this one year in the nursery at church.  She loved it so much that she ended up carrying it around with her.  It was so special to her, and seeing it on our tree was special to me.  We made a few more the following year to go along with our family’s reading of The Animals’ Christmas Eve and this craft has been a yearly tradition in our family ever since!


Here is how you make this “Away In A Manger” craft:

Here’s what you’ll need:
14 wooden craft sticks, 4 1/2 in. long
white felt
spanish moss
yellow (straw-like) raffia
doll pins cut in half
a hot glue gun


First, place two craft sticks 2 1/2 inches apart.

I placed them on a piece of construction paper and marked the measurements with a pen, making it easier to keep my sticks parallel and to keep each side uniform.


Spread glue on the top half of each stick, and lay five other wooden craft sticks across your
two sticks like this. Use the top edge of your paper as a guide to keep everything aligned.

If you are using hot glue, you might want to add the glue as you go.

Repeat this process to create the other side of your manger.


When both sides have dried, pick up both sides of the manger and hold them together with the smooth sides facing.

Line up the legs so they are next to each other but not directly on top of each other.



Now, open the manger in your hand like you are opening a greeting card.


Add a dab of hot glue to the “joints” on the underside of the manger.

It will dry quickly in your hand, so make sure that you have your manger positioned the way that you want it.



Tie a small amount of raffia around the “legs” of the manger just to hide the glue.


Set your manger aside. Pull out your doll pin, which has previously been cut in half.

(Note: You can also use an extra wooden craft stick instead of a doll pin, if you do not have access to a saw.  If you do this, just add some batting around your craft stick to create a “body”, and continue following the instructions as shown.)


Cut a piece of white felt that measures 2 1/2 by 2 inches.


Wrap your baby Jesus in it and glue to secure.


Add a face with markers if you wish.


Add a small bit of glue to the inside of your manger and line the manger with spanish moss.


Place baby Jesus lovingly in the manger…as shown.

You might choose to glue your baby Jesus into the manger.

I did not because my kids like to play with him.


Adjust the moss until he is nice and comfy.

When you are finished, you should end up with something like this.


Looking for more Christmas crafts and books to read with your children this season?
Check out my list of the best Christmas Books for Young Children for 2009, 2010 and 2011.


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Thanks Jocelyn, what a cute idea!  I think we will make this today!
{Actually I know we will because I’m going right now to buy the stuff to do it!}

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for the “When I Grow Up, I’ll Go on a Mission book Giveaway!!

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