How to Make a Modern Nativity Playset and Carry Bag

DIY Modern Nativity Playset with Custom Carry Bag

Supplies and Tools

For the Wood Figures:

• Dowel Rod, Square ¾.” (cut measurements are below)
• Dowel Rod, Square 1” x 11.”
• Lg. Popsicle Stick, or Yard Stick
• Miter Saw Power Tool and/or Small Handsaw with Miter Box
• Sandpaper-Medium Grit
• Wood Glue or Tacky Glue
• Dowel Caps ¾”-3
• Button Dowel Plug 3/8”- 1

For Decorating the Figures:

• Foam Brushes
• Chalk Type Paint in White, Brown, Blue or Teal, and Silver Grey (optional) OR Multi-Surface Craft Paints
• Clear Wax w/ Paper Towel to Apply (if using chalk type craft paint)
• Muslin Scrap for Mary
• Glue Gun w/ Glue Stick
• Small Decorative Cord

For the Small Carry Bag (optional):

• Nativity SVG from the Creative Resource Library
• Twine
• Muslin or Canvas -OR- you can purchase a bag a pre-made bag
• Sewing Machine if you’re going to sew your own bag
• Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat and Ruler -OR- Scissors and a ruler
• Iron-on Vinyl (black, brown, or silver)
• Cricut Maker or Explore Air 2
• Light Grip Cutting Mat or Standard (Green) Cutting Mat
• Scissors
• Cricut Easy Press Mini (recommended), Cricut Easy Press, or Household Iron
• Easy Press Mat, Pressing Blanket or Ironing Board

Directions

Step One: Cut the Wood and Large Popsicle Stick

Using a Mitre Saw, or small saw, cut the wood dowels. Cut the ¾” square dowel into 2 pieces. One is 1 ¾”. The other is ¾.” Cut the smallest part first. Then cut the 1” square dowel into 4 parts. One is 4”, one 3”, one 2 ½” and one ¾.” Then, cut the large Popsicle stick or yardstick at a slight angle on each side to look like wings. I actually use pruners or my Tonic sheers to cut thin wood like this. But a small saw and miter box work great as well.

Step Two: Rough Sand and then Paint the Wood

Using medium grit sandpaper lightly sand the cut ends and the corner edges of the wood pieces. This just helps knock down any of the rough cut edges and preps the pieces for painting.

Using a foam brush, paint the wood in the colors you want. I used a brown, a white, and a blue-green chalk-style paint. Paint them as shown in the photo. Let dry. Then add a second coat if needed. Let that dry.

Step Three: Sand the Painted Wood and Apply a Wax (optional)

Using medium grit sandpaper lightly sand the edges of the painted dowels and go lightly over the paint as well.

If you used a chalk-style paint then you’ll want to add clear wax. If you used regular multi-surface craft paint you can skip this step. To add the wax use the paper towel and a small amount of the clear wax. Lightly swipe it across the surface of the paint. The surface of the paint sucks it up and it seals the surface for a really nice finish.

Step Four: Add the Dowel Caps and Button.

Using the wood glue, or tacky glue if that’s what you happen to have, glue the wood dowel caps to the three larger 1” painted dowel pieces. Then glue the button to one side of the ¾” x 1 ¾” to make Baby Jesus as shown.

Step Five: Make the Sheep

Using the glue again, adhere the two smallest pieces together to make the sheep. You can look at the photo as a reference for placement.

Step Six: Add the Finishing Touches

Using the glue, attach the wings to the back of the angel, and a small wooden star to it’s front. Then use the decorative cord or ribbon to make a belt for the angel. Use a small piece of twine to tie around Joseph’s waist and use a scrap of muslin to make a small head shawl for Mary. If you want, you can glue a little tuft of wool to the sheep for a tail.

Step Seven: Download the Nativity SVG from the Creative Resource Library or make your own Carry Bag

In the Creative Resource Library go to the section marked SVG files and click on the link to the Modern Nativity Carry Bag. Then download it to your computer.

Step Eight: Upload the SVG into Cricut Design Space

In Cricut Design Space, open up a new canvas and select “Upload” from the side toolbar. Next, select “Browse” and grab your .svg file. In your uploads select the new file and click “Insert Image.”

Step Nine: Size the Design and Make it!

To appropriately size the design I created a template of the bag. To do this, you just click on the “Shapes” option on the left side toolbar on your screen. Then choose a square. If you select the image and click on the lock you can then go and adjust the height and width of your square to make it the right size for this project. I made mine about 9″h x 6″w. Then, I adjusted the size of my design by changing the width in the top toolbar to 3.5″. Because my image is locked it automagically adjusts the height in proportion.

Then as soon as you’ve decided on the size of the image- REMOVE THE RECTANGLE by selecting it and then deleting it. Now, click on the “Make it” in the upper right corner. Woo-hoo!!!

Step Ten: Cut the Iron-On Vinyl and Weed it

Make SURE YOUR MIRROR the image. Then set up your mat and choose the setting for iron-on vinyl. Use the fine tip blade and a light blue or green mat. Follow the prompts on the screen.

Step Eleven: Cut the Fabric and Twine for Your Bag

Using a rotary cutter or scissors, cut two pieces of canvas or heavy muslin 9” x 6 ½”. Then cut a piece of twine about 18” long.

With a sewing machine, fold over the top ¾” of both pieces, and inside the fold, lay your twine. Then sew the edge at the ¾” being careful NOT to sew across the string. It needs to be able to slide along the inside edge so that you can draw the bag closed. Repeat with the second piece of canvas.

Then, right sides together, stitch around the side and bottom of the bag.

I used a straight stitch but you can use an overlock stitch as well. Stitch along all BUT stop before you reach the twine on the left side of the bag.

If you stitch over the twine then you can’t pull the bag closed. Tie a knot at the end of the twine to keep it from pulling through. Clip the corners and any loose threads. Turn the bag right-side out.

Step Thirteen: Iron on the Nativity Text

Pre-heat your Easy Press or household iron. For the Easy Press Mini use the second heat setting. Once it’s hot, lay your iron-on vinyl shiny side up onto the fabric where you want it. Then cover it with a piece of parchment and using the correct setting for the material that you’re using, iron-on the vinyl. To find the correct setting you can check this handy dandy heat guide on the Cricut website! Or follow the instructions for a household iron on the package of your iron-on vinyl.

And Done!!! A Simple Modern Nativity Playset

And it comes with its own carry bag to make it perfect for church or travel. It also makes storing the pieces easy- no more looking for pieces at the bottom of a giant tub of decorations!

So this is a tutorial I’ve been super excited to show you guys. I really hope you make it! If you do, please leave me a comment or post a pic and #wellcraftedstudio. I LOVE seeing what you make!