Wooden DIY Nativity Set for a Modern Holiday

This DIY wooden nativity set with wood peg dolls is budget friendly and not too kitschy. If you love modern, this set is for you!

Skills Required: Beginner. To make this DIY nativity, you’ll need basic painting skills and to be able to construct simple things out of cardboard.

Hi there! Jennifer from Brave New Home here to share what will likely be my last holiday project of the season – a modern DIY nativity scene.

I’ve been wanting a nativity set for years but they’re pricey and I was having trouble finding one that wasn’t too kitschy. What better reason to DIY than saving money and nailing your own style?

DIY Nativity Scene

For this modern DIY nativity, you will need:

• 3″ wooden dolls – 7
• 2″ wooden doll – 1
• 1 1/8″ wooden doll – 1
• 1 1/2″ wooden ball – 1
• 1″ balls – 2
• Small wooden bowl
• Cardboard
• Chopsticks
• Toothpicks
• Acrylic paint
• Felt
• Brown paper bag
• Hot glue gun
• Paintbrushes (including detail brushes)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Sandpaper or sanding block
• Craft knife

Using the pencil, sketch out your designs on the peg dolls. You can add the shape of the hands, clothing, hair, and more (you’re going to paint over these lines).

Sand the wood balls so that they sit flat, since they are going to be individual animals.

Begin painting. The key is to paint individual layers. Paint one layer, let dry, and then come back and paint another layer. When it comes to doing the hands, hair, and faces, use detail brushes to paint.

To make the manger, cut the tips off of two pairs of chopsticks. I wanted the bassinet to have the look of a MCM bullet planter for a more modern feel.

Hot glue these pieces to the bottom part of the bowl. Paint the manger with white acrylic paint.

Construct a barn from cardboard, using the general shape above. I had originally planned to make one out of wood, but I wanted to build a prototype out of cardboard first.

I liked the way the cardboard looked so much, that I decided to keep it for this nativity. I may just use the wood I bought for a different project!

After hot gluing the barn together, use a craft knife to cut out a window.

Cut a few toothpicks down to size with scissors. Hot glue them together to form a star pattern. Then hot glue the star to the top of the barn, on the cardboard.

For the angel wings, cut a pair loosely out of white felt. Hot glue them to the back of the angel peg doll.

Cut pieces of brown paper bag and crumple them to create the “hay” in the manger.

Then all you need to do is style your wooden nativity scene.

This is a great craft to do with older kids.

Or it can be given as a gift since the pieces are pretty kid-friendly.

These wooden doll pieces will be easy to store, and I won’t have to worry about them breaking like many other holiday decorations.

If you wanted to make a more elaborate DIY nativity scene, you could embellish the barn by adding a roof, and decorating the inside with a theme. Or you could add more animals. It’s really up to you!

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4.84 from 6 votes

DIY Nativity Scene

This DIY nativity set is easy to make and easy to paint using wooden peg dolls.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Active Time4 hours hrs

Dry Time2 hours hrs

Total Time6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Type: Christmas Crafts

Yield: 1 nativity

Cost: $15

Equipment

• Pencil(s)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Sanding block or sandpaper
• Paintbrush(es) (including detail brushes)
• Craft knife and mat

Materials

• 7 3" wooden dolls
• 1 2" wooden doll
• 1 1 1/8" wooden doll
• 1 1 1/2" wooden ball
• 2 1" balls
• Small wooden bowl
• Cardboard
• Chopsticks
• Toothpick(s)
• Acrylic paint
• Felt sheet(s) white
• Brown paper bag

Instructions

• Using the pencil, sketch out your designs on the peg dolls. You can add the shape of the hands, clothing, hair, and more (you’re going to paint over these lines).
• Sand the wood balls so that they sit flat, since they are going to be individual animals.
• Begin painting. The key is to paint individual layers. Paint one layer, let dry, and then come back and paint another layer. When it comes to doing the hands, hair, and faces, use detail brushes to paint.
• To make the manger, cut the tips off of two pairs of chopsticks. Hot glue these pieces to the bottom part of the bowl.
• Paint the manger white with acrylic paint.
• Construct a barn from cardboard, using the scissors and a hot glue gun.
• After hot gluing the barn together, use a craft knife to cut out a window.
• Cut a few toothpicks down to size with scissors. Hot glue them together to form a star pattern. Then hot glue the star to the top of the barn, on the cardboard.
• For the angel wings, cut a pair loosely out of white felt. Hot glue them to the back of the angel peg doll.
• Cut pieces of brown paper bag to create the "hay" in the manger.
• Style your wooden nativity set to your heart’s desire.

Video

Would you like to see some of my favorite Christmas projects? Click on any of the following holiday decor posts:

• DIY Christmas Table Decorations That Impress!
• DIY Felt Mistletoe is a Perfect Christmas Craft
• DIY Recycled Christmas Decorations to Make
• Christmas Shadow Box with a Trees on Cars Theme