How to Build a Nativity Set
- 1). Sculpt the bodies out of colored modeling clay. For each body, use your hands to squish and roll the clay to make a tapered cone shape. Use traditional colors such as brown for Joseph and light blue for Mary, or choose your own color palette that will depict their clothing. For Jesus' body, make a small oval roll out of white clay, as he was swaddled as a baby and wasn't likely wearing clothing. Each body should be approximately 3 to 5 inches tall for the adults and approximately 2 inches for the baby.
- 2). Roll a ball of flesh-colored modeling clay for the heads and attach these onto the bodies. To do this, place a small amount of clay in your palm and roll it between your palms until it resembles a ball. Insert half a toothpick into the base of the head, leaving the tip sticking out; push the stick down into the body shape. The toothpick will stabilize the connection between the two pieces.
- 3). Roll small cylinders for arms out of the same color you used for the bodies, and push these onto the body shapes. You should not need a toothpick; simply smash the shoulder portion of the arm against the top of the cone for the body, where a person's shoulders would be. Roll small balls out of the flesh-colored clay for the hands; flatten them slightly and press them to the bodies under the arms. Use your hands to push the clay pieces together to be sure they stick. Jesus should not have any arms or hands as he is wrapped in a blanket.
- 4). Cut lengths of yarn for Mary's hair using your scissors. Fold each piece of yarn in half and use a toothpick to press the folded portion of yarn into the clay on Mary's head. Repeat until her head is covered, allowing the ends of the yarn pieces to hang down her back.
- 5). Sculpt Joseph's hair out of brown clay. Flatten a piece of clay to cover his head and push it into place on the top and back of his head. Press a small amount of clay onto his chin area for a beard, as well. Use a toothpick to scratch lines onto his hair and beard for texture.
- 6). Flatten a piece of white clay and use it to cover the back and sides of Jesus' head. Press it into his head and also use your fingers to smooth it over to blend it in with the rest of the white clay on his body. This will make it look as though the blanket is coming up and over his head as well as covering his body.
- 7). Cut out felt rectangles for the head coverings on Mary and Joseph. The rectangles should be approximately the same height as the bodies, so approximately 3 by 5 inches in size. Use a little bit of glue on the heads to attach the coverings and secure them by tying the yarn around the head and the cloth like a headband if needed. The main length of the rectangles should hang down the backs of the figures.
- 8). After the clay dries, paint faces onto the figures using paint pens. Paint their eyes like half-moons so they appear closed in prayer, and give them lines for mouths as well. Arrange the figures together on a bed of straw or hay.
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