Years ago, a good friend gave me a sweet little ornament. The kids were little then and seemed fascinated with the tiny manger baby. I kept finding it under the tree, on the kitchen table and once, in my youngest’s bed. I decided that maybe I needed to make a few for them to hold and carry and love before my ornament was ruined.
It was kind of fun to make some palm sized babies so they could actually carry them around. I did have to take the one I had apart to figure it out–but it went back together well enough when I was finished.
All you need to make these sweet little manger babies is:
wooden beads–whatever size you want
wire–from floral wire to a heavier coat hanger type, to match your bead
a small piece of batting or cotton
a scrap of fabric
Draw or paint two dot eyes on the bead. Fold a piece of wire in half and slide the bead onto it. Bend the top of the wire down so the bead won’t slid off. I curled up the bottom end of the wire–into a wad–this will be the basic “body.”
If you want your baby to have hair–just glue some yarn or twine to the top of the head.
Now, wind a scrap of batting over your wire–so your baby has some fluff to the body.
Fold down one corner of a square of fabric–muslin, cotton, knit–whatever.
Run a line of hot glue on top of the head and at the ears and press the folded edge onto the head.
Fold up the bottom. Add a dot of hot glue–if you need to to hold it in place.
Now fold and secure the sides–first one and then the other–you know, like wrapping a baby doll in a blanket.
Once you’ve glued the “blanket” in place–you can decorate your baby or leave it simple.
Or you can glue your babies to the tops of pine cones and nestle them in your Christmas tree.
Either way, I hope you try these sweet little babies as a gentle reminder of whose birthday this really is.
Oh, I love this one!
Those are so precious! We got one last year from a neighbor and it is safely nestled in our tree! We have a fabric nativity that my mother-in-law made out of a pattern. We allow the girls to play with that one. Their favorite is the baby Jesus!
I love cute Nativities and Baby Jesus crafts… because it DOES help remind me why we get to celebrate doing this time of year! 🙂 I love that nestled up little baby! Thanks for showing us this one!
I love this sweet manger baby….I’ve made some similar ones and glued them to stars. They made wonderful ornaments. I really like yours on the pinecone.
We made some teeny tiny ones a few years back and put them in walnut shells. They were so adorable. I’d love to see your star babies. :}