Lesson One - In the Stable

Read more about my new position at church as
Craft Consultant.





Lesson One

In the Stable

This lesson called for a baby Jesus craft in September, so my thoughts immediately went to the Baby Jesus craft from last Christmas.  But for Wednesday night's preschool, the crafts need to be simple and made with easier materials.  That is when I devised this version of Baby Jesus...

Baby Jesus laying in the hay

Materials list includes:

cardstock

scissors

regular glue stick

old maps

hot glue gun

ribbons

optional:

crayons, markers, colored pencils

Why maps?

When I read the lesson, I was struck by the detail of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.
My thought went to maps and what great visuals they are for artists!

Old (real) map paper ready to be cut into hay.

I have provided the template for those interested in making your own.  

This template is for 5 Baby Jesus ornaments.  

Directions:

Cut template patterns from colored or white cardstock

(The "hay" could be a variety of colored cardstock.)

(The triangular shaped blankets could be on white cardstock for the children to color as they wish.)

Cut map paper to size slightly smaller than template provided.

Once all pieces (2 "hays", 1 blanket, 1 baby face, 1 piece of ribbon) have been cut and colored, it is ready to glue together in this order:

1.  glue map "hay" on top of cardstock "hay"

2.  glue blanket on top of map "hay"

3.  glue baby face on top of map "hay" with the baby face slightly tucked into blanket

4.  Adults - hot glue ribbon onto itself first then hot glue to back of cardstock as shown-

back of Baby Jesus ornament

Other options:

Make mini ornaments or a collection of them

Incorporate mixed media into the background or blanket

Trim the edging with a special something

Incorporate stitch lines

using maps for visual effect on this artist holiday,

hannah