Crafting your own minimalist Nativity is a fun, creative, and meaningful project. This guide uses circular dowels, to create elegant, modern figures to celebrate the season. With this guide, you’ll learn how to construct the Holy Family and other Nativity figures with customizable touches to suit your style.
What You’ll Need
- Circular wooden dowels (available at Home Depot, Hobby Lobby and other stores)
- 1-inch diameter for larger figures (e.g., Mary, Joseph)
- 3/4-inch diameter for smaller figures (e.g., baby Jesus, animals)
- 1/2-inch diameter for accent pieces (e.g., halos, shepherd’s staff)
- Saw (or have the dowels cut to size at the store if the service is available)
- Sandpaper (120-grit and 220-grit for smoothing edges)
- Paint or fabric scraps (for decorating the figures)
- Masking tape
- Hot glue gun
Creating Your Figures
We suggest the following sizes for your Nativity figures:
- Mary and Joseph: 5 inches tall using the 1-inch dowel
- Baby Jesus: 1.5 inches tall using the 3/4-inch dowel
- Shepherd and Wisemen: Use 1-inch dowels cut between 3.5 – 4.5 inches tall for variety.
- Animals (e.g., sheep, donkey): Use 1-inch dowels cut to between 1-1.5 inches tall (we suggest the donkey be the tallest animal)
- Angels: Use 1-inch dowels cut to 5.5 inches tall.
Sand all cut edges with your 220 grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.
Decorating Your Figures
Option 1: Painting
Choose Colors: Select a minimalist palette. Neutral tones like white, gray, blue, beige, or soft pastels work beautifully.
You can either paint the entirety of each figure, or you can mask off the ‘face’ of each figure using the tape. Mask off no more than 1/4 of the total figure height if you do this.
Other suggestions:
Add a golden or silver band as a halo for angels.
Use earthy tones for Joseph or the shepherd.
Option 2: Fabric Wrapping
Cut Fabric Pieces: Use fabric scraps in muted or textured patterns. Felt, linen, or cotton work well.
Cloaks: Cut rectangles to wrap around the dowels (e.g., 2×6 inches for larger figures).
Headscarves: Cut smaller pieces (e.g., 2×3 inches) to drape over the “heads.”
Attach Fabric: Use a hot glue gun or wrap the fabric securely and tie it with thin twine or thread.
For Mary: Wrap a light blue or white fabric around the “body” dowel and drape a small piece as a headscarf.
For Joseph: Use earthy brown tones and add a simple staff made from a thin, curved piece of 1/2-inch dowel.
Assembling Your Nativity
Arrange your figures on a small wooden base or within a stable-like frame for a complete scene. Add simple touches like:
A manger for baby Jesus (a small piece of scrap wood).
A star backdrop (a painted or wooden cut-out star placed above the scene).
Final Tips
Keep it simple! The charm of a minimalist Nativity is in its understated design.
Take your time with cutting and decorating for the best results.
Involve family or friends to make this a collaborative holiday project.
Once completed, your DIY minimalist Nativity will be a beautiful addition to your holiday décor—unique, personal, and timeless. Enjoy the process, and have a Merry Christmas!
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