They also make a fun handmade gift too:
I saw the idea of a vignette like this using some of these Christmas Nativity themed buttons in a promo photo from the button company that makes them. There was no how-to, so I decided to make up my own.
I built on the general concept with a larger base and the addition of these new Christmas message ribbons I had created specially for my shop, Heavenly Fabric Shop, this holiday season:
How To Make 3-D Christmas Nativity Ornaments
Materials:
- Christmas button sets- Christmas satin ribbon
- Cardstock, sandpaper and/or craft foam sheets
- Craft wood circles
- Foam floor mat (or 1/2inch thick foam/wood/cardboard)
- Hot glue gun
- Fishing line/filament thread
I started with tracing the wooden circles onto the paper or foam that would make up the bases. I did 3 since I was doing 3 ornaments. I used some flocked paper that was sand colored:
I cut 3 of the wood circles to make a straight end (about 1/3 off a circle). I traced that shape onto the paper or foam that will be the background. Then hot glued the colored pieces onto the wood:
I ran a line of hot glue under the flat end of the cut wood and attach it to the base circle like this:
Now for the decorating! To do the Three Kings theme, I had a few foam craft stickers from a dinosaur set of my kids that worked perfectly (you could also hand-cut or use a cutting machine to make some). I used the palm trees as-is and trimmed down a dinosaur to make a sand dune:
I then attached those onto the background:
I ran a line of hot glue under each button figure and staggered them for a 3-d effect:
For the Good Shepherds, I cut a few pieces of flocked card stock, one for the backdrop and another smaller one that I folded under to add dimension.
Hot glued those into place and added the Christmas star and angel to the background:
For the Nativity theme, I cut some burlap into a stable shape, cut up a yellow grass piece of foam and grabbed to star shaped beads I could layer into a star with glue:
I added the button figures with more hot glue:
To build up the bottoms for trimming with my 5/8in ribbon, I cut up an old foam floor mat to make a circular base for each ornament. This works ideally, but thick cardboard or layers of thinner foam would work too since it all gets covered.
I added a bunch of hot glue to attach them to the wood bottoms:
Once cool, it was time to trim them with ribbon!
I cut 7 inch long pieces of ribbon and heat sealed the ends with a lighter:
Centering the text on the front of each ornament, then attached the ribbon with line of glue around the foam base.
Then they were ready to hang on the tree!
I really love how these turned out and having a full set of them as an "in-the-tree Nativity" is so nice too. The kids have fun looking at them and it's been a fun DIY project for Christmas this year:)

Oh my goodness these are so darling! I love them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen nativity buttons before! This is such a clever idea! Thanks for participating in our Party in Your PJs link party!
ReplyDeleteI bought these buttons years ago and they have been in the cupboard waiting for an idea I love. And this is the idea, thankyou!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome to hear Kirsty! I'd love to see how they turn out:)
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