Palms and Stables

For those of you working on the Nativity patterns I wanted to share some display ideas. 

I wanted to make a stable to display my Nativity but my wood working skills are subpar at best. I had about a gazillion cardboard boxes laying around, loads of dried out sticks in the back yard (I am constantly making my kids pick up sticks for one craft project or another) and my trusty glue gun. Cardboard stable, here we come! 

I got a whole lot of inspiration from this tutorial from Bright Apple Bottom

DIY Stable

Here is a better view without any of the Nativity figures. It was really pretty easy. I started by gluing two pieces of cardboard together on a 90 degree angle. The back piece I cut on a slant to make for a pointy roof. I glued that to a small box that became the floor, added a roof and a little "porch" type area. Everywhere there was a seam I hot glued a stick over the seam. One curvy stick became the holder of my star. Once the glue was dry and dry brushed on some brown paint, added a little string of copper lights and voila! A stable! 

Even is you aren't doing the Nativity patterns these cardboard stables can be made small and are very sweet for Peg Dolls. My kids painted these pegs and glittered up the halos. We glued on some preserved reindeer moss. I love these especially because the kiddos helped.

I also thought a few simple palm-esque looking plants would be nice within the Nativity. 

I picked up four shades of green from my scrap bag and cut pointy strips that varied from about 8in (20cm) to 4in (10cm) and blanket stitched each piece together. I stopped stitching where each piece started to taper into a point.

Starting at the longest end, I rolled the strips, nice stitching on the outside, into a tube then stitched in place. 

The longer "fronds" fall over the smaller pieces giving the plants a bit of a palm or long grass look. I had lots of green scraps so cut out some splotches of random sizes and various shades to give the illusion of grass. My hot glue gun was put to use again making a little fence with more of my collected sticks.

I thought the plants and fence added a little something nice to the aesthetic outside the stable. 

I would LOVE to see how you display your Nativity! 

If you post any on Instagram or Facebook please add #elliottsplayground.

Seeing your creations brings me so much joy! Thank you to all of you for creating with me!! 

 

Nativity Star

I wanted to pop together a few extra bits and pieces for those of you who are working on the Nativity. I thought we could start with the Star.

You can Download the template and Supply List

HERE

A quick stitch list!

Always use two strands of floss.

Blanket around the edges.

Fern Stitch from the points of the star in the middle and the valleys of the two middle stars as well.

French knots 

Lazy Daisies and Straight stitches in the smallest star.

My original plan was to have my Nativity set under the tree (just like Mom used to do) and hang the star from the lowest branch but my Nativity grew a bit too big.

I ended up glittering a small cardboard box and bamboo skewer and placing the Star in the back. 

I also went on a mini star making kick and when I make my next Nativity set I think I will pop in some small groups of stars as well as the big star.

Making a garland to drape behind the Nativity scene could be really pretty too! Please let me know if you have any other fun ideas!

Johanna Parker Design Christmas Cat

 I have been so fortunate to collaborate with Johanna Parker Design on some fun, vintage Halloween designs but I wanted to Christmas-fy (is that a word?) her iconic Black Cat.

I have added a new Bonus Pattern to the Etsy listing so if you haven't bought the Black Cat and Ghost Patch Pattern the bonus Christmas Cat is now included with your purchase.

For those of you who already have the patch pattern and all the instructions for making the Cat you can download the supplemental pattern HERE