Here we are, it is the week before Christmas, we have heralded, journeyed, husbanded [the sheep!] and are now heading for the the stability of a manger….
So… Mary and Joseph were as surprised as many about the arrival of the Baby Jesus and so they feel the wonder too. They sit around the manger feeling, probably, a little enthralled. So they need a sit down. Let’s use beer bottles instead of wine, not only will it please beer drinkers but it will also allow for a more creative tableau… You will also need some balls: from the crafty cupboard, to create the baby Jesus. Using four balls of varying sizes and an uncurled paper clip, attach all the balls together like this… Grab some calico to create the ‘swaddling’. Swaddling was basically wrapping a baby up to make it feel secure and keep it warm… Tear strips off of the calico and… Wrap them around the baby body, remember to paint his head first…. You need no prompting about how to create Mary and Joseph, just a couple of tips: Firstly, if you tie the belts much lower and let a lot of material spread out behind them, it will create the illusion that they are kneeling. Secondly, Mary and Joseph would have been basically, but warmly dressed, so no bling here! Next, create your manger. A manger was a rudimentary eating station for the animals that normally inhabited the stable. Find some cardboard and cut two oblongs with slits in and two the centre as shown here… Slot the pieces together to form an ‘X” shape. Paint the manger and add some soft bedding…Ive used shredded Gugg bills…. Now add your Mary and Joseph heads, headdresses and beards [not for Mary, obviously] and draw in the features for all three figures. HOLEY MOLEY THE HOLY FAMILY!
Our full tableau can now be viewed in the window of the Stalbridge Post Office. To enter the Competition you will need to take a photo of your Upcycled Nativity Scene and send it to us on out Facebook Page here.
For more details on the competition click here
Have fun and a Merry Christmas!