Another Open Craft Night: Origami Nativity Scenes

Adding to my collection: my only nativity scene, which I bought in Spain, 1998

You may remember that last year, Sallie and I lead a craft project as part of our annual church Christmas party. We made snowflake ornaments. They were a smashing success. Plus, I already had the materials on hand. Same is true this year.

I became so excited when Nancy shared with me a copy of instructions for how to make origami nativity scene. What a perfect craft. If you like, you can make a tree or a star as part of a group project. Or you can go nuts and make an entire nativity scene for you to take home and treasure forever. It is totally up to you. As I alluded earlier, I still have a full drawer full of origami paper in 20 different shades of colors. Perfect. We can really take this project to the next level. And I am more than ready to share this paper. I bought it in 1997 with the launch of fortunehearts. Honestly, I am ready to let it go of it after eleven years.

Yesterday I was breaking down boxes at Paper Source and realized that I needed some cardboard to create the stable. I was just thinking of taking home one piece. But as I broke down each box, I realized that I could just take the boxes with lids. They would be perfect… somehow. Right? Plus you have to love using items that would otherwise be recycled/thrown away. So I left the store with bags full of boxes in hand. Let me tell you, this severely limited where I could sit on the bus ride home. But someone felt sorry for me and moved to the front of the bus leaving me his seat.

If you don’t want to take on the daunting project of a full nativity scene, you can also create a Christmas carol cootie catcher, which is the traditional children’s game that includes this Christmas carol song guide. If you can’t make it on Friday night, of course, you can create it now for free. Fold it up and then drive your officemates crazy with Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

I am sure the craft activity will be all loosey-goosey, but those events are my favorites. Have I made a sample yet? Of course not! I am saving that for Friday morning. But I promise that I will have at least attempted it once and that we will have fun. There will be Christmas Carols, chili and cookies, too. Maybe I’ll make white trash!!! No promises, though. Plus it’s completely free. In our depressed economy, you can’t get better than that.

Be there or be square.

Calvary Baptist Church
Friday, December 12, 2008
6pm (but you can come later)
8th & H Streets NW, Gallery Place