I made this Baby Jesus in a Manger when I was just a little girl. My mother put it out each Christmas as a decoration for over 2 decades!

Salt dough is so easy to use and you can do so much with it! It’s easy to work with so even very young children can create pretty ornaments or other Christmas decorations like this Baby Jesus in a Manger.

This Salt Dough Baby Jesus in a Manger would be perfect to use as part of your Advent celebration. Be sure to download my free printable Advent Scripture Cards at the end of this post!

Salt Dough Baby Jesus in a Manger

• Salt dough {you can find my recipe here}
• Markers
• Construction paper
• Brown or tan felt
• Two craft sticks, cut in half
• glue and/ or hot glue

Roll the salt dough into a log about 2 inches long and an inch thick. Draw a face on one end and wrap the dough in a piece of natural colored felt. You now have a Baby Jesus!

To make a manger, cut a piece of construction paper or card stock 3 inches long and 4 inches wide. Fold in half. Glue craft sticks on each end so that when you place the baby inside the manger, the sticks cross each other without touching. When the glue dries, the manger should stand up while holding the Baby Jesus.

Hot glue works really well and if you have trouble with the manger standing up by itself, just put a drop of glue between the craft sticks to hold it in place. This is a job for an adult of course!

Place Baby Jesus inside the manger and proudly display in your home!

Christmas ADVENTures in Prophecy

This craft ties in perfectly with my free printable 25 Day Advent Scriptures. Read Isaiah 9:6 to your child before or after making this craft together.

How to Download

You can download my printable Advent Calendar for free! Just fill out the form below!