Nativity Cave Ornament Instructions

Get a small box with a lid (mine's about 2" x 2" x 1.5"). Using an exacto knife cut a circle or other shape opening into the lid, then set it aside. Decide which box side will be the top. Use a big needle or safety pin to poke a hole in the center for a hanger. Thread a piece of string, yarn, etc onto a fat needle and force it through the hole from the inside out the top, then back inside again. Tie a big enough knot that it will hold as the hanger. I put a drop of tacky glue on the knot in the inside top. Paint the inside with a night sky and simple landscaping. Mine has part of a 'wood structure'. I also painted the inside of the lid white so more light could reflect into the interior. Get one of those itty bitty nativity sets from the craft store for about $1.00. Trim ridges off with the exacto knife until they can stand on their own. Use tacky glue (I don't recommend hot glue for this- parts are too small) and place figures on the 'ground' starting at the back. Since there wasn't room, I didn't use the whole set, just Joseph, Mary, Jesus, a Wiseman, a Shepherd and a lamb or two. Run a bead of glue around the edge of the box where it will touch the lid, then put the lid on. Once the glue is completely dry, use paints or markers (or stickers, etc) to paint rocks or other scenery, and add your name and year. Run a thin bead of glue around the edges of the opening and sprinkle with very fine glitter (I used irridescent clear). Then glue on the angel that came with the Nativity set. That's it! I also made one with a snowy tree and two tiny reindeer in a snow scene, and another one with a snowy farm scene. You could also do birds in a nest, baby with bottle in crib, yada, yada, yada.