Miniature Nativity Scene

I saw these adorable miniature nativity figurines in a store.  They looked like a perfect gift more my mother, thought I would have to build a little stable/cattle shed to go with it.  I used some bits of wood, branches and moss to make it.  I had at first intended to glue the little figurines onto the floor.   I came up with a better idea, to use a metal for the floor of the barn and attach magnets to the bottom of the figurines.  This way you can move them around, changing the scene, yet they were still secure so you don't lose the little guys.

Step 1: What You Will Need

Materials

• Miniature Nativity set, mine are about 1.5cm tall (you can find the set I used here -though that is not where I bought mine)
• Small pieces of wood
• Small tree branch
• Moss
• Sheet magnet
• Sheet metal
• Paper
• Paint and brushes

Tools

• Wood glue and regular glue
• Saw for cutting wood
• Tin snips

Step 2: Cutting and Staining Wood

I measured the size of the wood pieces that I would need by laying out the figurines. 

• The floor is 10.5cmX2.5cm and 0.3cm thick
• The two side pieces are 2cmX2cm and 0.5cm thick
• The branches for the roof are 7cm long for each side (I used 4 branches per side to give the same width as the side walls (2cm) and one small branch 2cm long for the centre beam.
• (Optional) I had originally meant to add a back wall as well but thought that it looked better without it.  This would be the same length as the floor (10.5cm) and wide enough to fit under the roof.

I then used a watercolour paint to stain the wood a darker colour.

Step 3: Glue Together

To assemble the stable first glued the groups of four branches together an allowed time for them to dry.  In the meantime I glued the sides of the stable to the floor.  Once those had dried I assembled the roof.  I glued the bundle of four branches to the walls of the stable and the other end to the centre branch forming a triangle,  I used some Lego to prop up the roof while it was drying.

Step 4: Metal and Magnets

I cut a piece of sheet metal to fit between the walls of the stable and cut some decorative paper the same size.  Glue the paper to the metal and the metal to the floor. 

While that is drying you can cut the small pieces of the sheet magnet and glue to the bottom of the figurines.  Trim off any excess magnet around the edges.

Next to have the little angel perch on top of the roof.  I cut a small piece of metal painted one side brown (so it blends in with the branches of the roof) and glued it to the centre beam towards the front.

Step 5: Finishing

In this last step we are just adding moss to the roof.  I broke the moss down into smaller bits so it fits on the roof better.  I rubbed a glue stick over the surface of the roof and pressed the moss on.

Once that is done, we just need to arrange the figurines.