DIY Baby Jesus Ornament

First day of December and Christmas is around the corner (hooray!). I’m always looking for ways to integrate the real story of Christmas into my decor, as well as our activities with the kids, and this one covers both! This DIY baby Jesus ornament is a great way to talk about Christ’s birth and explain why we say ‘JOY to the world’. And the best part is that it’s easy enough for kids to create. Read on for the easy how-to.

Just a few basic supplies. The “JOY” magnet and ornament are currently at Michaels.

Wooden ornament
“JOY” magnet (in white or silver)
Paper straw
Red, white and linen paint
Foam brush
Glue gun
Black paint pen

The first step is to paint the ornament, and then cut the straws to make a manger for Baby Jesus. If you don’t have a paper straw, you could use a paint pen to draw the manger, or use washi tape, or even some real straw! So many fun options.

Once you’ve done a mock-up placement with the “JOY” magnet and straw manger, you’re ready for the finger painting. The kids love this part! I did a couple dots as visual markers, just to make sure Baby Jesus ended up in the manger, haha.

When my son finished he said, “Aw, cute Baby Jesus!” 🙂

After the paint dries you can hot glue the “JOY” magnet and straw manger. And then add a little half circle to make an eye for Baby Jesus. I used a black paint pen.

Then later I decided that I wanted to layer the “JOY” magnet so I got a white one as well to put on top of the silver one, and no need to glue since they are magnets! I also gave it a light sand to give it a slightly distressed look.