Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Creative Crafting: Decorate a Manger

Earlier this month we held a class to decorate a Christmas manger using a variety of 'once loved' mangers that had perhaps been tucked away in the attic a bit too long. With a variety of fragrant herbs and spices, we decorated the mangers to give them a fresh look.


Cinnamon sticks, Star Anise, Rose hips, Rosemary, of course, little orange peel pieces, safflower, bay leaves, fragrant oregano, thyme and lavender and just a few pistachio shells and acorn caps for added interest and texture.
Sheet Moss or Sphagnum moss provided a great base layer for this project. We used it on top and inside the mangers. We also used some dried grass as a "filler". 

Working on plastic we simply buttered applied tacky glue with popsicle sticks and added the big parts of sheet moss and the grasses. Then on top of that layer we added more tacky glue and the fragrant herbs. Most people put the herbs on in patches here and there along the top of the manger and inside. But one woman mixed her herbs all together in a large bowl and put the mixture all across the top.
Either way they turned out lovely.

Orange safflower was used to highlight the baby.
 Notice the mossy patch work roof and Cinnamon Stick posts with Star Anise at the top.  The herbs and spices will be very fragrant for years to come. 
We wish you tidings of great joy this holiday season!

4 comments:

Winnie said...

What a creative idea! I am off to add some cinnamon sticks to mine. Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a great 2015.

Linda Jennings said...

You two are so craft-tea! Merry Christmas to the family from friends in Kentucky.

Angela McRae said...

What a creative and fragrant way of refreshing a manger scene! I love this!

Marilyn Miller said...

Oh I love this idea. I think I will try to remember to do that next year.