12 Days of Christmas Decorations: Day 3 - Nativity Diorama

Day 3 - Nativity Diorama

Welcome back to our 12 Days of Christmas Decorations series! Each day through this Advent season, I'm sharing a special holiday decoration as my gift to you. I hope these festive projects continue to brighten your days and fill your home with Christmas joy.

The Heart of Christmas: A Nativity Scene

For Day 3, we're celebrating the true meaning of the season with a beautiful nativity diorama. This peaceful scene captures the wonder of that holy night with Mary and Joseph watching over Baby Jesus, accompanied by the three wise men who traveled from afar. Two gentle lambs keep vigil in this tender moment, while the Bethlehem skyline rises in the distance.

The entire scene is framed within a manger structure, and a radiant gold star adorns the top—a reminder of the star that guided the wise men on their journey.

A Stunning Display

This diorama creates a three-dimensional nativity scene that's perfect for a mantel, side table, or holiday vignette. The design are five scenes that are ingeniously held together with 10 double-thickness tabs that slide securely into place around the entire display, creating a stable and eye-catching centerpiece.

Materials You'll Need

• Neenah 65 lb Champagne metallic cardstock (available at Office Depot)
• Gold foil cardstock for the star

The champagne metallic cardstock adds a soft, elegant shimmer that beautifully enhances the reverent atmosphere of the nativity scene.

Cut Files

Choose the appropriate file for your cutting machine:

• Silhouette users: Download the .Studio file [link to file]
• Cricut users: Download the SVG file [link to file]

Note: The SVG file extends beyond the initial viewable area. Simply zoom out to see the complete design.

Assembly Instructions

This diorama uses a similar construction technique to create a dimensional display. For detailed step-by-step assembly guidance, please refer to my previous tutorial: ["A North Pole Diorama With Elves"](link to previous post).

The key steps are:

1. Cut all pieces from your cardstock.  Sometimes a double cut is necessary to ensure all gets cut properly.
2. Secure everything with the 10 double-thickness tabs by sliding them into place around the diorama
3. Glue on the gold star that has been layered together.

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This nativity scene is a meaningful addition to your Christmas décor—a beautiful reminder of the peace and hope at the heart of the holiday. Join me tomorrow for Day 4 of our festive series! 🌟✨