19 Beautiful DIY Nativities to Make for Your Home

These DIY nativity ideas include all kinds of inexpensive ways to create your own nativity or update an old one. Each of these DIY nativities are beautiful and easy to make and they’re a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

In many homes, the nativity is one of the most important pieces of Christmas decor. In the midst of all the shopping and merry-making, it feels right to have a gentle reminder of the meaning behind Christmas.

Of course there are lots of really beautiful nativity sets out there that you can buy, but like most things, the most beautiful nativities are also the most expensive. So I went in search of the best DIY nativity ideas around and I found some truly fantastic ideas.

There are cheap nativities that have been upcycled to look high end. There are rustic, farmhouse style nativities. There are nativity sets made specifically to draw children in. And there are nativities that are truly one of a kind. Whatever kind of nativity you’re looking for, I think you’ll find a great idea here.

Each DIY nativity links to a full tutorial so you can recreate it yourself and I’ve also included a list of some really amazing DIY nativity kits at the bottom of the post.

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DIY Nativities

You can find more details about each diy nativity along with the full tutorial at the link below each photo.

rustic wood nativity between two small Christmas trees.

DIY Wooden Nativity from Lovely Etc.

I made this wooden nativity a few years ago from scrap wood. I love how the simplicity of it really brings you back to the real focus of the Christmas story.

Antique Nativity with Mirrored Finish from Refresh Living

This mirrored nativity is such a smart way to update a more traditional nativity that wasn’t the nicest to begin with or isn’t really your style. It looks beautiful and doesn’t require any artistic talent to pull off.

DIY Peg Doll Nativity from The Pretty Life Girls

I love this sweet peg doll nativity. A good peg doll nativity is such a simple way to really invite children to interact with the nativity scene and this one is such a great mix of elegant and playful.

DIY Nativity Cloche from The Tattered Pew

I love the idea of displaying a special nativity in a cloche and that small Bible in the background is the perfect finishing touch. This is a brilliant way to turn a beautiful nativity scene into a perfect centerpiece for your table and help it really stand out.

Thrift Store Nativity Makeover from Our Southern Home

This is another old nativity that got a simple update with paint. This nativity scene was a steal at a thrift store and with a bit of a makeover with chalk paint, now it’s gorgeous.

DIY Nativity Ornament Set from DIY Beautify

I love this nativity ornament display. Cindy from DIY Beautify added vinyl cutouts of each of the main parts of the nativity to clear glass ornaments and then hung them from a deconstructed canvas. It makes such a beautiful, unique art piece.

DIY Rustic Nativity from Manda Panda Projects

This beautiful nativity art was made almost completely using items from the Dollar Tree! I love the simple rustic look and I think this is another one that would make a really beautiful gift idea or could even possibly be made a bit smaller as a gorgeous ornament.

Dollar Store Nativity Makeover from Confessions of a Plate Addict

This beautiful nativity started as a very inexpensive nativity set from the dollar store. If you’ve ever looked closely at dollar store painted figures, you know the details can be a bit of a mess, so it was the perfect candidate for a makeover with some simple spray paint and now it looks amazing!

Faux Stained Glass Nativity Scene from Sustain My Craft Habit

This faux stained glass nativity scene is absolutely stunning! It really has the look of a high end art piece even though it was made with an inexpensive chalk couture craft kit.

DIY Peg Nativity from Housewife Eclectic

This is another super cute DIY peg doll nativity. I particularly like the little crowns on the wisemen and the tiny sheep. This looks like it would be a really fun project to do together with your kids.

Wood and Paper Nativity from Katieish

This sweet wood and paper nativity is really easy to make if you have any kind of cutting machine. (And even if you don’t, you could still make this, you’d just need to cut your pieces by hand). I love that you can completely change the look of this nativity just by choosing different cardstock options- the possibilities are endless!

Christmas Nativity Scene with Fabric from B4 and Afters

This sweet fabric nativity set was made from a vintage kit. Each of the pieces are two sided and are stuffed to be 3D. It definitely has a great, nostalgic feel to it.

Mason Jar Nativity Display from The Country Chic Cottage

This is a great idea for combining the images of the nativity with twinkling lights. These nativity candle holders are made from simple mason jars and vinyl cutouts of the nativity scene. I bet this looks extra beautiful at night with the candles glowing!

Nativity Scene Made From Clothespins from A Crafty Mix

I love the completely original feel of this DIY nativity. The rustic stable is an old crate and the people are made from old-fashioned clothespins and the whole nativity just has a whimsical feel to it that I love.

Nativity Wall Art made with Cricut Foil from Leap of Faith Crafting

This nativity wall art is absolutely beautiful with that shiny foil against a dark background! This is another super simple craft to make using a Cricuit. (Plus there’s also a second bonus DIY nativity wall art idea at the link as well that incorporates real Christmas lights.)

Christmas Nativity Scene Craft from Re-Fabbed

This nativity scene is absolutely perfect if you like rustic or farmhouse style decor. The background was a vintage find, but you could get a similar feel with a scrap of painted wood or sheet metal and I love the simplicity of the Christmas hymn and that stick manger.

Wooden Nativity with Glitter from Crafty Life Mom

This nativity is a super simple DIY using an unfinished wood nativity set and some paint and glitter. I love how she used the glitter to really draw your attention to the family in the center. This could be another project that would be fun to do together with kids.

Painted Nativity with Antique Finish from South House Designs

I really love the finish on this painted nativity set. This one has a few more steps than some of the others including a paint wash but it really gives it a gorgeous, high end look. This post also includes lots of helpful tips for getting good results all throughout the painting process.

Nativity Board Craft from Sugar Bee Crafts

This nativity board is super easy to make using a vinyl stencil and you can choose any colors you want for the main scene as well as the background for a really custom look. This would be a fun craft to do together with a group of friends since it’s pretty quick and easy.

DIY Nativity Kits

So many great nativity ideas! And if you love the idea of making a DIY nativity scene, but you want a little more help getting started, there are some really amazing DIY nativity kits out there for all different types of crafts.

These nativity kits include embroidery patterns, paint by number, felt nativity kits, layered wood kits, peg doll sets, and more. Just click any picture for more info. (Each kit linked is from either Etsy or Amazon).