Christmas Ornaments (with PDFs) - The Nativity Story

[ClayJ]

My neice made a request of me this week.  She said they'd love to put more Christ centered ornaments on their tree, so I started looking through my old patterns and I realized something.  Other than a few nativity scenes or "stars", I don't really have many ornaments that fit her request.

So I started trying to figure out what I could do about that.

On Christmas eve, I always enjoyed gathering my family together and reading the nativity story out of Luke and Matthew.  So I wondered if I couldn't create a series of ornaments that represent the various parts of the story.  I'm also trying to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator, but I don't learn well without a goal.  So I'll use the creation of these ornaments to learn more about Illustrator.

I could picture bringing these ornaments out as I read the story, and allowing the kids to put them on the tree as the story progresses.

So here's my first attempt.  The first thing that occurred to me.  The Angel visiting Mary to tell her she is with child.  Then the angel visits Joseph in his dreams to tell him to wed Mary.

*Edit* I put the story and the ornaments into PDFs for easier download and I made a coloring book version because there's no way I'm going to be able to cutout ornaments for all of my friends that want these.  I'm going to print the last pages of the coloring book on heavy card stock and give them to friends and family and thought I'd pass it along here.


PDF with Christmas Story and Ornaments as Coloring Cutouts


PDF with Ornament Patterns

[ClayJ]

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

[ClayJ]

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem

[ClayJ]

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem

[julief]

What an awesome idea.  Anything that ingrains the traditions of a family are so dear. 

[frankorona]

All patterns are very beautiful, thanks for sharing

[EIEIO]

that's using the old knoggin. They look great so far. I'll be watching for the rest.

[ClayJ]

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn

[ClayJ]

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger

[mrsn]

This is an awesome series!!!!
I love the possibility of starting a new tradition of telling the story through ornaments

[spirithorse]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing and God Bless! Spirithorse

[chelcass]

Awesome series, I will be cutting these.  Hope to see some more.  Thanks so much.

[ClayJ]

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

[ClayJ]

 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

[ClayJ]

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.