Nativity Toilet Paper Roll Craft for Kids

Turn two empty paper tubes into Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus with this Nativity toilet paper roll craft. Construction paper forms the clothing and hair, soft felt becomes the shawls, and a small piece creates the baby figure held in Mary’s arms.

This recycled Christmas craft is easy to adapt for Sunday school, children’s church, homeschool, elementary classrooms, or family activities. The finished characters can become a seasonal display or hands-on props children can move as they talk about Jesus’ birth.

Handmade Nativity scene created from toilet paper rolls, featuring Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, all decorated with craft materials

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Easy Cardboard Tube Nativity Craft

This DIY Nativity project uses two cardboard toilet paper rolls, one for Mary and one for Joseph. Make Baby Jesus separately from a small oval wrapped in felt or paper, then attach it to Mary’s figure.

Children can practice cutting, wrapping, gluing, drawing, and following step-by-step directions. When the Nativity characters are finished, they can use them for Bible-story retelling, imaginative play, or an interactive Christmas lesson.

Find more religious Christmas activities in our collection of Nativity crafts for kids and Christmas crafts and printables.

Nativity Craft Supplies

Two clean cardboard toilet paper rolls
Pink construction paper
Blue paper
White or skin-tone paper
Brown paper
Pink felt
Blue felt
Thin cardstock for Baby Jesus
Pencil
Washable markers
Child-safe scissors
Glue stick or washable PVA craft glue

Felt adds texture, but paper works for every part of the project. You can also cut paper towel tubes into toilet roll-sized sections.

Materials needed in making the nativity toilet paper roll craft

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Mary and Joseph

Step 1: Cover Mary and Joseph’s Body

Cut a rectangle of pink paper wide enough to wrap around one cardboard tube. Apply glue, wrap it around the cardboard form, and press the overlapping edge flat.

paper roll designed in pink and blue colored paper

Leave the upper section available for the face. If preferred, attach white or skin-tone paper around the top before adding the pink clothing.

Step 2: Add Mary’s Hair

Cut a simple hair shape from brown paper. It can include a curved top and longer sections that extend down the sides of the face.

creating a toilet paper roll nativity craft

Glue the hair near the top, keeping the center uncovered.

Step 3: Draw The Face

Use washable markers to add two eyes, rosy cheek details, and a small smile. Older children can draw additional features, while preschoolers may prefer a simple face.

Step 4: Make The Shawls

Cut a strip or rounded shape from both the pink and blue fabric or felt. Wrap it over the head and shoulders like a shawl, then secure the ends to the sides or front.

Keep the material away from the bottom edge so the figure can stand upright.

Step 5: Create Baby Jesus

Shape a small oval from thin cardstock, then wrap it in blue felt or paper to resemble swaddling clothes.

Leave a small rounded section uncovered for the face. Draw two eyes and a small smile with a fine-tip marker.

DIY Nativity craft using toilet paper rolls, showcasing a nativity scene with figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus

Glue the piece to the front or right side of the figure so she appears to be holding Him.

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Joseph

Step 1: Cover Joseph’s Body

As shown above, cut a rectangle of blue paper and wrap it around the second roll. Glue the overlapping edge securely.

Add a strip of white or skin-tone paper around the upper section if you want a separate face area.

Step 2: Add Hair and a Face

Cut brown paper for the hair and attach it near the top. Use markers to draw eyes, a mouth, and optional facial hair.

Homemade Nativity scene made from toilet paper rolls, featuring Joseph

Step 3: Make Joseph’s Shawl

Layer pink and blue paper or felt to create a shawl. Wrap it around the top and secure it in place without covering the face.

Colorful Nativity scene crafted with toilet paper rolls, showing Mary, Joseph

Children can add a narrow belt or decorative border to the clothing.

Step 4: Add the Staff

Cut a narrow strip of brown paper. Fold or roll it lengthwise to make it sturdier, then curve the top into a shepherd-style hook if desired.

Attach the staff to the left side. Position the bottom so it lines up with the figure and still stands securely.

Complete feature of Joseph using decorative crafts for DIY Nativity scene

Arrange the Toilet Paper Roll Nativity Scene

Place Mary and Joseph beside a simple paper manger, stable, or star. A small piece of cardboard covered with brown paper makes an easy display base.

Children can draw a night sky, Bethlehem, or a barn on the background or place the figures inside a decorated shoebox. Because each piece remains separate, children can move them while telling the Nativity story.

Toilet paper roll Nativity craft, including figures of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus

This roll Nativity display can also become a simple puppet setup for storytelling.

How This Craft Differs From the Baby Jesus Manger Craft

This page focuses on building full paper figures, with one character holding the baby. The separate Baby Jesus toilet paper roll craft uses a cut tube to make the manger and a yarn-wrapped craft stick for the child.

Keeping the projects distinct helps you choose the version that best fits your lesson:

Choose this toilet paper roll craft for movable figures.
Choose the other project for a small manger-focused activity.
Make both projects if you want the figures standing beside a separate manger.

Teaching the Christmas Story

Read or retell Luke 2:1-20 while children assemble the figures. Explain that the couple traveled to Bethlehem, Jesus was born, and He was laid in a manger. An angel announced His birth to shepherds, who went to see Him.

Ask children:

Who traveled to Bethlehem?
Who is being held in this craft?
Where was the baby laid after He was born?
Who told the shepherds about Jesus?
Why do Christians celebrate Christmas?

Children can move the figures as they retell the story. This is a great way to teach your kids about the meaning of Christmas through hands-on play.

Pair the lesson with Nativity coloring pages, free Advent Scripture cards, or the Nativity Christmas story pop-up card.

Preschool Nativity Craft Tips

A toddler or preschool-age child can help assemble these figures after an adult prepares the difficult pieces.

Pre-cut the paper shapes, hair, shawls, and small oval.
Draw a light line showing where each face belongs.
Use glue sticks to reduce dripping and wrinkles.
Use paper instead of felt if children find it easier to handle and cut.
Prepare larger pieces that younger children can hold more easily.
Let adults attach the staff and smaller details securely.
Complete the two main figures during separate short sessions if needed.

Toddlers require direct supervision. Do not give small decorations to children who may put them in their mouths. Only an adult should handle a hot glue gun.

Sunday School and Classroom Preparation

Collect and prepare clean tubes before the activity. Some schools or churches may prefer purchased craft rolls rather than household TP rolls.

For a group project:

Give each child two paper forms.
Place the pieces for each character in separate labeled bags.
Pre-cut the smaller figure and staff for younger students.
Provide glue sticks and washable markers at every table.
Display one completed sample, but don’t require children to copy every detail.
Write each child’s name inside the bottom of both rolls.
Use a separate table for optional felt, yarn, wool, and decorations.

Create the figures during one class and use them for story retelling during the next. This keeps the craft for kids from feeling rushed and gives the adhesive time to dry.

Add More Toilet Paper Roll Nativity Figures

The three main figures can become the beginning of a larger Nativity set for kids. Expanding the display is also a fun way for kids to learn who took part in the biblical account.

Shepherds

Cover rolls with earth-tone paper, add simple head coverings, and attach folded brown paper staffs. You can also pair a shepherd with a small paper sheep.

Wise Men

Use bright or patterned wrapping-paper scraps for robes. Add a paper crown and small boxes representing gifts. Older children can create the three Wise Men, sometimes called the Three Kings, with a different king or wise man design for each figure.

Angels

Wrap a roll in white paper and attach paper wings and a yellow halo. You can also follow the separate angel toilet paper roll craft.

Animals

Shorten the cardboard pieces for sheep, donkeys, or a camel. Add paper ears, faces, legs, and tails.

Stable

Decorate a shoebox with brown paper, popsicle sticks, or corrugated material. Add a paper star above the opening and place the Nativity set inside.

Ways to Personalize the Nativity Figures

Use patterned scrapbook or wrapping paper for the clothing.
Substitute yarn for paper hair.
Decorate the clothing with leftover fabric, ribbon pieces, or simple felt belts.
Draw different expressions on each character.
Place the figures on a display base.
Add a large Star of Bethlehem behind the display.
Write the child’s name and year beneath each figure.
Include a printable Bible verse on the display base.

Avoid heavy decorations that could make the figures tip over. These simple changes make it easy to create a unique DIY Nativity set for personal use.

Troubleshooting Tips

The paper unwraps: Apply glue along the entire overlapping edge and hold it briefly. Use a small piece of clear tape to secure the seam.

The figures fall over: Trim the paper and felt so nothing extends beneath the bottom edge. Attach the figures to a base if needed.

The felt will not stay attached: Use tacky craft glue or replace the felt with paper.

The small figure falls off: Reinforce the oval and use a stronger adhesive appropriate for children’s crafts.

The pieces are different sizes: Trim them to equal heights or let the variation become part of the handmade design.

More Nativity Crafts for Kids

Creative Nativity scene made from toilet paper rolls, including Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, decorated with paint and paper.

Make a Toilet Roll Nativity Display

This recycled tube Nativity gives children a meaningful way to create the Holy Family while learning about Jesus’ birth. Gather two rolls for the basic figures, then add more characters if you want to build a complete DIY Nativity display.

You can also do this fun toilet paper roll activity leading up to Christmas as part of an Advent lesson or family tradition.

How do you make a Nativity scene from toilet paper rolls?

Wrap two rolls with colored paper to create the main figures. Add paper hair, drawn faces, felt shawls, and a staff. Make the smaller figure from an oval wrapped in felt and attach it to the front.

How many rolls do you need for this craft?

You need two rolls for the basic tutorial. Additional figures such as shepherds, wise men, angels, and animals require more cardboard forms.

Is there a printable template for this craft?

You can make the basic figures from simple rectangles and hand-drawn shapes, so you don’t need a template. For a print-and-cut project, try the printable 3D Nativity scene or Nativity scene printable craft.

What age is this Nativity craft for?

It works best for preschool and elementary-age children. Adults should pre-cut the smaller pieces and supervise younger children using scissors and glue.

Will paper towel rolls work for this project?

Yes. Cut a paper towel roll into smaller pieces similar in size to the figures in this tutorial. Store-bought cardboard forms work as an alternative.

How can I make a complete toilet roll Nativity set?

Add cardboard shepherds, kings, angels, and animals. Place the figures inside a decorated stable with a paper star and a separate manger. This turns the basic project into a Christmas display children can use for storytelling.