Nativity Family with Star 3D Cubic

Geometric columns pair and rectangle box 

(with purchased attached wood ball heads) 

present simple figures of Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

Layered built-up star completes this minimalist 

religious display for the Christmas season. 

Engineering allows this ensemble to go together easily, 

with guides and supports for baby’s “swaddling” 

twine wrap and wire-mounted star. 

Ensemble measures approx. 3.5” x 3.5” base, 

tallest figure with head ball approx. 7.75”. 

Star on wire as shown approx. 14” tall. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A Mary body box   B Joseph body box
C & D lower body box reinforcement boxes
E & F body top head ball support layers (2 sets ea.)
G & H lower body top opening shape holders
I baby body box lid  J baby body box base
K baby body base ball support layers
(NOTE that this shape has been modified in final design)
L baby body support strut ring
M stand lid   N stand accent
O stand base  
P stand base int. reinforcement (wall edge brace)
Q star interior layers (6-7 - see Step 2 for info)
R star front and back panels
S star front and back accents
T wire conduit for star wire (NOTE this shape
was converted from two strips to one in final design)

Obtain unfinished wood balls:

two 1.25" diameter for adult heads

one 1" diameter for baby head.

(These were purchased at Michael's Crafts

and Hobby Lobby.)

For a stronger color contrast, the sample project

balls were dipped in "natural" wood stain

and allowed to dry.

2. Prepare the layered shapes in order to allow

them to be pressed and thoroughly dried in advance

of when they are added to the assembly.

A. Layer the interior star stack and glue together,

taking care to align all cut edges as precisely

as possible.

NOTE that the quantity of layers of the interior star

needed will be determined by the thickness of 

the holder wire selected. The sample project uses

approx. 12 gauge wire and used 7 interior layers.

To test for thickness, dry-stack the layers, then fit

a wire end into the straight slot and feel . . .

. . .for whether the wire is below the surface 

of the top layer; add or subtract layers until 

wire cannot be felt above.

Once the desired stack depth is determined,

layer and attach the layers, then press under a flat

weight such as this fabric-covered re-purposed

weight machine bar, until completely dry.

B. Position and attach the front and back star accents

centered within the star main (whole) front & back.

Layer the BACK only of the star with accent

onto the back of the interior stack, and press until dry.

C. Layer and attach the stand base int. reinforcement 

(wall edge brace), taking care to align all cut edges,

and press under a flat weight until dry.

D. Identify the baby body and adult body top 

head ball support layers with their cut-in letters

to indicate stacking order (T-top; M-middle;

B-bottom), then . . .

. . . layer and attach in order.

Press until dry. NOTE that the stack should

create a graduated recess to conform to

ball's spherical shape.

E. Repeat the process for the adult body

to identify layering order by letter symbols, then . . .

. . . stack in order. . .

. . . and attach together. Press until dry.

3. Prepare the body boxes for Mary and Joseph

by bending back on all perforation lines for panels

and tabs or flanges.

4. Form the shape into a column to position

and join the side seam.

NOTE that the symmetrical nature of this shape

will allow the column to be flattened so that

the side seam can have finger pressure applied

more easily along the entire length until secured.

5. At the top opening, bend the tabs inward . . 

. . . then bend the 'lid' down into position,

square up and glue in place. NOTE that it may

be helpful to invert and stick a tool such as the new

eraser end of a pencil into the interior to press

against the tabs to assist adhesion.

6. Apply glue to the face, then turn the ball holder stack

 face down and insert into the body bottom opening

and through the tube until it can rest against and

attach to the backside of the box 'lid'. Adjust to be

centered, then assist to attach in place.

7. Prepare the lower body box (base) by bending

back on all perforation lines.

8. Form the box into a tube to align and join

the side seam.

9. At the  bottom of the box, bend the tabs inward

then bend the 'lid' down into position, square up

and attach in place.

11. To reinforce the center portion of the body,

a reinforcement panel is inserted into the column top.

Prepare the panel by bending the edge flanges forward.

12. Apply adhesive to the backside of the flanges,

then insert the panel into the top opening and . . .

. . . and push straight in until the flange outer edges

align with the top edges of the box.

Pinch edges to attach in place.

13. Complete the box assembly by inserting

the top (reinforcement end) into the column box . . .

. . . and pushing fully into place, pausing before

it is completely inside to apply glue to the insert

surfaces, then . . .

. . . pushing it in until it is flush with body box

bottom edges.

14. Prepare the baby body box 'lid' by bending back

on all perforations for side walls, end tabs.

15. Bend the walls back and overlap short ends
over adjacent end tabs to align with perforations
and join all four corner seams.

16. Prepare the baby body base shape in similar

manner, then . . .

. . . bend walls back to align and join four corner seams.

17. Position the ball support stack into the base,

centered and at the top, and glue in place.

18. Prepare the support ring shape by bending back

on each of the vertical panel perforation lines,

also bending forward the tabs at top and bottom.

19. Form the strip into a ring to align and join seam.

20. Adjust the ring to be a circular as possible,

then position on the underside of the 'lid' so that

the ring surrounds the head bead opening,

and glue top edge flanges in place.

21. Prepare the twine "swaddling" before the box

lid and base are joined together. Cut a length

of jute twine (approx. 1 yard), and insert from

lower left side through semi-circular opening . . .

. . . pass across the inside of the base and out

the opposite upper opening. Bring the twine in a loop

over the top of the base to insert end again into

the lower right opening, across and through 

opposite opening, keeping the two loops loose 

enough to pass the lid through to position and 

close the box. 

22. Position the lid over the base, apply glue to base

side walls, then "close" the lid in place.

Twine loops are kept free.

23. Re-position the twine loops to diagonally cross
the body box, then work the twine through so that
it is eventually tight across the box with no slack
in the loops. Tie the ends in front in a neat square knot
and trim ends at about 1/2" each.
Apply quick-grab glue (such as Fabri-Tack or hot melt)
to the head support insert contour, 
(inside the box) and also under the rim edge of 
the circle opening, then position and attach the ball sphere 
and hold in place until completely secure.

24. Prepare the platform 'stand' lid by bending back

on all side wall and tag perforations. Also bend back

on the center perforations - these flanges help support

the center of the platform so that it does not collapse

around the body boxes. Don't overlook the two tiny

triangles that will open the channel for the wire conduit.

25. Position the 'contrast' offset accent overlay

onto the front of the platform lid, matching up

the interior opening to fit around the perforations

that define the 'opening' of the lid, and attach.

26. Bend sides back and complete corner seams.

27. Repeat the bending at perforations step,

and corner seams for the platform base.

28. Insert, center and attach the platform interior

build up shape into the inside of the base.

29. Prepare to attach the platform lid to base by

working expeditiously to apply a bead of glue along

the cutout edge, also at outside surfaces of side walls,

then . . .

. . . place lid onto base (NOTE this should be

a fairly snug fit . . .

. . . and bend the lid interior flanges down into

position so that the bottom edges rest against

and attach along the insert cutout edges where

the glue was applied. Hold edges in place until secure.

30. Prepare to insert and attach the adult body boxes

by identifying the front surface of the Mary column

which has three small guide marks to help

position the baby body, as indicated here.

Insert the Mary column into the platform's

center opening, and attach bottom and

sides that will touch the platform.

This is a snug fit, so make sure it is tight

against the side.

31. Repeat to insert, position and attach Joseph,

also attaching the two columns to each other.

32. Prepare the wire conduit triangular column shape

(NOTE this shape has been modified in the final design

to be one longer shape) by bending back on all

perforations for wall panels, edge flange and top tabs.

33. Form the shape into a triangular tube to overlap

the straight edge over the opposite side flange to

perforation line, and glue in place. 

NOTE it may be helpful to insert a rod-like tool

such as a knitting needle or bamboo skewer into

the tube under the seam edge to help with 

applying pressure along the edge. 

34. At top and bottom, bend the tiny tabs inward . . .

. . . then bend down and glue the 'lid' panel in place.

Here are the components needed to assemble

the star: wire that has been shaped to include

the lower straight portion with a sideways bend

and spirals, then a bend upward and a curl at the end

that will fit into the star's round recess. Compare

the wire length to the length of the conduit, Joseph

column height in place on the completed platform

assembly, and the height of star/interior channel

and circle channel, then use fingers or tools to

form and shape it. star build up with backside 

in place,and star front with accent.

35. Prepare to insert the wire into conduit 

first orienting the conduit so that the widest wall face

is forward (it will end up toward the body columns).

Apply a bead of quick-grab glue to the cut bottom end,

then insert into the top conduit hole, and slide

through to come out the opposite hole at bottom --

actually to be even with opening edges. Add

a dab of glue at the top opening to hold wire in place,

then secure in place until glue is secure.

36. Fill the star recess and channel with quick grab
glue, then insert the end and curl and . . .

. . . position and attach the star front shape.

37. Apply glue to the conduit bottom end,

and also on the forward face, then insert into

the platform triangular opening on backside

column assembly, push fully in, while at the same

time, adjusting to be in position overlapping

the join line between the two columns.

Hold in place until secure.

 38. Apply quick-grab glue to the backside

of baby box only where it will overlap the

two columns, then position and attach.

39. Apply quick-grab glue to the ball support

contours, then position and attach the adult

head balls in place, and hold until secure.

Here is the completed ensemble.