Tag Archives: nativity

Create Your Own Clay Nativity

In today’s tutorial, I walk you through how to make a clay nativity using Crayola Model Magic air dry clay. You can make just the figures or nativity ornaments!


Support the channel! Buy Me a Coffee (and support my art supply wish list): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amyheyseart

Original artwork created by Amy Heyse.

Supplies needed:

Crayola Model Magic
White Crayola Model Magic
Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​
Clay Tools
4 inch plastic open ball ornament
Toothpicks
Ziploc Bags
Hot Glue
Zeyar Twin Tip Permanent Markers


(Note: Some of the links provided are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. This allows me to continue creating free content for Catholic artists of all ages! I only recommend products that I use and love. Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates)

Creative Catholic Kids: Stop Motion Animation with Catholic Toys

AKA “How I got my kids to play quietly for over an hour in silence.” If you’re looking for a fun activity for your children to get them excited about the faith and storytelling, this is the lesson for you!


Stop motion is a way of creating films by taking pictures of figurines slowly over time (think Wallace and Gromit or the old Rankin/Bass holiday films). 24 pictures = 1 second of motion. When you play back each frame, it looks like your figurines are coming to life and moving on their own!

I had my 8 (almost 9) and 6 year old daughters help create some stop motion videos for this lesson using our Nativity set and saint figurines. Easy enough for a little kid to follow, but engaging/challenging enough for a big kid (or grown-up).

Back when I was a middle school art teacher, we would have an awards ceremony where we would watch each kid’s animations. You could have a family movie watching party and enjoy popcorn while celebrating your hard work!

If you love animation, be sure to check out my Jesus Flip Book lesson!


Support the channel! Buy Me a Coffee (and support my art supply wish list): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/amyheyseart

Love animation? Check out my Jesus Flip Book lesson!

Suggested Supplies:

Smart Phone or Tablet
Tripod (or something sturdy to rest your device against)
iPad Pro Tablet Case
Stop Motion Studio App (Free!)
Catholic Toys, Legos, or Clay (our dolls were purchased from Shining Light Dolls and Be A Heart – not sponsored, we just love their toys!)
Backdrop and/or props (Fabric, paper, canvas, mat, sticks, rocks, clay, small toys, or create your own!)
Nativity Set

Behind the Scenes: The Holy Family

Every Advent, I like to work on a personal piece of artwork to help me contemplate the season. I decided to work on an image of the Holy Family after the birth of Jesus. I would work on it a little at a time using my iPad and an art app called Procreate.

Today’s video is a behind-the-scenes look at how I go from concept to sketch to final artwork. It’s hours of work condensed into a short sneak peek look at my process.

This image is also available as a print on my website.

Supplies used:

Procreate app https://procreate.com/

Beginner’s Guide to Digital Painting in Procreate https://amzn.to/3gPASgv

iPad Pro 11 inch https://amzn.to/3KV8Fjw

Apple Pencil 2nd Generation https://amzn.to/3BdAm2D

Procreate Watercolor Brushes https://creatoriq.cc/3mrQUAy

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)

How to Draw Baby Jesus

Today is the last of the Nativity drawing series: How to Draw Baby Jesus. All you need is a pencil, paper, and something to color with. I hope you have had fun following along with these Nativity inspired drawing tutorials this Advent.

Supplies needed:

Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​https://amzn.to/3R5lsRI

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Broad Tip https://amzn.to/3MRMBY0

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Fine Tip https://amzn.to/3CJR0rf 

Micron Pens https://amzn.to/3EUvjrf

Paper

Pencil

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)

How to Draw the 3 Wise Men


In today’s tutorial, I walk you through how to draw the 3 Wise Men step-by-step. We use simple lines and shapes and you can color him with your favorite art supplies.

Supplies needed:

Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​https://amzn.to/3R5lsRI

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Broad Tip https://amzn.to/3MRMBY0

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Fine Tip https://amzn.to/3CJR0rf 

Micron Pens https://amzn.to/3EUvjrf 

Paper

Pencil

How to Draw a Shepherd

In this tutorial, I walk you through how to draw a shepherd step by step. All you need is a pencil, paper, and something to color with. This tutorial is part of my Nativity drawing series.

Supplies needed:

Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​https://amzn.to/3R5lsRI

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Broad Tip https://amzn.to/3MRMBY0

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Fine Tip https://amzn.to/3CJR0rf 

Micron Pens https://amzn.to/3EUvjrf

Paper

Pencil

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)

How to Draw an Angel

In this tutorial, I walk you through how to draw an angel step by step. All you need is a pencil, paper, and something to color with.

Supplies needed:

Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​https://amzn.to/3R5lsRI

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Broad Tip https://amzn.to/3MRMBY0

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Fine Tip https://amzn.to/3CJR0rf 

Micron Pens https://amzn.to/3EUvjrf

Paper

Pencil

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)

Nativity Series

This Advent, I’m going to be walking you through how to draw different figures from the Nativity scene. I already have drawing tutorials of Mary and Joseph and throughout Advent we’ll also learn how to draw an angel, shepherd, the 3 wise men, and Baby Jesus.

Each tutorial demonstrates how to draw these biblical figures with a paper and pencil. You can color it with your favorite art supplies!

Supplies needed:

Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​https://amzn.to/3R5lsRI

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Broad Tip https://amzn.to/3MRMBY0

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Fine Tip https://amzn.to/3CJR0rf 

Micron Pens https://amzn.to/3EUvjrf

Paper

Pencil

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn adver

How to Draw Mary

In today’s tutorial, I walk you through how to draw Mary step-by-step! I use simple lines and shapes and try to break it down as simply as possible. All you need are a piece of paper, a pencil, and something to color with.

How to draw Mary

Supplies needed:

Crayola Washable Super Tips Markers ​​https://amzn.to/3R5lsRI

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Broad Tip https://amzn.to/3MRMBY0

Crayola Colors of the World Markers Fine Tip https://amzn.to/3CJR0rf 

Micron Pens https://amzn.to/3EUvjrf

Paper

Pencil

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.)