I couldn’t resist the opportunity to share this fun nativity cutting file with you. In fact, I created it with all of you in mind! Paper piecing can seem like a lot of work in the beginning, but with time you will truly become a master paper piecer. When we very first get our Creative Cutters we all have that specific project in mind that we would love to create. This project was just that kind for me. I’ve been meaning to make this now for over three years! I finally said that this is the year! Although these images have a lot of colors (layers) they help to create a very rich effect with the final project. Paper piecing can be as easy as two simple images layered on top of one another. It doesn’t always have to be so intricate and full of detail. There is a wide scale of paper piecing patterns in our library that range in skill levels depending on how complicated you want your final project to look. Chris wrote an excellent article under Tricky Tuesday, Putting the Pieces Together. This will outline some of the ways to make this technique easier for you to use.
When it comes to paper piecing and your Inspiration, I always like to use a new blade as well as a new mat. Some of the paper piecing images can be pretty small. When you make sure that you have a new blade you can guarantee that it will cut the fine details of the image. Having a new mat also helps hold all those small pieces firmly down on your mat. If the mat isn’t sticky enough the smaller images can sometimes stick to the blade, as a result it can either damage the image or actually get caught up inside the blade holder. Whenever I get done working with my Inspiration after a long day of paper piecing, I take the blade holder out. I then push on the top of the blade holder to extract the blade, and make sure that there aren’t any bits and pieces stuck up inside of the blade holder. The reason that this can be so important is that as your Inspiration is cutting, the blade actually swivels inside of the blade holder. If there are loose pieces of paper or a build up of fibers inside the blade holder, the blade can’t swivel properly.
I hope that you enjoy the Christmas Nativity scene. One of my favorite Christmas songs is “That Spirit of a Christmas”. The entire time I was chalking and gluing all these little pieces together I was singing my favorite line, Singing songs about Jesus and the blessed way that he came to us. Many blessings to all of you.
Here is the cutting file for the Nativity
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Tatum, Thank you so much! Not just for the file but also for the wonderful work done on your project. You did an amazing job:-)
Just gorgeous! Something I will definitely have to try…
Truly one of the finest, intricate, ambitious projects I’ve ever seen. Fabulous job Tatum!
I also see on the tree in the background, what appear to be paper ornaments too!
This is truly beautiful and the reason for the season. I just sent off packages to the grandchildren up north….but I am now thinking that I might make these and send them on up too.
I remember having a card stock nativity as a child that I loved to play with. I would act out the 3 Wise Men coming to visit the baby Jesus and would get out my mother’s jewelry to bring to the Babe. What a wonderful memory you brought back to me! Thank you!
Vicki
Tatum, Oh my goodness, how incredibly beautiful!!!! you are so talented and generous. Thankyou!! I have become a paper piecing freak! Dana
WOW Tatum this is gorgeous!! I mean, breath taking in all honesty. You did a fantastic job on this navity scene! Did you use any type of inks to color in the pieces or are they all different colored cardstock?
I showed my husband and daughter the nativity above and now they understand why I play with paper. I’m still amazed! Great job.
This is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and for your hard work.
Joann,
I actually chalked the pieces to give them some dimension when they were all put together. I love chalking! It truly does wonders for your projects. I don’t think these figures would have turned out as well as they did without chalking. Plus, chalking is so very forgiving…inks, not so much.
Thank you so much for all the kind comments, I really appreciate reading them in the morning when I come to work. It’s a great way to start my day.
Merry Christmas everyone!!
You work is so beautiful. I’ve looked at many stores in my rural area and have found very few things that denote the reason for the season. I’m getting so sick and tired of all the things Christmas isn’t that your nativity scene is just what I needed to see.
Thank you so very much,
Maureen Conwell
Do you have svg files?