Remember the true meaning of Christmas by displaying this colorful tampon nativity scene.

Tampon Nativity

Gather 'round the manger for the Christmas Miracle. These three kings come bearing gold, frankincense, and…fresh-scented feminine hygiene products.

Materials

• 16 empty Tampax cardboard vending tubes
• 12 empty Tampax tampon applicators
• Hot glue gun
• Florist’s wire or other thin wire
• Tapestry needle
• Brown spray paint
• Cardboard
• Utility knife
• Straw (optional)

Spray the empty vending tubes with the brown spray paint, coating on all sides, and set on ends to dry.

Cut two pieces of cardboard about 5 inches square. Glue six tubes lengthwise onto each one.

 Take the remaining four tubes and cut off one end at an approximately 45-degree angle (the exact angle is less important than getting all the angles the same). Hot glue onto the underside of the roof pieces along one edge. Make sure the “posts” are parallel. Glue the two halves together at the apex.

For the manger, poke holes through the center of the narrower part of six Tampax applicators. Thread them onto the wire. Hot glue into position crossways, alternating directions. [manger 5]

Cut remaining applicators to length to fit into the empty spaces and hot glue into place. Spray paint brown. Glue a bed of straw into the manger if desired.

Star of Bethlehem

• 8 empty Tampax tampon applicators
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors or utility knife
• Yellow acrylic paint

Separate applicators into wide and narrow tubes. Make the central crosspieces of the star by gluing together two wider tubes end to end. Cut a U shape out of the ends of two other wide tubes and glue around the joint to form a cross. Cut the ends of 4 narrow tubes into points, fit into the center of the star and glue in place. Replace the narrow applicator tubes in the ends of the crosspieces, adjust to desired length and glue in place. Paint yellow.

• 4 Tampax tampons with applicators, 1 Playtex tampon, 1 o.b. tampon
• Hot glue gun
• Felt in various colors
• Silver or other metallic paint
• Acrylic paints
• Scissors
• Utility knife
• Pipe cleaners (regular and metallic)

Instructions

For Wise Men and Joseph:

Cut basic pattern for robe out of different colors of felt and make a ½ inch slit in the center to insert the head. The cloth will be folded over and glued front to back.

Cut beards from black and brown felt. Pull Tampax tampons about ½ inch out of applicator, and glue on beards. Add felt hair for Joseph. Slip robe over head. Cut a piece of pipe cleaner about 6 inches long and wrap around applicator to form arms. Glue the front and back of the robe together, making sure the arms are positioned within the sleeves. [crowns]

For the Wise Men, use sections of empty applicator to make gifts and crowns. Paint metallic or other colors.

For Mary:

Remove Playtex tampon from applicator and open slightly at base. Cut narrow strips of brown felt about 2 inches long, and glue onto round end of tampon as hair.

Cut 4 by 5 inch and 4 by 2 inch rectangles of felt in contrasting colors, wrap around body of tampon, and glue in place. Make halo out of metallic pipe cleaner and glue onto back of head.

For Baby Jesus:

Cut 2 by 2 inch square of felt, wrap around base of o.b. tampon, and glue in place. Make small halo out of metallic pipe cleaner and glue onto back of head.

To Assemble Nativity

On a large piece of cardboard, arrange the stable and manger. Position figures (Joseph and the Three Wise Men figures will need to be glued into place on cardboard to stand upright). The Star of Bethlehem can be glued onto the top of the stable, or suspended independently.