Praying Mary V1 in cardboard – nativity figure to craft

The Advent table is laid and the candles are lit. But your handmade nativity scene is still missing its most important figure. This cardboard nativity figure, a praying Mary, gives your Christmas decorations their quiet centre. It comes as a blank for painting or decorating. Or leave it plain with its brown edges. You can choose a height from 5 to 50 cm. So it fits your nativity scene, whether on a windowsill or in a large shop window.

What changes for you

• You design your nativity scene exactly in your own style. The untreated bookbinder's board can be painted, decorated or varnished.
• Your figure always fits the scene, not the other way round. You choose the height freely from 5 to 50 cm in 1 cm steps.
• You can craft at a relaxed pace, even with children. The smooth surface takes paint and glue well and nothing frays.
• You get a clean result with no extra work. Every figure is laser-cut and has even, brown edges.
• You can easily supply larger projects too. Order a single figure or a set of 10, 25, 50 or 100.

Why this nativity figure makes a difference in everyday life

A nativity scene you make yourself tells more than any shop-bought ready-made scene. The praying Mary is the calm centre that everything else is arranged around. Place her on the Advent table, in the window or as part of your Christmas table decoration. And because you choose the size, the figure fits what you already have.

Material & finish

The solid board in bookbinding quality is 1.2 mm thick and weighs 755 g/m². It feels pleasantly sturdy in your hand. It copes with firm brushstrokes and several coats of paint. The surface is smooth and untreated. Laser cutting leaves the edges clean and brown. So the figure looks finished even without paint. The board is made from 100% recycled material. Every Mary is made in Bütic's own production in Pößneck, Thuringia.

Dimensions & technical details

• Material: solid board/bookbinding board, untreated
• Material thickness: 1.2 mm
• Grammage: 755 g/m²
• Recycling: made from 100 % recycled material
• Shape: Betende Maria V1
• Height: choose from 5 to 50 cm in 1 cm steps
• Reference size: at a height of 10 cm, the width is 7.5 cm
• Finish: laser-cut, brown edges, clean cut quality
• Made in Thuringia, Germany

How to use the praying Mary

• Christmas crafts with children: Each child paints their own Mary. In the end, a nativity scene stands on the table that the whole family helped to make.
• For the Advent table: A small figure between candles and fir branches that no shop-bought set offers in this form.
• In the window of a shop, bakery or café: A large Mary at 40 or 50 cm draws attention and tells the story of the Holy Night. It is quick to set up and easy to store.
• For parishes, nurseries or schools: With the sets of 25, 50 or 100 you can supply a whole craft group. All figures are cut equally cleanly. No preparation needed.
• As Christmas decoration to give away: Painted and wrapped by you, the figure becomes a small, personal gift for Advent.

Good to know about the praying Mary

The tradition of the Christmas crib goes back to Francis of Assisi. In 1223 he had the first nativity scene re-enacted in Greccio, Italy. Since then, Mary has been a central figure in every depiction of the Holy Night. That makes the praying Mary a good starting point if you want to build your own nativity scene piece by piece.

Care & durability

There is not much you need to do. Keep the figure dry and it will stay with you for many Advent seasons. As the board is untreated, avoid damp and wet. A coat of varnish after decorating makes the surface more resistant.

Options & what's included

• Height of your choice from 5 to 50 cm in 1 cm steps
• Available individually or in sets of 10, 25, 50 or 100
• The figure is delivered untreated, without paint or decorating material

Frequently asked questions

Can I paint or decorate the figure? Yes. The untreated bookbinder's board can be decorated, painted and varnished. The smooth surface takes paint well.

How wide is the figure? The width depends on the height you choose. At a height of 10 cm, it is 7.5 cm wide.

Is the figure suitable for outdoors? The board is untreated and should stay dry. Outdoors, choose a sheltered spot or apply a protective coat.

What is the figure made of? 1.2 mm solid board in bookbinding quality, made from 100% recycled material, produced in Thuringia.

Are there quantities for larger craft projects? Yes. Besides the single figure, there are sets of 10, 25, 50 and 100.

Picture the evening when your handmade nativity scene stands in the candlelight. And you know nobody has one quite like yours. Just choose your size and get started.