Year-Round Display for Painted Rock Nativity Sets Using Natural Elements

You learned the simple and easy way to display your painted rock nativity set.

Here's how to display painted rock nativity scene figures year round using natural elements such as a:

• Piece of slate
• Wooden bowl or plate

Idea 1: You'll need a piece of slate which has flat areas to accommodate all three nativity scene figures. Clean and dry the slate and place the painted nativity rocks on top. You now have a natural, easy, simple way to display your nativity set year round.

Piece of Slate Used for a Natural Nativity Set Display

Idea 2: You'll need a wooden bowl or plate

Wooden salad bowl and charger plate

Fill the bowl with smooth stones and add the nativity figures...

Wooden Bowl + Smooth Stones + Painted Rock Nativity = Natural Display

...or fill the plate loosely with smooth stones...

...rearrange the stones around the larger, Mary and Joseph nativity figures so they are sitting directly on the plate. Add the Baby Jesus nativity figure on top of the stones. 

Wooden Plate + Smooth Stones + Painted Rock Nativity = Natural Display

Up next: Year-round, painted rock nativity set displays using candle accessories.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Easy, Year-Round Display for Painted Rock Nativity Sets

Christmas is over and you're saddened because the holiday decor is headed back to the closet.

Painted rock nativities can be left out year round because of their unique quality. It's more than a holiday decoration; it's a piece of art.

The easiest way to display your painted rock nativity set...

...simply place it in a bookcase or on a table.

Painted Rock Nativity Set Displayed in a Bookcase

These medium-sized painted rock nativity scene figures fit nicely with the colorful vase and ornate picture frame. The paint colors of this particular nativity set also blend well with the vase and the encyclopedia.

Why not keep the spirit of Christmas alive all year long. 

Coming next: Natural display ideas for nativity sets painted on rocks.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

How to Display Painted Rock Nativities in a Traditional Way

In earlier posts I showed you how to display painted rock nativity sets in a simple way using a charger plate with greenery, stones, or glass gems.

Painted rock nativity scene figures can also be displayed in traditional Christmas nativity stables.

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You can use an existing nativity stable and place the nativity scene figures inside.

Painted Rock Nativity Scene Figures in a Store-Bought Stable

I found this stable at my local craft store (Hobby Lobby). Stables come in many sizes and you should be able to find one at craft or general merchandise stores.

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You can use an existing nativity stable along with the animals that came with the set.

Painted Rock Nativity Set with Store-Bought Animal Figures

Store-bought nativity sets (stable and figures) come in many different sizes and are readily available. You can decide which pieces from the nativity set to combine with your painted rock nativity scene figures.

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Just remember to take into account the size of your painted rock nativity figures. You'll want them to fit nicely in the stable.

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Unique Display Idea for Painted Rock Nativity Sets - A Red Charger Plate

Are you looking for a simple, economical way to display your painted rock nativity set for the holidays? 

This idea couldn't be simpler and, unlike traditional nativity stables, it's easily moved from a coffee table to a dining table.

Supplies Needed:

• Jesus, Mary & Joseph painted rock nativity scene figures
• Charger plate
• Fake greenery - poinsettias, holly, pine, etc.

I used a shiny, red, plastic (Melamine) charger plate. Plastic is a perfect choice for use with painted rocks to lessen any chance of plate breakage.

A shiny, red, plastic, charger plate

Tip: You can find inexpensive charger plates at thrift stores and dollar discount stores. Silver, gold, and green are good color choices also.


Place your painted rock nativity set on the plate and arrange the greenery of your choice around the nativity scene figures.

A pretty way to display your painted rock nativity set

Tip: If you have holiday floral decorations that have seen better days, remove a few of the nicer pieces and use them for your nativity set plate display. 


There you go - a simple, unique, festive, inexpensive idea for displaying painted rock nativity sets.

Display the nativity in a way which is uniquely you depending on the plate and greenery you select. 

© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks

Traditional Christmas Gift Nativity Set

I wanted to make my own stable to accompany the hand-painted rock nativity sets that I've been painting as Christmas gifts.

On a recent trip to my local craft store, I found an object in the unpainted wood department I used as a stable for my painted rock nativity. 

Here are the steps I followed to create my own nativity stable:

1. The unpainted, wooden letter/key caddy was rotated so that the arched back now became the stable's floor
2. Brown acrylic paint mixed with water was applied to the unfinished wood with a rag, followed by a coat of gloss sealer
3. Thin wood chips were glued along the front sides of the rotated caddy
4. Thicker wood chips were glued to the top of the rotated caddy to embellish the roof of the stable
5. A thin layer of glue was painted on the floor of the stable and natural moss was then attached
6. A large wooden star was painted silver; gold glitter paint was added for highlighting
7. The star was attached to a slim wooden stick and glued to the back of the stable

The before and after picture shows the finished stable. Note that the rounded back of the unpainted letter/key caddy became the floor for the stable.

For another variation of the DIY stable, I removed the star and used a Mother and Child painted rock.

This DIY stable was made using a small wooden letter/key caddy. The craft store also carried a larger caddy that would be suitable for displaying larger or additional nativity scene figures painted on rocks.

Now my painted nativity rocks have gone from being a traditional Christmas gift to a traditional Christmas nativity scene.

See more nativity set display ideas. 


© Cindy Thomas Painted Rocks