Make Your Own Mini Peg Doll Mass Set

Painting peg dolls has become a little hobby of mine, and ever since I posted this set of Peg Doll Saints and a church with a Mass set a couple of years ago, I've gotten lots of questions about the items I used for the Mass vessels.  I'm currently working on gathering examples of tools for teaching about the Liturgical Year, so I figured now was a good time share an updated post with you.  If you're interested in a way to teach about Mass articles, the order of the Mass, the Liturgical year, or if you just want to encourage creative Catholic play, you might like this little Make-Your-Own Mass set.

Here are the items in this little set- a priest and altar, real candles and candle holders, altar cloths and chasubles in the major Liturgical colors, a paten and chalice, a crucifix, and a Roman Missal.

Here are links to the items needed for this Mass kit.  Many of the small wood items I actually purchased at Hobby Lobby, but these are very similar:
(Amazon affiliate links- If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.)
Priest
Candle Holders
Candles
Chalice
Paten
Crucifix
Roman Missal
Altar
Chasubles and Altar Cloths (white, purple, green, red)
Acrylic Craft Paint (white, tan, burgundy, gold, brown, black)

Here are a few details about how I made each item in this mini Mass set.  They vary slightly from the Mass set in this post,  but I like this new chalice much better and wanted to add the altar crucifix to the kit.  Pretty much everything I painted required 2-3 coats of paint.  I didn't seal the sets, which is just a personal preference, but sometimes I've used a matte spray sealer like this, and I know some people really like a glossy finish like this.

Paten:
-Paint gold, add white host (I used a marker cap to "stamp" the circle) and small tan cross

Candles:
-Paint candle holders gold
-Cut birthday candles to make a little shorter using a sharp knife
-Shave down end of candle so that it will more easily fit in holder

Priest:
-Paint face dark tan and body white
-Paint hair
-Paint beard & mustache (I was going for a Jesus-look-alike-priest to emphasize that the priest acts In Persona Christi, but you could also paint yours to look a little more like your own parish priest)
-Paint eyes
-Paint hands & arms

Chasubles:
-One sheet of felt can make 8 chasubles that are 2 1/4" x 6"
-Fold chasuble in half and cut out small "V" to make neckline
-While still folded, round corners
-Try on peg doll to see if it fits
-You can use gold fabric paint to decorate!

Altar cloths:
-Cut to fit your altar, in this case 4" x 6"
-One sheet of felt made four altar cloths
-If you have extra white, you also could make corporals and purificators

Chalice:
-Using a 1 1/2" spindle, cut off the top and bottom small pegs
-I used a Dremel with a cutting disc, and it was fast & easy- no sanding even necessary!
-Paint gold, add burgundy paint on top for wine

Roman Missal:
-Paint burgundy
-Add gold Chi Rho (or Alpha & Omega, or cross, etc.)

Crucifix
-Paint dark brown
-Add gold Corpus ("W" for arms, head, body, legs)

And there you have it!  All of the items for this mini Mass set fit right inside the altar, making it perfect to pull out in your home and classroom and then store away when you are done.

If you are interested in some other ideas, here are all of my other peg doll posts:

All Natural Peg Doll Nativity:

Peg Doll Nativity:

Wooden Animals for a Peg Doll Nativity:

Passion & Resurrection Peg Doll Set:

Saints, Cathedral, and Mass Set:

All Natural Noah's Ark Set:

Kid Made Peg Doll Nativity

A Kids-Can-Make Peg Doll Nativity

School auction season is upon us, and I am always in search of a new kid-centered auction idea.  At our school each class makes and donates something special for parents and parishioners to bid on with proceeds helping fund large scale projects for the school.

We've made classroom books, painted pottery, etc. Two years ago we made this chalkboard table. This year, I decided to help the kids make something that might appeal to the parents of younger students, so we created a hand painted peg doll nativity.  Making Saint peg dolls has become a go-to gift for me, and I knew my students could handle making a set with a little guidance.  Each kid chose one person or animal to contribute to the nativity set.

For the planning process, I would recommend showing some example pegs or using a book like the Encyclopedia of Peg Saints from  Saintly Heart (affiliate link).  With lots of close up pictures, ideas for symbolism, etc., this book would be helpful for kids (and adults) as they are creating a peg doll from scratch.

I knew that the kids would need a little guiding and planning before we started in with the paint, so I created a Peg Doll Plan sheet for the students.

It helped them plan colors and symbols, as well as sketch out the front, back, and side views for the peg doll.  They then used that pattern to draw in pencil on their wooden peg.

We then had small groups working on painting.  I sat at a table with five or so kids.  They would add one layer/color of paint and then set it aside.  The next group would come and do the same, etc. By the time we were back to they first group, that layer of paint was dry and they could add the next color.

Taking turns was a great way to manage the mess of non-washable paint and for me to be available for a little guidance during the painting.

While the kids were painting figures, I painted the box/stable.  I think the the whole set turned out great, and I hope it finds a happy home at the auction!

Here's the outside of the box:

Click here for the printable Saint Peg Doll Planning Sheet:

Here are some of my recommended supplies that could be used to create a Nativity or set of Saints: (affiliate links)
-Wood Doll Bodies Man 3 9/16" (Although I bought in bulk last time to save!)
-Wood Doll Bodies Woman 3 1/2" (Also bought in bulk)
-Wood Knobs 2"
-Wood Blocks 2"
-Wood Blocks 1 1/2"
-Wood Eggs 2 1/2"
-My favorite boxes are from Hobby Lobby.  Unfortunately, I can't link right to the product I used, but I love these boxes.  They are sturdy and you can get them individually in store.


If you are interested in some other ideas, here are all of my other peg doll posts:

All Natural Peg Doll Nativity:

Peg Doll Nativity:

Wooden Animals for a Peg Doll Nativity:

Passion & Resurrection Peg Doll Set:

Saints, Cathedral, and Mass Set:

All Natural Noah's Ark Set:

Woodburned Peg Doll Noah's Ark

Peg doll sets have become my go-to gift for the kiddos in my life, so after making my niece a peg doll nativity, I needed to come up with a different set to create for her little brother. My sister suggested that they needed more animals to go with a barn they already had, so Noah's Ark seemed a perfect choice.

I decided to make this a natural set instead of painted after loving (so much!) how my other nephew's woodburned nativity turned out.  In this post, I'll share some pictures of the dolls, animals, and ark that you could use for ideas/patterns if you would like to try making a set of your own.

All of the steps, including set up, woodburning, staining, and sealing can be found in great detail in my original Woodburned Peg Doll Nativity post.  I thought I would save a little time and send you there instead of recreating everything.  The rest of this post will just include pictures of this project.

Here are my supply recommendations based on what I used: (affiliate links)
-Wood Doll Bodies Man 3 9/16" (Although I bought in bulk last time to save!)
-Wood Doll Bodies Woman 3 1/2" (Also bought in bulk)
-Wood Knobs 2"
-Wood Blocks 2"
-Wood Blocks 1 1/2"
-Wood Eggs 2 1/2"
-Larger Blocks (similar)
-Woodburning Kit
-Mineral Oil
-Beeswax
-The box I used is from Hobby Lobby.  Unfortunately, I can't link right to the product I used, but I love these boxes.  They are sturdy and you can get them individually in store.  The medium one listed at that link is the one featured in this post.

Ok, first up, the storage box gets turned into an ark!

Outside:

And inside:

Here it is filled with all the animals, Noah, and Mrs. Noah:

The birds, cats, and dogs (two by two, of course) were made from 2" wood knobs, so they are flat on the bottom and will stand up.  Here is the front and side view:

And the front & back view:

Sheep, cows, and pigs were made with 1 1/2' and 2" blocks.  Here is the front and back view:

There were also camels made with 2 1/2" eggs... but I didn't get a picture of them apparently.  You can check out the nativity post to see the Wise Men's camels if you'd like to add them to your ark.

The giraffes and zebras were made from 2"x 2" x4" blocks:

Because the original idea started with their empty barn, I also made a Farmer and Mrs. Farmer that could be played with all the farm animals:

I think it turned out pretty cute!  Remember, if you are interested in more step-by-step details, check out the nativity post linked just below.

If you are interested in more Catholic peg doll projects, check out these posts:

All Natural Peg Doll Nativity:

Peg Doll Nativity:

Wooden Animals for a Peg Doll Nativity:

Passion & Resurrection Peg Doll Set:

Saints, Cathedral, and Mass Set:

Woodburned Peg Doll Nativity How-To

I know, I know... it's only September. But in my book, its never too early to start planning for Advent and Christmas and gift giving.  I'd rather do a little work early on so that I can enjoy the season.  Last Christmas, I made this peg doll nativity for my just-turned-one year old niece, and it was a big hit.  The peg dolls are just the right size for a little fist, they make satisfying banging noises, and are fun to chew on (and later will hopefully help her understand the true meaning of Christmas). We've added two new nephews to the family this year, so I wanted to make another nativity.  After watching my niece play with hers I was inspired to think a little differently about the next set.

When making toys for babies & toddlers, you have to consider that everything is going to end up in their mouths.  With that in mind, I still made Baby Jesus a tiny size, but as He is a choking hazard, my sister has Him stored away until the kiddos are bigger.  When I painted last time, I also made sure that my paint and sealer were non-toxic.  This time considering my nephew is even younger, I knew that there was an even higher likelihood that he would have these pieces in his mouth all the time.

After a friend gave me a woodburner this summer, I knew that it would be the perfect medium to make more baby-friendly peg dolls.  I woodburned the peg dolls, stained them with coffee, and sealed with mineral oil and beeswax- all non-toxic, food safe materials that a mama can feel a little better about her baby chewing on.  Not only that, but I l-o-v-e the style of the Nativity and how simple and beautiful it looks.  Plus, they smell delicious- a combo of the burned wood, coffee, and beeswax is like a campfire and incense all rolled into one. :)

If you want to try this technique, I've got a lot of pictures to help you along the way.  If you stumbled upon this and want to paint a set of nativity peg dolls, you could easily use the woodburned patterns below as outlines and you might want to check out this post.  Also, this post has ideas for painting animals for a peg doll nativity, and this post has a set of Saints, a cathedral, and a Mass set.  I think the kiddos in your life would love any of them!

Note: Many of the links to products in this post are affiliate links.  That means that if you click on that link and make a purchase through it, I receive a small percentage at no cost to you.  I only recommend things I already have used and have been happy with.  I appreciate your support!

Here are my supply recommendations based on what I used:
-Wood Doll Bodies Man 3 9/16" (Although I bought in bulk last time to save!)
-Wood Doll Bodies Woman 3 1/2" (Also bought in bulk)
-Wood Blocks 2"
-Wood Blocks 1/2"
-Wood Eggs 2 1/2"
-Woodburning Kit
-Mineral Oil
-Beeswax
-Baby Jesus was from Hobby Lobby, but this wood doll is similar
-All of the boxes used (large stable for whole Nativity, small box for Holy Family, and tiny box for Baby Jesus) were from Hobby Lobby.  Unfortunately, I can't link right to the products I used, but I love these boxes.  They are sturdy and you can get them individually in store.  The medium one listed at that link is the one featured in this post.

(*Update- A reader asked about the total cost for this project. I based on amounts from buying the peg dolls in bulk from the links above and I used a 40% off coupon on the large wooden box from Hobby Lobby.  With those discounts, all of the items you see in the first picture cost me about $30.  This doesn't count the cost of the woodburner, wax, oil... or coffee :) It would be a bit more expensive if you purchased the peg dolls in smaller quantities, but you could always find someone to split a larger order with, do a peg exchange, etc.)

First up, sketch lightly in pencil.  Totally worth the time, because then you concentrate on small areas while wordburning without trying to figure out the big picture.  And there's no need to erase unless you miss some lines.  You can keep an eye out for any rough edges that might need some light sanding at this point.  All of the supplies I mentioned above have always been very well made and I haven't had to worry about sanding, except on the edges of the boxes.

The woodburning kit I used (listed above) came with a few standard tips.  I almost exclusively used the fine and round tips.  I did use the straight tip in some cases for hair and a couple of lines, and I used the shading tip to create the angels' wings.  I hadn't woodburned in many many years, but it actually was easier than I remembered.  I would recommend practicing with a scrap piece of wood to get a feel for the tips and to also be very careful with your fingers when you start working on the pegs. :)

As great as the woodburning looked, it needed a little contrast.  I decided to use a coffee stain.  I brewed double strength coffee and brushed it on with a paint brush.  I had planned on adding water to dilute it and make lighter shades, but actually ended up letting it dry and adding more coats to create darker shades.  The coffee obviously soaks into cut ends and smooth ends of the wood differently.

Here you can see what a difference the contrasting brown colors makes.  I let the stain dry completely before adding sealer.

Also, the wooden blocks, especially the 2" size, seemed to have very sharp corners.  Not only did this make me nervous if one of the kids fell onto it, but it also seemed more likely to wear down and splinter.  I could have sanded the corners, but again, thinking about preventing splinters I tried another technique.  I put one corner of the block on a steel plate I use for jewelry making (you could use any hard surface, like the bottom of a skillet) and then whacked the opposite diagonal corner with a hammer.  The result was a dented in corner on two of the eight corners that looks much more baby safe.  It only took a couple of minutes to do this on all of the blocks.

Next up, sealing the wood.  I used mineral oil and beeswax to create a food safe sealant for the natural wood.  Using a one part wax to four parts oil ratio, I warmed up the mineral oil in a double boiler and then added small pieces of the wax, stirring until melted.  I waited for it to cool a bit and then used a rag to rub into the wood while it was still warm.  As it cools, it gets too solid to work with, so I just put it in a hot water bath to warm it back up.  I let the sealant sit for about 20 minutes (basically the time for me to put it on every piece and then get back to the beginning) and then buffed off the excess with another clean rag.  I put two coats on some of the rougher piece of wood, including the box.

Ok, ready to get started?  Whether you decide to paint or woodburn, it can be nice to have a pattern to start with.  I always like to have one peg doll to look at, so I took pictures of the front, back and side of the various people and animals in the Nativity:

Here's the Holy Family:

The Wise Men:

Their Camels:

The Angels:

The Shepherds:

Their Sheep:

And the Cattle and Donkey:

And finally, I woodburned a big star and lots of little stars inside the lid of the box listed above.  It is the perfect size to function as a stable for play and also for storage.  Baby Jesus is lying in swaddling clothes in the bottom of a tiny wood box (from Hobby Lobby) for His manger.

If you don't want to start with the whole Nativity, you could make just the Holy Family in a small box like this.  I made these for some baby showers this fall.

Aren't they so cute?!? I just love how this turned out :)

If you are interested in more Catholic peg doll projects, check out these posts:

Peg Doll Nativity:

Wooden Animals for a Peg Doll Nativity:

Passion & Resurrection Peg Doll Set:

Saints, Cathedral, and Mass Set: