Immaculate Conception Craft For Catholic Kids- How To Explain The Real Meaning!

Most Catholics are still under the impression that the feast of the Immaculate Conception refers to Jesus being conceived in the womb of Mary. This is incorrect! The phrase “The Immaculate Conception” actually refers to Mary being conceived in the womb of St. Ann- free from sin.

I think this misunderstanding comes from the fact that the feast of the Immaculate Conception is usually depicted as grown-up Mary dressed in white with a blue sash. This is how she appeared to St. Bernadette when she said “I am the Immaculate Conception.” This image can be confusing, especially for kids, when they don’t already understand the meaning of this holy day of obligation.

One of the very first pages I came out with at the start of Catholic Icing is this Immaculate Conception coloring page. It helps explain the true meaning of the day to kids.

Well this year, we transformed the Immaculate Conception coloring page into a printable Christmas ornament!

This printable St. Ann and the Immaculate Conception ornament comes from my Advent Saint pack. A circle cuts out of St. Ann’s middle, and you can see baby Mary inside her womb!

These are a lot easier to put together than you’d think- first, you just print and color (actually, the download comes with st. Ann also in color if you’d rather not have to color her yourself).

Kids of all ages can color these, even if they’re too young to do the assembling on their own. When you’re finished coloring, you cut out all the pieces.

You’ll need to cut out the middle circle from St. Ann. Do this by first gently folding the middle of the circle shape and giving yourself a scissor snip.

Then you can work your scissors into the hole and cut around. (Alternatively, you could cut this out with an exacto blade.)

Now you’re ready to assemble! Baby Mary and St. Ann’s legs are all one piece, so they are very easy to string up.

Wrap St. Ann around like a tube, and fix the back with tape or glue dots. Run a string through the holes at the top and the holes in the side of the leg pieces. Voila- baby Mary appears through the hole!

Just for fun, we added some sparkle to ours! We did this by squirting some glitter glue onto a paper plate, and painting it over the ornament after it was colored.

The glitter adds some really pretty sparkle once it’s hanging on the tree! Here’s the one made by my 4 year old niece.

And here’s Julian’s completed ornament (age 6).

Here’s one that’s decorated with glitter glue dots. You don’t want lines or solid areas with glitter glue because it will crack when you bend the ornaments around in a cone shape, so it’s just for a little embellishment.

Unfortunately, Lydia’s was scribbled on by a mischievous little cousin. lol. But he’s so adorable- who could stay mad at this face? 🙂

These St. Ann and the Immaculate Conception ornaments are just one Saint available in the Advent Saints pack. Check out the whole pack here.

My kids are enchanted by these ornaments! I can’t wait for them to make the rest of them 🙂