Born in Bethlehem SVG

Three words and a small picture

Short phrases work hard on a sign, and this one tells the whole story with just a place name. A compact “Born in” sits above a wide “BETHLEHEM” that spans the design, set in sturdy serif letters with a traditional, almost storybook weight. The gold star marks the top of the stack. At the foot, a little manger with crossed legs holds golden hay and the baby, wrapped in cream, with a gold circle behind the head.

Pieces and weeding

Altogether, 22 pieces and 7 cut-outs make up the solid file. Sixteen pieces are letters (the dot over the “i” counts by itself), one is the star, and five make up the manger, hay and baby. Letter centers account for all seven cut-outs: the two openings of each “B”, the “o”, and a narrow slit inside each lowercase “n” where the serifs meet. Since each letter floats free, use transfer tape on vinyl or glue everything to a backing card if you are working in paper. It passes our cut checks from about 5 inches wide. A fine hook helps with the slits in the “n”.

Color layers

Six layers come in the color file, and the wording sits right on your page without a backing behind it.

• Base and lines, navy: a thin edge behind the star and manger only
• Stable and animals, warm brown: the manger’s trough and crossed legs
• Cream parts, creamy white: the wrap around the baby
• Faces and hands, tan: only the small round head
• Star and gold, sunny gold: the star, the mound of hay and a round disc behind the head
• Lettering, navy: the two lines of words

Set the letters as one taped group. Then add the star and manger artwork around them.

Painting a wooden sign

Plank signs are where this design earns its keep. Cut the solid file as a stencil from removable vinyl, keeping the centers of the letters to stick back on, then seal the edges with a thin coat of your background color. Brush on navy, peel while it is barely dry, and paint the star and manger freehand or from a second stencil. Sand the corners lightly for a weathered finish that suits a porch or entryway.

More places to use it

• Pew or chancel banners in felt with iron-on letters
• Christmas pageant programs, as a cover title
• Tote bags for a church bazaar table
• Throw pillows in one vinyl color
• Large card fronts mounted on navy and cream

Size guide

The narrow slits and the baby’s parts need room, so 5 inches is the floor. Tags and labels are better served by printing the artwork, since Print Then Cut avoids tiny letters altogether.

Color swaps

• Barn red letters over distressed white paint
• Forest green words with a brass star
• Soft black lettering on a natural pine board

Pairs well with

Hang this sign near the Bethlehem Skyline with Star, and fold the Baby Jesus in the Manger design into the card that goes with it.