A couple years ago I made a rosary holder as a gift for my mom. And she’s been asking for another to give to her friend for a while now. So, I’m finally getting around to it, and thought I’d share the process with you!

Let’s get to it. Here’s how I made them!

First, I gathered materials:

Wood slices (I got a variety of sizes, just to have a little fun)
Knobs (There were so many pretty ones. Luckily they were on sale, so I grabbed a few.)
Hanging hardware
Craft paint
Paint pens
Mod Podge (or any other sealer)
Paint brushes

I also had some help from my dad, who cut the extra length off the knobs using a tool called a crimper, like this one.

Then, it was time to paint the first layers. I used the designs and colors of the knobs to guide me. I tried to use complementary colors.

Adding each layer was an adventure, and I really enjoyed watching how each piece evolved. Once I thought the floral backgrounds were in a good spot, I swiped a coat of Mod Podge over each piece. This gave a protective layer and also a smoother surface for the lettering, which is the next step.

Next I used paint pens to add lettering to each piece. I chose some phrases associated with Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, which is the beginning of the Hail Mary prayer.
Totus Tuus, which means “all yours” in Latin. St. Pope John Paul II used this as his personal motto to express his personal Consecration to Mary.
Fiat means, “let it be done to me.” It’s what Mary says in Luke 1:38 in response to the Angel’s proclamation.

And finally, I added the knobs and hardware. Well, actually this is the part my dad did (Thanks Dad!). For the knobs, he just drilled a hole and then twisted the knob in. We left a little space between the wooden board and the knob so that you can hand a couple of rosaries there. Then, he used a crimper to cut the extra length from the knob off the back. The hanging hardware is pretty straightforward, but did require another eye to make sure the design was hanging level. Alternatively, you could use one of those picture hangers with the zigzag “teeth” on it.

So there you have it! I ended up with four rosary holders that I really like. Two of the designs just didn’t come together, so I’ll try again at some point.

I hope you enjoyed following along with this project. I’ll probably list a couple of these in my next shop update!

Craft with me: Rosary Holder