Skull Rosaries

$10 - $15 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes two rosaries

2017’s theme explored the legend of La Llorona, so many of the builds incorporated elements of Catholicism and Mexican culture. For this prop, I chose to incorporate two major elements of Día de los Muertos – polychromatism and sugar skulls – into my macabre interpretation of the Catholic rosary.

• One to two yards of nylon string
• Two small cross stone beads
• One strand of small skull stone beads (roughly fourteen beads per strand)
• Two strands of small round stone beads (roughly fourteen beads per strand)
• Three strands of small square stone beads (roughly fourteen beads per strand)
  

1. Thread the beads onto the string to assemble the loop that will comprise the five decades. In a traditional rosary, each decade (ten beads) is separated by a bead marking one of the five Mysteries of Our Father. For my version, I shortened the loop to thirty-six beads total, since I needed the rosaries to be short enough to drape over the corners of picture frames and crown the tops of skulls. You, of course, are free to lengthen or shorten the prop based on your specific needs.

2. Draw the two ends of the loop together and knot the strings. Thread both strings through the beads which will form the centerpiece and the pendant. Here, too, I shortened the length of the rosary to fit my desired purposes.

3. Finish the prop with the crucifix, knotting and trimming the excess string. For added reinforcement, I glued the knot to ensure that the weight from the stone beads would not break or unravel it.