Nick from Rocky River Woodworks built and designed this stocking holder project for easy shop production and strong sales potential.
These small decorative holders are cut from inexpensive softboard using printed templates, then glued to a square base and fitted with a brass hook to hang a stocking from a mantle or shelf edge.
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Design
The designs are simple silhouettes—tree, stocking, snowman—kept thin so the front faces cleanly and the base sits flush on a mantle edge.
Simplicity makes them repeatable for small-batch production and easy to customize with paint, stain, or small decorative details for different customers.
Lumber Preparation and Templates
Nick prints templates and temporarily adheres them to inexpensive pine whiteboard to maximize material yield and speed layout for multiple parts.
After rough cutting at the miter saw, the shapes are taken to a bandsaw for closer work with a small blade, then cleaned up with scrapers and sanders to remove paper and adhesive residue.
Joinery and Assembly
The back of each ornament-like silhouette is glued to a square base that matches its thickness so the assembly sits flat on the mantle edge.
Glue and clamps are the preferred method because the soft board used is prone to splitting if screws are forced in; brad nails can be used sparingly for tacking when necessary.
Shaping and Surface Prep
Careful bandsaw work with a small blade, followed by hand sanding and light orbital sanding, yields crisp profiles and smooth edges ready for finish.
Removing the template paper before the adhesive fully cures makes the cleanup faster and reduces sanding time on the finished parts.
Finishing and Hardware
These holders can be painted or stained depending on the desired look; softboard soaks finish quickly, so multiple light coats are often required for even coverage.
Nick drills a centered pilot hole at the front edge and installs a small brass screw hook for hanging the stocking; the overhanging hook and base placement create a fulcrum that provides surprising stability under load.
Options and Adaptations
Beyond paint or stain, the designs can be customized with hand-painted details, different silhouettes, or by drilling shallow cups for small tea lights using a Forstner bit.
The straightforward construction and low material cost make these ideal for makers who want a quick, repeatable product that can be personalized for shoppers.
Overall Takeaways
This project demonstrates how simple shapes, efficient layout, and thoughtful assembly can turn inexpensive materials into a desirable product with good margin potential.
The techniques shown—template use, careful bandsaw work, glue-first assembly, and modest finishing—are broadly useful for small woodworking products intended for sale or gift-giving.
Get Nick’s templates here: https://www.rockyriverwoodworks.com/plans-templates/p/stocking-holder-templates