Embroidered and Embellished Keepsake Box

First, we will prepare the fabric for outer shell that will cover the lid of the box. Lay the fabric with the right side facing up. Set the box on top (lid side facing down) and trace the shape using an air-erase pen or other marking tool - leave a few inches of excess fabric around the shape.

Measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks. Where the lines meet is the exact center of the shape. Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the design to help with placement and centering.

Poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape - there should be at least one inch of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

Remove the template and spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on top and hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design. When the design is finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

Next, measure the thickness of the lid.

Hoop all three layers together.

Place the box (lid side down) on top of the batting and cut two pieces. Layer the batting pieces on top of the lid. Spray the backside of the fabric with permanent adhesive. Align the inner shape with the top of the batting and smooth in place. Then, smooth the edges of the fabric along each side and pinch the corners of the fabric together.

Trim the fabric around the latch and smooth it in place.

Add a few drops of hot glue to the tabs of fabric at each corner and press them in place to the sides of the lid. Then, trim away any excess fabric that extends down past the bottom edges of the lid.

Prepare the fabric for the bottom of the lid just as you did for the top. Trace the shape of the bottom of the box onto the fabric (on the wrong side). Measure the thickness of the bottom section of the box, measure and mark out around the shape, and cut out the shape. Spray the backside of the fabric with adhesive and add the fabric to the box (trim the fabric around the hinges at the back and at the latch in front). Hot glue the tabs in place and trim the excess fabric at the top edge of the bottom of the box.

To keep the edges of the fabric from fraying, we added 1/4 inch wide ribbon to the edges of the lid and the bottom section of the box by hot gluing the ribbon in place.

Now we will prepare the fabric for the inner lining. Measure the dimensions of the inside of the bottom section of the box (ours is 6 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches). Using these dimensions, draw the shape onto the backside of the inner lining fabric (we used velvet). Then, measure the thickness of the inside of the bottom section, measure and mark out from the first shape, and draw lines connecting the marks. Then, extend the lines out from the inner shape out to the outer lines. Cut out the shape, including the small squares at each corner.

Spray the backside of the fabric with permanent adhesive and smooth the fabric in place inside the box by first smoothing it in place on the bottom of the box and then along each side.

Hot glue beads, charms, and bangles where you like. We added pre-strung beads along the sides and on the top and front of the box.

You may also hand sew decorations to the box. We added a cameo charm to the front, covering the front latch.