Fabric covered favor boxes can be used for many special occasions -- from weddings to retirement gatherings, birthday and anniversary parties -- even holidays!
Cardboard craft boxes can be purchased at most craft and fabric stores. Any size box can be used with these project instructions.
We are using a 2 3/8 inch wide x 1 3/4 inch high x 2 3/8 inch deep cardboard craft box.
Supplies & Materials:
- Cardboard craft box
- Satin
- Small piece of 1/8 inch thick cotton batting
- Cut-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive
- All-purpose permanent adhesive
- Fabric glue
- Air-erase pen
- Masking Tape
- Ribbon
The designs used in this tutorial include:
Lay a piece of satin that is a couple of inches wider than the top of the cover right side up. Lay the cover down in the center of the satin. Place strips of masking tape under the cover. Extend the tape out past the edges of the cover.
Measure the side of the cover and multiply that number by two.
This number determines the amount of satin that will be folded over the edge of the cover.
Use the number you just calculated and measure out from the center square on all sides. Lay strips of masking tape and draw lines on the tape.
This outer square determines the outer edge of the cover fabric, and will be cut out later on.
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Print a template of the design at full size using embroidery software. Cut around the design for easier placement and lay it in the center square to make sure it fits inside. Lay a piece of masking tape under the template.
Poke a hole in the center of the design template, and align it with the center mark on the tape. Mark the horizontal and vertical axis points on the tape.
Remove the template and draw lines on the tape connecting the horizontal and vertical axis points. These lines will be used for hooping.
Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the satin on top. Hoop the satin and the stabilizer by aligning the lines on the tape with the marks on the hoop.
For tips when embroidering on satin, please see these free instructions and video:
Embroidering on Satin
Attach the hoop to the machine, align the needle directly over the center point, remove all the tape except for the outer square and embroider the design.
After the design has finished, carefully trim the excess stabilizer leaving about 1/4 inch of excess around the design.
Cut along the outer square marked on the tape. After cutting, remove the excess tape.
Flip the fabric over.
Mark the previously calculated edge measurement on the wrong side. Measure in from the edge of the fabric and draw lines connecting the marks.
This square will be used to position the cover of the box onto the fabric.
Adding a layer of cotton batting to the top of the cover gives the embroidery a bit more dimension. It also prevents a "ridged" look when the fabric is smoothed onto the cover.
Lay the cover top down onto the batting. Trace and cut out the shape.
Spray the top of the cover with permanent adhesive. Align and smooth the batting on top.
Spray the batting and the outer sides of the cover with permanent adhesive.
Lay the embroidered fabric wrong side up. Align the top of the cover inside the center square and press in place. Then smooth the fabric onto each side.
Add a drop of fabric glue to one of the inside corners.
Fold the corner down and in. Press it into place on the inside corner as shown.
Add another drop of glue to the fabric that was just glued to the inside corner. Fold the remaining corner fabric inside and press into place.
Repeat this for each corner.
Lay a piece of satin, wrong side up, that is a few inches wider than the bottom of the box. Set the box in the center of the fabric and trace it onto the fabric.
Unlike the cover of the box, the fabric will only need to fold to the inside of the box about 1/2 inch.
Measure the side of the bottom of the box and add about 1/2 inch.
Use the number you just calculated and measure out from the center square on all sides.
Draw lines connecting the marks and cut out the shape following the outside square.
Spray the bottom and outer sides of the box with permanent adhesive.
Lay the fabric wrong side up and align the bottom of the box inside the center square. Press in place and smooth the fabric over the sides.
Trim the excess fabric at each corner.
Add fabric glue to the inside of the box. Fold the fabric inside and press in place.
Do this for each side.
To finish the outside corners, use a pin to apply a bit of fabric glue along the corner and press the edges of the fabric together.
A bit of ribbon adds simple detail for an elegant finishing touch!
