First, prepare the pattern for the main portion of the ark. 

Cut a piece of paper or tag board 16 1/2 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches high.

Along the bottom edge, measure and mark 5 inches from the bottom left corner. 

Then, draw a curved line from the top left corner down to the mark you just made. This will determine the shape of the ark.

Fold the paper widthwise (align the two short sides together) with the drawn line facing outwards. Cut along the line through both layers of the paper. This is to make sure that the sides match perfectly.

Unfold the pattern and lay it on the large piece of lightweight canvas. Pin it in place and trace the shape onto the fabric. 

Leave a couple inches of excess around the pattern.

We're making windows for the ark with an applique circle. If you're using the same method, print a template of the design to determine placement. If you don't have embroidery software to print templates, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the design to help with placement and centering.

We put the first design in place by measuring equal distances between the center of the design and the outer side edges of the shape. Then we measured about 3 1/4 inches from the top edge of the shape to the center of the design. 

Using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, poke a hole in the center of the template and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points on the fabric as well.

Position the other design templates about one inch from the center template edge to edge. 

Mark the centers and axis points of these designs as well.

Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the marks. 

These lines will be used for hooping.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. 

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 directly over the center point on the fabric. 

Embroider the design. 

After the first design has sewn, rehoop the fabric for the second design and begin embroidering. 

Repeat this process for the third design.

After all the designs have finished, unhoop the fabric and cut out the shape. 

Leave the stabilizer on the back of the embroidery. Doing this will make the case more sturdy and give it support.

Trace the ark pattern shape onto the fabric and embroider the designs as you did in the previous steps. 

For this piece, we embroidered text with alphabet designs. To  learn more about how to merge letters using embroidery software click here. 

When the embroidery has finished cut out the shape.

Now we will assemble the case! 

Align the ark pieces right sides together and pin in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the side and bottom edges of the ark but don't sew the top edge.

Using a small scissors, cut slits about one inch apart along the seam allowance. This will allow the outer edges to lay properly when turned.

Be careful to not cut any of the stitches in the seam. 

Next, we will prepare the pattern to cut the fabric for the inner lining. 

Measure and mark 1/4 inch in along the side and bottom edges of the pattern piece.  Draw a line connecting the marks and cut along the line.

Pin the pattern piece to two layers of fabric and cut around the shape.

Align the fabric pieces right sides together and pin in place. 

Sew a 1/2 inch seam around the side and bottom edges but don't sew the top edge.

Turn the top edge of the embroidered outer shell in 1/2 inch and press with an iron. 

Also, turn the top edge of the inner lining 1/2 inch to the outside and press.

Insert the lining inside the outer shell with the wrong sides together and pin in place on the ends.

Prepare the pattern piece for the roof of the "cabin" section. 

Cut a piece of paper or tag board 6 inches wide by 3 inches high. 

Measure and mark the center of the top edge of the shape (3 inches in from either top corner). Then, draw lines connecting the top mark with the bottom corners. 

Cut along the lines to create the shape.

Trace and cut four pieces of the triangle roof shape from the fabric. 

Also, measure and cut four 6 inch wide by 3 inch high pieces, these will be used for the walls of the cabin section.

Align the long side of the roof pieces with the top edge of the wall pieces with the right sides together. 

Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the pinned edge.

Fold the roof section back and press in place. Do this with all four roof/wall pieces.

Trim off the top corners of the wall pieces by cutting diagonally following the angle of the roof.

Align the roof/wall pieces with the right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the side and top edges but don't sew the bottom.

Turn the pieces right side out and press the seams. Also, top stitch a 1/8 inch seam along the side and top edges.

To add the completed cabin pieces to the ark, measure and mark the center point on each top edge of the ark by measuring and dividing by two. 

Also, measure and mark the bottom edges of the cabin pieces by measuring and dividing by two.

Align the center marks of the cabin pieces with the center marks on the ark and insert the bottom of the cabin pieces between the outer shell and inner lining.  Insert the cabin pieces inside about one inch. 

Pin in place.

It's time to prepare the strap!

Cut two 4 inch lengths of the strapping and thread them through the purse rings. Match the ends of the strapping together.

Insert the ends of the strapping into the ends of the ark, in between the outer shell and inner lining on one side of the ark.

Pin in place.

Sew a 1/8 inch top stitch all the way around the top edge of the ark. This finishes the top edge of the ark and sews the cabin pieces and strapping in place.

Cut 36 inches (or shorter if you would like) of the strapping.

Thread the ends through the purse rings, fold the ends over 1/2 inch and fold again 1 1/2 inch and pin in place. 

Sew a box with an "x" through it on the folded end to secure it in place.

Add the snaps by laying the case flat. Measure and mark the center of the cabin by measuring between the corners of the roof and dividing by two.

Add the button part of the snap using a snap tool or pliers.

We added four more snaps to the top edge of the ark about 2 1/2 inches and 5 inches from each end.

In order to add the inner sides of the snaps, make a mark on the opposite side of the case directly under the button part of the snap.

Add the inner side of the snaps.

Let the kids add their toys and other goodies and your project is complete! 

We filled our ark with these cute In-the-Hoop Finger Puppets.