Ribbon Embroidered Plastic Canvas Jewelry/Keepsake Box (A Perfect Handmade Gift)

Everybody loves presents on Christmas, and especially handmade ones. They are really admired by most of the people to show their strong feelings and emotions to others. In this instructable I am sharing the pattern of one of my best handmade gifts that will definitely win your heart and the heart of one to whom you will gift it!

Using good old Plastic Canvas and shiny delicate Silk Ribbons in colors of your choice, this box is really easy to make with step-by-step instructions, detailed with clear photographs! And it is not expensive at all! It only needs your hard-work, dedication and love for whom it will be made!

Step 1: Things You Will Need

4 Plastic canvas pieces, dimensions 19 by 24 meshes (or holes)
2 Plastic canvas pieces, dimensions 19 by 19 meshes (or holes)
Darning Needle
Thinnest Silk Ribbons in Yellow, Pink and Purple colors
Matching cotton Fabric ½ yard
Fabric glue (any kind of glue that can hold fabric and does not get washed away)
A large Bead
Scissors
Iron

Step 2: Starting the Embroidery

All the holes are given names, so it will be easy to work following the table.

WORKING WITH PINK RIBBON

Thread about 2 yard of pink ribbon in darning needle. Take a rectangular piece of plastic canvas, working in landscape position.

Starting from bottom left corner leaving about 2” ribbon behind, bring the needle front through hole A2 and take it back through B1. Pull the ribbon tightly but securing the back tail of ribbon with needle-free hand. It will be used to make knot in the end.

Bring the needle at front through A3 and take it back through C1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A4 and take it back through D1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through B4 and take it back through D2. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through C4 and take it back through D3. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A12 and take it back through B11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A13 and take it back through C11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A14 and take it back through D11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through B14 and take it back through D12. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through C14 and take it back through D13. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F17 and take it back through G16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F18 and take it back through H16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F19 and take it back through I16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through G19 and take it back through I17. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through H19 and take it back through I18. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through H9 and take it back through I8. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through G9 and take it back through I7. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F9 and take it back through I6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F8 and take it back through H6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F7 and take it back through G6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K2 and take it back through L1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K3 and take it back through M1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K4 and take it back through N1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through L4 and take it back through N2. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through M4 and take it back through N3. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K12 and take it back through L11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K13 and take it back through M11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K14 and take it back through N11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through L14 and take it back through N12. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through M14 and take it back through N13. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P17 and take it back through Q16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P18 and take it back through R16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P19 and take it back through S16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through Q19 and take it back through S17. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through R19 and take it back through S18. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U12 and take it back through V11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U13 and take it back through W11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U14 and take it back through X11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through V14 and take it back through X12. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through W14 and take it back through X13. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U2 and take it back through V1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U3 and take it back through W1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U4 and take it back through X1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through V4 and take it back through X2. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through W4 and take it back through X3. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Take out the needle. Tie 2 knots at the back to secure the ribbon and cut off extra. If remaining piece of ribbon is too long, measure it and use less for remaining pieces.

Repeat the same procedure for 2 more rectangular pieces. Leave 4th.

Step 3: Working With Yellow Ribbon

Thread yellow ribbon in darning needle when you have done working with pink. Start embroidery the same way you have done with pink.

Bring the needle at front through A7 and take it back through B6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A8 and take it back through C6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A9 and take it back through D6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through B9 and take it back through D7. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through C9 and take it back through D8. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A17 and take it back through B16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A18 and take it back through C16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through A19 and take it back through D16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through B19 and take it back through D17. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through C19 and take it back through D18. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F12 and take it back through G11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F13 and take it back through H11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through F14 and take it back through I11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through G14 and take it back through I12. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through H14 and take it back through I13. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K17 and take it back through L16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K18 and take it back through M16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through K19 and take it back through N16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through L19 and take it back through N17. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through M19 and take it back through N18. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P12 and take it back through Q11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P13 and take it back through R11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P14 and take it back through S11. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through Q14 and take it back through S12. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through R14 and take it back through S13. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P2 and take it back through Q1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P3 and take it back through R1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through P4 and take it back through S1. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through Q4 and take it back through S2. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through R4 and take it back through S3. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U7 and take it back through V6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U8 and take it back through W6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U9 and take it back through X6. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through V9 and take it back through X7. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through W9 and take it back through X8. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U17 and take it back through V16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U18 and take it back through W16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through U19 and take it back through X16. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through V19 and take it back through X17. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Bring the needle at front through W19 and take it back through X18. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Take out the needle. Tie 2 knots at the back to secure the ribbon and cut off extra. Repeat the same procedure for 2 more rectangular pieces.

Step 4: Filling With Purple Ribbon

Now we will work opposite of pink and yellow strokes. Thread purple ribbon in darning needle (ribbon longer than pink/yellow). Start embroidery the same way you have done with pink.

Bring the needle at front through A5 and take it back through B6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
 Bring the needle at front through A4 and take it back through C6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
 Bring the needle at front through B4 and take it back through D6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
 Bring the needle at front through C4 and take it back through E7. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through D4 and take it back through F6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through D3 and take it back through G6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through D2 and take it back through F4. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through D1 and take it back through F3. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through E1 and take it back through F2. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through F4 and take it back through H6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through G4 and take it back through I6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through H4 and take it back through K7. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through I4 and take it back through K6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through I3 and take it back through L6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through I2 and take it back through K4. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through I1 and take it back through K3. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through J1 and take it back through K2. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through K4 and take it back through M6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through L4 and take it back through N6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through M4 and take it back through P7. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through N4 and take it back through P6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through N3 and take it back through Q6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through N2 and take it back through P4. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through N1 and take it back through P3. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through O1 and take it back through P2. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through P4 and take it back through R6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through Q4 and take it back through S6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through R4 and take it back through U7. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through S4 and take it back through U6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through S3 and take it back through V6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through S2 and take it back through U4. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through S1 and take it back through U4. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through T1 and take it back through U2. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through U4 and take it back through W6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through V4 and take it back through X6. Pull the ribbon tightly.
Bring the needle at front through W4 and take it back through X5. Pull the ribbon tightly.

Till this point you must have understood how this work has been done. Work the same way filling holes with purple through A10 till X10. Then A15 till X15, and fill up the rest same way. The holes highlighted with green are not used at all throughout.

Tie the ribbon into knot at the end of the work. Repeat the same procedure for all other pieces including square pieces.

Step 5: Working on Square Pieces

For piece one, repeat the same procedure with pink ribbon leaving out last column. Then work with yellow the same way and purple too.

For piece two, work with yellow ribbon first following all steps of pink mentioned earlier, then with pink ribbon following the steps of yellow mentioned earlier. Work with purple at last.

In this way both pieces are colored alternately.

Step 6: Joining the Pieces Together

I have given number to each piece, so you will understand more easily.

First join the rectangular pieces 1 and 2 using purple ribbon.

Keeping front sides up, bring the needle up through 1st hole of piece 2 and take it back through 1st hole of piece 1. Tie two knots at the back to secure the ribbon. Bring the needle at front through hole 1 of piece 2 and take it back through hole 2 of piece 1. Pull the ribbon tightly each time. Work same way imitating the already worked purple ribbon. At the last holes, work double and secure the ribbon at the back and cut off extra.

Then join piece 2 and 3 together, and then join 4.

Then join square pieces to piece 3 taking photograph as a guide. When all the pieces are joined together, it will look like the last photograph. The back side will be messy, so it needs to be covered with fabric to give it a finished look.

Step 7: Pasting the Fabric - Covering Up the MESS! ;)

Take a piece of purple cotton fabric, place finished box piece on it. Cut it out following the outlines of box piece but leaving about half inch extra to fold. Make cuts in inner corners following photo as guide.

Fold the extra piece (you can use pencil to draw outlines of box-piece on backside of fabric) and then iron (fabric only) to secure in place but keep the fabric piece a bit shorter than canvas-piece.

Cut out extra ribbon tails from backside.

Apply glue on backside of fabric piece and on backside of canvas-piece (if needed), then join them together.

Step 8: Shaping Up the Box...finally! :p

Working with purple ribbon, join pieces 4 and 5 together starting from lower corner and join the same way as mentioned earlier. When you reach at the top most holes, start wrapping the outer line with ribbon.

When you reach at middle yellow square of piece 4, join the bead and secure it by looping again and again.

Join piece 4 with 6, 6 with 2 and wrap your way till piece 1.

Reaching middle pink square of piece 1, make a loop for bead (check it size by passing bead through it and a bit tighter) and securing it by wrapping ribbon 2 or 3 times (but do not make a mess of it). Wrap the remaining of piece 1 and secure the ribbon at the end in the corner, gluing the extra ribbon inside.

Pass the bead through loop and finally….the box is completed.

I am 100% sure that anyone to whom you gift this fully-embroided box, will definitely adore it!

Happy Gifting!