Can I have some advice about making a wedding memory box please?

[ohfourfoxache]

I've not made one of these before, but my sister is getting married next year and I want to make them a memory box for Christmas.

I've got a rather large wooden box, hinged, with a piece of "strapping" between the base and the lid.

Hopefully the plan is to sand and varnish the box, then use wadding and satin to cover the lid/sides (with just satin at the bottom so that it sits flat). The "strapping" I want to replace with a strip of lace (she has a little bit of lace on her dress, which is why I want to include this). I know I want to "line" the inside but I'm not quite sure how to do this yet.

For the top, I want to make it match their invitations - cream/ivory background with a purple sash and a rectangular diamante bit - like these:

projects.webstarsltd.com/build/stefan/dccupdate/customise.html

Having not done anything like this before (my skills are somewhat limited to dress/curtain/jewellery making) I'm afraid I need to ask for some advice.

I had thought of using a rectangular belt buckle to "hold" the purple sash in in the middle, but how do you think I should secure this to the lid of the box? Being a satin finish I'm very hesitant about using glue in case it marks it.

How do you think I should finish the inside? I had thought about using little tacks on the inside of the box to secure the external finish (a la upholstery I suppose) but I don't know how to go about the lining. I'd wondered about sewing it into place but I don't want it to be all saggy and floppy inside.

The other problem that is linked to the inside - how can I attach the lace between the base and the lid?

Sorry it's so long but I don't know what I'm doing so I thought I'd call on MN collective knowledge!

I would cover card with the lining fabric...thin card which has been cut to size...and then glue that in place. The card will "take" the glue without bleding through to the fabric as long as you don't load the glue on thickly...maybe consider using a spray adhesive.

"wrap" the card in the fabric but don't bring it all the way round the back....just an inch or two...to get a neat finish on corners, "Mitre" the fabric there....which is done in a similar way to the way one wraps a gift neatly. Once you have wrapped all the card section, try them for size before gluing.

For the sash with the buckle, could you use a tacky glue dot? You can get glue dots in various sizes and if you are unsure, ask in your local stationery shop - they won't seep glue through the ribbon.

For the lining, if you attached fusible interfacing onto your lining it won't be so floppy.

I love the idea of a special memory box.