Wishing Wells Made of Plastic Canvas

The Project

• Make a small- to large-sized wishing well from a plastic-canvas coaster round and parts of a sheet. The largest well bottom must be cut from a full sheet of canvas rather than the circle shape. Two rectangles are cut from a sheet of canvas to make the roof. You can make plastic-canvas pillars, or dowel rods work well, for the support poles of the roof. A rectangular piece is hand-stitched with yarn and formed into a cylinder shape for the well portion of the project. You will use several types of stitches to fill in the pieces before assembling the well shape.

Party Decoration

• A beautiful white wishing-well project will make a nice centerpiece for a bridal shower. A pattern of flowers are stitched into the well using the main colors that the bride is using for her wedding. A large pink, yellow, blue, mint green or lavender well is a nice gift holder at a baby shower. Make small plastic-canvas wells for party favors for a shower or birthday party. You can fill the favors with candies, mints or nuts for departing guests to take home. Use a well to allow guests to place cards and messages with well wishes for a student, retiree, military family or couple at a going-away party.

Tissue Holder

• Cut a slit into the top of the well portion of the yarn-covered plastic-canvas project. Set the wishing well over the top of a small box of tissues or a roll of toilet tissue. The paper product is pulled through the slit when needed. Make the project using yarns that match the decor of the room.

Gift Container

• A small plastic-canvas wishing well can be made to send a get-well message to a person who's in the hospital or senior living center. The piece is personalized with favorite colors and a name embroidered into the roof or well. The canister can be filled with treats or items that the person can use. The well can also be made into a planter for a potted ivy or flower gift. Form the yarn-embroidered plastic pieces around a music box mechanism for a first communion, quinceañera or sweet-16 birthday gift.

Storage

• Create a wishing well that doubles as a container to hold a set of plastic-canvas flower coasters. You can make a bank with embroidered dimensional fairy, butterfly or animal figures for a child's room. The hand-stitched well will also be a nice storage piece for a child's trinkets or jewelry.