Customize Your Shoes

Customizing is a great way to make plain shoes look more interesting and unique. It is also a great way to bring life back into an old pair of shoes. This article will give you a few ideas on what you can do to give your shoes a new look. It will also show you how to embellish them, paint them, and even cover them with fabric or glitter.

Steps

Making Simple Changes

  1. Doodle on canvas shoes with permanent markers or fabric markers.[1] Make sure that the shoes are clean first, then start doodling. If you are worried about making mistakes, you can sketch your design out lightly in pencil first. You can use all one color, such as black, or many colors. If you are using multiple colors, put the lighter colors down first, then the darker ones, and finally your outlines. Here are some ideas on what you can doodle:
    • Write your name, nickname, or initials
    • Swirls, spirals, squiggles, and zigzags
    • Lightning bolts, hearts, or stars
    • Fake studs or gemstones
    • Smiley faces or skulls
    • Flowers, birds, or butterflies
    • Polka dots, checkered, chevron, etc
  2. Add some embellishments to the front toe area. Use super glue or an industrial-strength glue (such as E6000) to attach a pendant or brooch to the front part of a fancy dress shoe. If you want a non-permanent option, use some large, fancy clip-on earrings or shoe clips. Simply slip them over the front of the shoe so that the design rests right over the toe area. Whatever you choose to use, just make sure that they match.
    • You can also make your own shoe clips by purchasing some blank clip-on earrings, and then hot gluing some fancy brooches or pendants to them.
  3. Change out plain shoe laces for a shiny ribbon. Take out the old laces and use them to measure out some ½ to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeter) wide satin ribbon. Cut both ends of the ribbon at an angle. Seal the edges with fabric glue or super glue so that they do not fray. Use the ribbon to lace up your shoes instead of regular shoe laces. You can use any color of ribbon you want, but a matching color or a contrasting color might look the best. For example:
    • If your shoes are white, consider getting a teal or black ribbon.
    • If your shoes are light blue, they might look good with a light blue, dark blue, or white ribbon.
  4. Glue rhinestones along sandal or flip flop straps. Use super glue or E6000 to attach the rhinestones. The stones should not be wider than the strap. You can use varying sizes, shapes, and colors, but try to arrange them in a pattern instead of randomly. This will make them look more professional.
    • You can also glue rhinestones to other areas of the shoe as well. If this is a pair of fancy dress shoes or wedding shoes, consider using Swarovski crystals. They will make your shoes look fancier and more expensive.
  5. Wrap ribbon around the straps of a pair of flip flops to make them look more dressier. Super glue the end of a long piece of ribbon to the base of a flip flop strap. Wrap ribbon around the strap, like a candy cane. Try to overlap the ribbon a little bit as you wind it around the strap. When you get to the other end of the flip flop, cut off any excess ribbon and glue the end down to the base of the strap.
    • You can also use thin strips of fabric.
    • Consider starting with two pieces of ribbon. Glue the end of each ribbon to the base of each strap, and wrap them towards each other. Tie them together into a pretty bow when they meet in the middle, right above the toe thong.

Painting Canvas and Fabric Shoes

  1. Gather your supplies. Painting your shoes is a great way to show off your individuality. This method will work great on canvas and fabric shoes, but it may also work on leather and other materials. Keep in mind, however, that paint sticks best to fabric as opposed to plastic, leather, and so forth. Here's a list of what you will need:[2]
    • Canvas or fabric shoes
    • Acrylic paint primer
    • Acrylic paint
    • Acrylic sealer
    • Paint brushes
    • Paint palette
    • Thin permanent marker
    • Painter's tape
  2. Cover any areas that you do not want painted with painter's tape. This will give you nice, crisp lines and make your work look neater.
  3. Brush paint primer onto the area you will be painting. This will give you a blank canvas to work on. The primer will also help the paint stick to the fabric better. Do not apply the primer too thickly, however; you still want to feel the texture of the fabric.
    • If you are painting a delicate design with lots of open space, such as lace, scrolls, or vines, then skip the primer. Keep in mind, however, that you may need a few coats of paint if your shoes are a dark color to begin with.
    • You can buy paint primer in the painting section of an arts and crafts store.
  4. Sketch your designs out on the shoes using a pencil. This will help you figure out where to paint, and prevent any mistakes. Try to sketch lightly so that the pencil marks don't show once you are done painting.
    • Try to keep your designs simple if this is your first time painting shoes.
  5. Fill your pencil work in with acrylic paint. If you make a mistake, wait for the paint to dry first. Depending on how bad the mistake is, you can just paint over it, or you can fix it with paint primer. Allow the paint primer to dry before you paint over it.
    • If you want to add shading to your design, consider laying down the base color first, waiting for it to dry, then painting on the shadows/highlights.
  6. Allow the paint to dry. Most acrylic paints will dry in 20 minutes. Some may need up to two hours to dry.
  7. Consider outlining your work with permanent markers. This help your work stand out even more. Try to use a super-fine tip so that your work will be neater and more professional-looking.
  8. Spray your shoes with a clear, acrylic sealer. This will help protect your work from getting smudged. It will also make it easier to clean.
  9. Peel off the painter's tape. Do this while the acrylic sealer is still wet, so that you don't accidentally chip it off.
  10. Allow the shoes to dry completely before you wear them. Even though you sprayed with a sealer, it would be best to avoid getting them wet.

Adding Glitter to Shoes

  1. Gather your supplies. Adding glitter is a great way to dress up any pair of shoes. You can cover your entire shoe with glitter, or just a small portion (such as a heart or star shape). If you are glittering a pair of high heels, you can glitter just the sole part, and leave the rest of the shoe plain. Here's a list of what you will need:[3]
    • Shoes
    • Mod Podge, Gloss Finish
    • Fine glitter
    • Painter’s tape and newspaper
    • Foam brushes or paintbrushes
    • Plastic wrap
    • Plastic bowl
    • Spoon or stirring stick
    • Acrylic sealer
  2. Remove any shoe laces or embellishments, if necessary. These will only get in the way of glittering your shoes. Taking them off will make your work easier, cleaner, and neater. You can always re-lace your shoes, or glue embellishments back on, later once the shoes dry.
  3. Clean the area you will be glittering with rubbing alcohol. Soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe down the area you will be glittering with it. Throw away the cotton ball when it becomes dirty and use a new one. Any surface dirt and oils may prevent the Mod Podge and glitter from sticking.
    • Even if your shoes look clean, it might still be a good idea to wipe them down with rubbing alcohol.
  4. Cover any areas you do not want glittered with painter's tape. This will make your work neater and crisper. You may also want to stuff the inside of your shoes with newspaper at this time; this will prevent any glitter from getting inside your shoes.
  5. Pour some Mod Podge into a plastic bowl and stir in some glitter. You can use a spoon or even a popsicle stick to stir it. The more glitter you use, the fewer coats you will have to brush on. You want the consistency to be smooth. If you use too much glitter, it will be chunky and difficult to spread.
  6. Use a foam brush or a paintbrush to apply the glitter glue to your shoes. Your first coat will appear thin and not very sparkly. Don't worry, it will become more sparkly as you continue to add more coats. Brush the glitter glue onto the other shoe.
  7. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and let the shoes dry. You may also want to rinse off your brushes or store them in a plastic sandwich bag so that the glue does not dry out on the bristles.
    • You are covering your bowl so that the glitter glue does not dry out.
    • Once the glue on the shoes turns clear, it is dry.
  8. Keep applying more coats of glitter glue until your shoes are as glittery as you want them to be. Be sure to let each coat dry before you apply a new one. For a fully-glittered pair, you will need about four coats. This, of course, will depend on how much glitter you used in your original mixture.
  9. Apply a coat of plain, glossy Mod Podge once the last coat of glitter has dried. This Mod Podge should not have any glitter in it. You are merely sealing the glitter in so that it does not shed everywhere.
  10. Remove any painter's tape and newspaper, and allow the shoes to dry fully. This can take a few hours, depending on how dry or humid it is.
  11. Apply some clear, acrylic sealer to your shoes. You can also use a shoe sealer or a waterproofing spray—just make sure that it has a clear, glossy finish. If you spray your shoes with anything that dries matte, your shoes will lose their sparkle.
  12. Allow the sealer to dry and cure before you wear your shoes. Just because something feels dry does not necessarily mean that it is fully cured and useable. Some sealers will be cured in as little as 20 minutes to two hours. Some may requite up to six or more hours.
    • If you took off any laces or embellishments, now is the time to put them back on.

Covering Ballet Flats with Fabric

  1. Gather your supplies. This method will allow you to change the color and pattern of your shoes. It will work best on a simple pair of shoes with as few seams as possible, such as ballet flats. It is not recommended for sneakers. Here's a list of what you'll need:[4]
    • Ballet flats (or similar)
    • Foam brush
    • Mod Podge
    • Craft knife
    • Scissors
    • Fabric
    • Acrylic sealer
  2. Cut a piece of fabric large enough to drape over the shoe. Place the shoe down on your table and drape the fabric over it. Cut around the fabric where it meets the table. You will end up with something that looks like a rectangle or an oval.
  3. Cut a slit in the fabric so that you can see the shoe opening. Start at the heel and cut down the middle until you are ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) away from the toe part. Do not cut past the shoe opening. If you can see the top of the toe area, you have cut too far.
  4. Apply a thick coat of Mod Podge to the toe part of the shoe and smooth the fabric down. Lift the fabric up so that you can see the toe. Brush on a thick coat onto the toe, then press the fabric down onto the Mod Podge. Smooth out any wrinkles with your fingers. The fabric needs to lay as flat and smooth as possible. Don't worry if the glue soaks up through the fabric; it will dry clear.
  5. Brush more Mod Podge down the sides of the shoe and press the fabric down. Work in small, 1 inch to 2 inch (2.54 to 5.08) wide segments. Again, try to keep the fabric as smooth as possible.
  6. Stop when you are 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) away from the heel seam. You will need this space and extra fabric so that you can "hem" your fabric and create a new "seam."
  7. Trim both sides of the fabric so that they extend past the back seam by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters). They will be overlapping each other, but you will fix that in a moment.
  8. Glue down one of the sides over the back seam with Mod Podge. It will be extending past the seam by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters). Don't worry, you will be covering it up with the other side.
  9. Hem the other side of the fabric and Mod Podge it down. Cover the underside with Mod Podge first. Then, fold the edge in by ½ inch (1.27 centimeters). Glue it down onto the back of the shoe with more Mod Podge. The raw edges should now be completely hidden by fabric.
  10. Trim the excess fabric around the opening of the shoe so that you have a ½ inch (1.27 centimeter) hem. You want to be able to tuck this into your shoe. You should end up with something that looks like a long oval.
  11. Cut slits into the top hem so that the fabric will curve better when you fold it into the shoe. You will need the most slits along the curve that is facing the toe of your shoe, and hardly any slits along the side. You may need a few slits on the side just above the heel. Each slit should go from the raw edge down to wear the fabric meets the shoe.
  12. Mod Podge the hem to the inside of your shoe. Use your foam brush to apply some Mod Podge to the underside of the top hem. Fold the top hem over the top of the shoe opening. Press the fabric firmly against the inside of the shoe.
    • If the fabric won't stay put, secure it with some sewing pins or metal clips.
  13. Trim the excess fabric along the sole of the shoe. Try to cut as close as possible to the seam between the sole and the body of the shoe.
  14. Apply Mod Podge to the underside of the fabric, and press it down onto the shoe. If you see any bunching or wrinkling, use your fingers to smooth the fabric down. If necessary, cut in a few slits or notches.
  15. Gently run your craft knife along the seam of the shoe, where the sole joins the body of the shoe. Be careful to cut just the fabric, and not the shoe. Continue smoothing the fabric down with your fingers. The cut edge of the fabric should now by flush with the top of the sole.
    • If you can, try to tuck the fabric into the crease. Use the top/dull side of the craft knife to do this.
  16. Cover the shoe with another layer of Mod Podge and let it dry before sealing it with a clear, acrylic sealer. It will take about 12 hours for the Mod Podge to completely dry and cure, and two to six hours for the acrylic sealer to dry and cure.
    • Unless you want shiny shoes, be sure to get a matte finish for both your Mod Podge and acrylic sealer.
  17. Allow your shoes to dry completely before you wear them. Just because something feels dry does not necessarily mean it is fully cured and ready to wear. Also, the acrylic sealer will protect your shoes from getting damaged, but you might want to avoid getting them wet. Moisture may cause the Mod Podge underneath to dissolve, bubble, and warp.

Adding Flowers to Flip Flops and Sandals

  1. Gather your supplies. This method is a simple way to dress up a plain pair of flip flops or dress sandals. Here's a list of what you will need:[5]
    • Flip flops or sandals
    • 1 – 1 ½ inch (2.54 – 3.81 centimeter) wide chiffon/fabric flowers
    • Felt (matching flower color)
    • Scissors
    • Fabric glue
  2. Choose your chiffon or fabric flowers. You can find them in fabric stores, usually in the ribbons and trims section, or on bolts of fabric in the special occasion fabrics section. They will usually come on some fabric netting. You want them to be between 1 – 1 ½ inch (2.54 – 3.81 centimeter) wide. If you have very small shoes or feet, you might want to go for something even smaller. You can also include one or two larger flowers to use as a focal point.
    • The more delicate your flowers look, the better.
    • If you aren't certain what color to choose, get a color that already matches your flip flops or sandals. You can also go with a contrasting color.
    • Do not use fake flowers that come on a stem for this project. Not only will the stem poke you in the foot, but the flowers will look cheap and unprofessional.
  3. Cut the flowers out of the fabric netting. You may notice that the flowers have been stitched onto the netting. You will need to cut them out. This way, you can rearrange them as you like. Try to cut the flowers as close to the base as possible so that, when you look down at the flowers, you do not see any of the netting. Be careful not to cut this thread, or the flowers may fall apart.
    • If you accidentally snip a thread, then glue it to the back of the flower with a small drop of glue.
  4. Arrange the flowers how you like on the table first. This will allow you to experiment with different designs before you glue them down onto the straps. Once you glue the flowers down, you don't be able to take them off without ruining them (and possibly your shoes too). Whatever design you choose, make sure that it will fit on the straps. Here are some design ideas:
    • Place the larger flowers towards the center, and the smaller towards the ends.
    • If you are decorating a flip flop, consider placing the larger flowers on the outside strap and the smaller flowers on the inside strap.
    • Alternate the flower colors or shades. For example, you can alternate between white and teal. You can also alternate between light pink and dark pink.
    • If you are decorating a pair of sandals, you may have two straps: an ankle strap and a wide strap that goes across your toes. Consider placing the flowers on the toe strap and leaving the ankle strap untouched.
    • If you are decorating a sandal that has a T strap, then put the flowers only on the vertical strap; leave the ankle straps untouched.
  5. Cut circles out of felt that are a little bit smaller than the flowers and set them aside. You will be using the felt circles later. Try to choose a color that closely matches the color of the flowers. If you are having troubles getting the shape or size right, trace the flowers onto the felt using a pen first, then cut a little bit inside the lines.
    • If you are gluing flowers to a T strap, consider cutting out a felt rectangle that is just a little bit wider than the vertical strap.
  6. Start gluing the flowers down onto the straps. Put the fabric glue onto the straps first. The flowers are likely going to be a little bit wider than the straps. If you put the glue onto the flowers first, you might end up putting on too much glue.
  7. Take a felt circle and draw a spiral of fabric glue onto the back. You will be working with one felt circle at a time so that the glue does not dry out.
  8. Place the felt circle against the back of the flower. You will be sandwiching the strap between the flower and the felt circle. Use your fingers to press the sides of the circle to the sides of the flower.
  9. Glue the rest of the felt circles against the backs of the flowers. The felt circles will help hold the flowers to the strap. They will also hide the glue and make the back of the flowers less scratchy.
  10. Allow the glue to dry and cure completely before you were the shoes. Just because the glue feels dry does not necessarily mean that it is fully cured. If you wear the shoes too soon, they glue may not hold, and the flowers may fall off. Refer to the label on your glue bottle for precise drying and curing times. Every brand of glue is different. Your shoes may be ready to wear in as little as two hours. They may also require a full day to dry.

Tips

  • Keep it simple, it doesn't have to be a masterpiece. Simple line art can be just as interesting to look at as tedious, intricate designs.
  • If you are good at this and enjoy the artwork, you might even consider making these for sales in local clothing stores or craft markets for some additional income.
  • Try shoes that are otherwise going to charity; they're not wanted, so mistakes won't matter and you might end up with an amazing new pair of shoes!

Warnings

  • Plan ahead; lack of planning could mean ruining your shoes.
  • Make sure the items that you use are waterproof, including the glue if you stick things on.
  • Even though you are sealing your shoes with a clear, acrylic/waterproofing sealer, you might want to avoid getting them wet.

Things You'll Need

Painting Canvas and Fabric Shoes[2]

  • Canvas or fabric shoes
  • Acrylic paint primer
  • Acrylic paint
  • Acrylic sealer
  • Paint brushes
  • Paint palette
  • Thin permanent marker
  • Painter's tape

Adding Glitter to Shoes[3]

  • Shoes
  • Mod Podge, Gloss Finish
  • Fine glitter
  • Painter’s tape and newspaper
  • Foam brushes or paintbrushes
  • Plastic wrap
  • Plastic bowl
  • Spoon or stirring stick
  • Acrylic sealer

Covering Ballet Flats with Fabric

  • Ballet flats (or similar)
  • Foam brush
  • Mod Podge
  • Craft knife
  • Scissors
  • Fabric
  • Acrylic sealer

Adding Flowers to Flip Flops and Sandals[5]

  • Flip flops or sandals
  • 1 – 1 ½ inch (2.54 – 3.81 centimeter) wide chiffon flowers
  • Felt (matching flower color)
  • Scissors
  • Fabric glue

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Sand and Sisal, How to Decorate Canvas Shoes
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Empress of Dirt, How to Paint Shoes
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Modernly Wed, Tuesday Shoesday: DIY Sparkly Shoes
  4. ↑ Practically Functional, Customize Your Shoes with Mod Podge
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 My So Called Crafty Life, Easy DIY Floral Summer Sandals

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