Decorate Shoes
Are you tired of your plain white sneakers? Do you want to add some flair to your Mary Janes? Decorating your own shoes is an inexpensive craft project that allows you to instantly make a work of art you can also wear. Read on for instructions on how to decorate shoes with paint, glitter or rhinestones, and try out other fun ideas for all types of shoes.
Contents
Steps
Decorating with Paint
- Get some tennis shoes. To decorate shoes with paint you'll need to use canvas tennis shoes. You can buy canvas shoes in white, black, and many other colors at department or drug stores. Get a few pairs to try out different designs, or just stick with one pair for your masterpiece.
- You can choose canvas shoes with or without laces - both will work just fine.
- Paint an old pair of canvas tennis shoes if you don't want to buy a brand new pair. Painting shoes is a great way to bring new life to shoes you've already worn.
- Pick out paint. Fabric paint is designed to adhere to the type of fabric that is used to make canvas shoes, and in many cases it is even waterproof. Using fabric paint will help your designs last through a lot of wear. Go to an art supply store and choose paint in as many colors as you want.
- Plan your design. Draw draw your design on a piece of paper before you get started. Plan what to paint on the tops of the shoes, the heels, and the sides. Decide whether to make both shoes the same or do something different with each one. Here are a few ideas:
- Choose a pattern and a background color. For example, you could paint the shoes with a star pattern against a purple background.
- Do two-tone shoes. Make the toes and heels one color and the middle of the shoes a contrasting color.
- Make one interesting shape. Paint a pair of lips or a watermelon slice on the front of the shoes.
- Make a silly design. Paint a banana on one shoe and a monkey face on the other, or paint one shoe to look like an alligator foot and the other too look like a bear paw.
- Draw your design on the shoes in pencil. Outline your design first, so that it will be easier to paint it neatly. If your drawing doesn't look right, you can just erase it and try again.
- Paint the shoes. Pour the different colors of paint into separate containers. Use a small paintbrush to apply the first color. Rinse the brush and apply the second color. Repeat until you've completely finished filling in the design you drew.
- Let the paint dry. Wait several hours for the paint to dry before you wear your newly-decorated shoes.
Decorating with Glitter or Rhinestones
- Pick out shoes to decorate. Glitter and rhinestones can be used to decorate all sorts of shoes - not just canvas. Use glitter or rhinestones to jazz up flip flops, dress shoes, tennis shoes, or any other type of shoes.
- Buy glue and supplies. The only materials you need to decorate with glitter and rhinestones are glue and the glitter and rhinestones of your choice. Go to a craft store and pick up the following items:
- Spray-on adhesive. This makes it easy to apply the glue - all you have to do is spray it on, rather than painting it on with a brush. You can certainly use the painting method if you don't want to buy spray-on glue.
- Solid or multi-colored glitter. Buy a large bag or can of glitter to make sure that your shoes get entirely covered (if that's the look you're going for).
- Rhinestones, buttons or other baubles. Craft stores carry all kinds of rhinestones and other small items with one flat side that makes it easy to glue to another surface. Pick out the colors and shapes you love.
- Decide on a design. Covering the shoes entirely with glitter has a striking effect, and it's also a style trend that has been popping up in stores. You can go all the way or make a subtler pattern to decorate your shoes.
- Make a glitter border. Plan to paint a line of glitter just above the soles of the shoes if you want just a hint of glitter.
- Do a glitter base dotted with rhinestones.
- Make alternating glitter and rhinestone stripes.
- Make a rhinestone heart or star with glitter bursts along the edges.
- Apply the adhesive. Spray or paint the first shoe with adhesive according to the design you created. If you're glittering the whole shoe, go ahead and spray the whole thing. If you're making a pattern, spray only in the places where the pattern will be.
- If you need to block of areas that shouldn't get sprayed with adhesive, you can keep them dry with masking tape.
- For more complicated designs, it's best to use a paintbrush to apply a little glue at a time.
- Apply the glitter and rhinestones. Sprinkle the glitter over the areas where you planned to use glitter. To apply the rhinestones, simply press them onto the surface of the shoe. For extra security, you can apply a little glue to the bottom of the rhinestone before pressing it on the shoe.
- Repeat with the other shoe. When you're finished working with the first shoe, move on to the second.
- Let the shoes dry. Wait several hours before wearing the shoes. Glitter and rhinestones aren't machine-washable or waterproof, so be careful where you wear them.
Trying Other Decoration Ideas
- Use sharpies to decorate your shoes. Go with classic black or pick up a package of colorful sharpies to create a design. You can use them to write words, like a quote, or to create a sketch.
- Consider writing a poem or your favorite song lyric.
- Draw a cartoon of your favorite animal or celebrity.
- Ask your friends to sign your shoes and make a doodle.
- Get unique laces. Laces come in all kinds of patterns and colors. Look for animal patterns, polka dots, tie-dye designs, small printed characters, and all sorts of other unique prints.
- Instead of buying laces, why not make your own? Use ribbon, baker's twine, or hemmed pieces of fabric to make decorative laces.
- If your shoes have plain white laces, you can decorate those as well. Add small rhinestones or glitter, or use paint to make a pattern.
- Use super glue to apply larger decorations. Glue ribbons, buttons, and other small decorations to your shoes with superglue.
Tips
- If you're going for a punk-goth look, you can get chains and attach them to your shoes.
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