I have been eyeing floral shoes for a while now.
I have been drooling over these for over a month now and I tried on these beauties even though I knew they were too high for me to walk in.
Meanwhile…languishing away in my closet were some floral kitten heels that I don’t care for anymore. They were destined for the consignment store. The bright green doesn’t work well with the colours in my wardrobe.
While trying to fall sleep last week a brilliant idea popped into my head…
(yes I lie in bed awake at night unable to sleep because I’m thinking about shoes…doesn’t everyone?)
Why not paint the shoes?
I’d get the floral shoes I’d been lusting after, they’d be the perfect colour for my wardrobe and more importantly…they’d cost me nothing.
Holla!
It was so easy!
DIY Painted Shoes
Materials required:
Fabric shoes (thrift stores are a great place to find cheap shoes if you don’t have some of your own that you want to change up)
Acrylic Paints (I used Golden Acrylics in white, red, yellow, blue and black and mixed my own colours, but you can buy them in colours premixed if you desire. It’ll make it easier if you’re not accustomed to mixing paints.)
Brushes
Mod Podge
Method:
Use fabric shoes so you can paint directly on them. Be warned…if you get acrylic paint on your clothes it doesn’t come off. You can paint on leather shoes as well but you must strip the protective coating first with a solvent made for leather.
I painted one base coat of an orange/brown colour all over and then I just went to town playing around and having fun painting the shoes.
I didn’t worry about trying to make anything perfect. The design I was going for was loose and romantic…like an impressionist painting, which is great because that way, there are no mistakes.
I added very little water to the paint. For the base coat I didn’t add any water.
After they dried (which takes no time at all with acrylic paints) I added a coat of Mod Podge to seal the and deepen the colour of the paint.
That’s it!
Here I am modelling the new shoes with a vintage blazer from the 1940’s.
Blazer – Vintage 1940’s (You’ll never find one exactly like what I’m wearing and honestly that is why I buy vintage in the first place, however I do really like this plaid blazer), Jeans – Joe Fresh (sim), Shoes – Towne (really gorgeous ones that look like they would be comfy), Handbag – TJ Maxx (sim)
Do you think you would ever paint your shoes? Have you ever tried to up-cycle clothing that didn’t work for you anymore? Did it turn out?
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You made the shoes look much more dreamy and even vintage. I’ve thought many times about painting on the back of a leather jacket but I always chicken out.
I used to paint on jeans all the time (back in the day). I agree that there is more fear when it comes to ruining leather.
I think you’ve made this paint job sound a lot easier than it probably is for most of us 😉 they look so professional – A+ for effort!
Well if you’ve never painted anything in your life I wouldn’t recommend starting with this project! LOL I am an artist (or at least I like to call myself that) so yeah, I might have a bit of an advantage. ; )
I love how they turned out. I have never and probably will not attempt this anytime soon. My girlfriend gave me a glue gun the other day insisting that I need this and it will change my world. She is a crafter and see things totally differently than I do. I told her the glue gun is destined to be junk box. I have feeling I will be right.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
I’ll take the glue gun! LOL
This is incredibly creative and clever, I never would have thought of doing that. Such a great idea!! And what a fabulous blazer. You can’t beat ’40s tailoring. x
Isn’t the blazer unique? I was so lucky it fit me.
They look totally vintage and more your style now. Is there no end to your talents woman?? Bravo!
Thanks Jennifer : )
I say, bravo! What an excellent idea and they turned out beautifully. I once had a pair of brown boots I loved that got horribly stained, so…I died them black and went on to wear them for many years. I’ve upcycled in that I’ve changed buttons (a little thing that can make a big difference), does that count? But, total redo? No, not really. Love the blazer, too by the way, looks wonderful on you.
Changing buttons can make a huge difference.
Hmm, my comment did not come through (for the first time on your “new” blog)… I truly love your idea, design and colors – you are brilliant! It inspires me to do something too. I did up-cycle clothes, but not shoes. I like that you picked impressionistic style, it’s perfect! Love your jacket very much – and it fits you like a glove! xxx
The comment came through here now, so hopefully we’re good.
Great diy Suzanne! I’ve been scouting around for white canvas shoes to paint, haven’t found them at the right price point yet. I did try painting leather shoes once. I obviously didn’t clean them properly beforehand, or strip them…half way through my day at work, I looked down at my shoes and all the paint was pealing off, LOL.
Are you looking for pumps to paint? If you find them and they aren’t white just paint a base coat of white.
I read online about needing to strip the leather shoes, otherwise I would have made the same mistake as you.
Well aren’t yu so smart? I love the idea, and I love how they turned out!
Wow, that’s pretty clever! The shoes look lovely and much more wearable.
I love this upcycle! I have trouble sometimes deciding whether to keep something and upcycle it or donate it. If I upcycle, I risk totally wrecking it; if I donate it, someone else might love it as it is. I usually go for wrecking. This upcycle is NOT wrecking. I hope you wear these a lot now.
OMG, look what you did there. I really like the new, dreamier darker print. Talents, you has them. xox
The shoes turned out great – I’m very impressed! I’ve toyed with the idea of painting a pair of shoes for ages, but have never had the never to try it. I love how Melanie draws all over her footwear, and maybe someday I will give that a try on a pair of thrifted shoes.
Lord, I adore that 40’s jacket!!! It fits you like a dream, and the colours are divine. I love the shape of 40’s jackets with the nipped waist and angled pockets. Wherever did you find that one (unless it’s a secret!)?
I found it at Cabaret Vintage on Queen West. Tao the store owner is just a great guy. Have you been to that store? I love it. The prices are higher, but not as high as some of the other stores on Queen West. I got a great deal on this jacket since I know Tao and have bought quite a few other pieces from him. I think I paid $35 in the end for this jacket (regular $90) They have a basement where everything is 60% off on Sundays I think. I love that shop. It’s small, but they have a great selection.
Is there anything you can’t do :)? I’ve never thought of this because honestly, I would mess it up. So pretty!
I need to show another DIY like this where anyone truly could do it. More of an abstract version of the painted shoes.
What a transformation! They look so good, a real 1950s vibe and much classier and cooler.
I’ve painted bags and jeans but never shoes but I’d definitely have a go if I found the right pair to play with.
Nail varnish remover is good for removing any surface dirt from leather. xxx
Fabulous! Can’t wait to try this on something.I love dark floral looks.
I LOVE this! The idea is great – I am already trying to decide which pair of my own shoes to try it on. And yours came out beautiful! I might even do a side-by-side diy with my daughter. Thanks for sharing. : ) Ana
OMG … totally impressed … your painted shoes look AMAZING! Maybe you should start a side business selling these, Suzanne. I’d buy a pair!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
As you said, don’t try it when you have never painted anything in your life before. I am not creative either, so I am just admiring yours. They look so good. You should consider painting for a living.
Greetje
You did an amazing job on those shoes! I would have never thought to do that. Makes me want to go to the thrift store and find a pair of fabric shoes and see what happens…
Darlene
http;//whosaprettygirl.com
My up cycling adventures on clothes often fail. Painting shoes e.g. made them stiff and that created the paint layer to crack at one point. Using fabric glue on clothes created stains, etc
I guess me and fabrics, knitting, stitching, etc is not the best combo.
Yours worked out well!
What a great DIY! The shoes are beautiful 🙂
You did a great job on those shoes! I love the vintage jacket too 🙂