How to Make an Art Project Out of Sneakers

Painted sneakers are a creative way to express your personality.

Painting white or tan canvas sneakers with fabric paints is a creative way to express your personality and tastes. The designs may vary from an American flag, your name, geometric shapes or just bold slashes of abstract art. This results in a wearable art project or you can display the shoes by hanging them from a mobile, glue the soles to a poster board or set them in front of a trifold display board.

Things You'll Need

• Newspapers
• Sharpened pencil or small stencil
• White or tan canvas sneakers
• Fabric paint
• Craft paintbrushes
• Gloss spray sealant
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Two wooden dowels or wire coat hangers
• Colored shoelaces
• Two colorful socks
• Pebbles, marbles or other small heavy objects
• Fabric pens (optional)

Instructions

Painting the Sneakers

1. Draw a freehand design on your canvas sneakers with a sharpened pencil or use a small stencil to outline your design.

2. Fill in the design by dipping your paintbrush into the acrylic paint. Apply the paint color to every section that requires that particular color and then allow the paint to dry.

3. Paint the second color on the sneaker in every spot that requires it. Repeat the method with all the paint colors. Allowing each color to dry prevents the paints from spreading into each other. Allow all the paint to dry completely before continuing.

4. Spray the painted sneakers with a glossy spray sealant if you desire.

Making the Art Project

1. Glue two wooden dowel rods together with a hot glue gun so they form an "+" shape. Allow the glue to set; it only takes about 30 seconds. Another option is to untwist wire coat hangers and straighten them out instead of using the dowels.

2. Tie one end of a colored shoelace with a simple knot around the dowel rods where they intersect.

3. Add a different colored shoelace to each end of the dowel rods by tying one end of the shoelace onto the ends with a simple knot. Allow these shoelaces to hang down.

4. Slip one of the shoelaces that is tied to the end of one of the dowels through an eye on the shoe where you normally lace the shoe. Repeat this on the opposite side of the "+" shape.

5. Fill two wacky colored socks with pebbles, marbles or other small heavy objects. Use enough pebbles to fill the toe of the sock.

6. Tie the socks onto the two remaining dowel rod ends with the shoelaces so that the socks hang down from the ankle section. This creates a zany looking art project out of your painted sneakers.

Tips & Warnings

• Fabric paint pens are useful in decorating canvas sneakers. Simply draw your design on the sneakers and allow the paint to dry.

References

• Enchanted Learning: 3-D Fruit Craft