How to Decorate Canvas Sneakers for Girls

There are many ways to transform plain canvas sneakers into works of art.

Plain colored-canvas sneakers are often a little boring for an adolescent girl. Instead of buying shoes with flashing lights or neon colors, collaborate on a creative art project, transforming canvas sneakers into personalized fashion. Many techniques exist for decorating canvas. Find the one that works for you, and you'll have your own unique set of sneakers.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric markers
• Fabric glue
• Bleach
• Cardstock
• Scissors
• Glitter
• Gems
• Puffy paint
• Heat-transfer sheets
• Iron
• Hot-glue gun
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Use fabric markers to draw on the canvas sneakers. Copy a design from a picture, or come up with an original design.

2. Use the fabric glue to draw a design on the canvas. Sprinkle glitter on top of the design. The glue will dry clear and leave only the glitter. Use the method on top of, or to highlight, areas of the design drawn with markers.

3. Use puffy paint to make 3D designs. After making the designs, heat the paint with the iron until it rises.

4. Use a hot-glue gun to attach gems to the design, or make a design out of different-colored gems. Dab a small amount of glue to the back of the gem, and quickly press against the canvas for 30 seconds to affix.

5. Use an iron to put a cartoon character or graphic-design heat transfer on canvas sneakers. Put the heat-transfer sheet on the sneaker, and iron it for the amount of time required by the specific brand of transfer sheet. Place a towel over the rubber parts of the shoe that the iron might touch, to protect it. The heat transfer can be the centerpiece for the rest of the decoration on the sneakers.

6. On black or dark-colored canvas sneakers, use bleach to create a design. Create a stencil of a design on cardstock, and tape it to the canvas sneaker. Use a sponge with a small amount of bleach to saturate the open areas of the stencil. The stenciled area will turn white to create the design. Apply a bleach neutralizer before washing.

Tips & Warnings

• Children should not attempt to heat transfer, bleach, discharge dye, apply gemstones or use puffy paint to decorate sneakers without the assistance of an adult.

References

• Wholesome Mommy: Crafty Fun with Sharpie Stained Markers
• Artists Helping Children: Shoe Crafts
• DTLK: Decorated Canvas Shoes