Instructions to Make Beaded Sandals
Beaded sandals add a decorative touch to spring and summer wardrobes. Make your own beaded sandals from a pair of plain sandals that may have seen better days. If the color no longer suits you or the sandal straps look worn, bring new life to the tired pair with a few simple steps. Select beads that suit your wardrobe to camouflage the imperfect sandal straps. You'll soon be stepping out in style with a minimum of time, effort and expense.
Things You'll Need
- Cleaner
- Plain sandals with leather, vinyl or fabric strapping
- Measuring tape
- 28-gauge beading wire
- Wire cutters
- Leather needle
- Viscous jeweler's glue
- 4mm to 10mm beads
- Felt
- Scissors
- Toothpicks
- Microbeads
Instructions
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Beaded Sandals with Large Beads
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1
Clean and dry the leather or vinyl straps on the pair of sandals you wish to bead. Remove any dirt or grime from the straps as this may interfere with glue adhesion. If you are beading fabric strap sandals, wipe the straps with a damp cloth.
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2
Measure the lengths of a sandal strap that you wish to bead. Cut a strand of beading wire twice as long as one strap, plus 1 inch. Thread the leather needle with the wire strand.
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3
Insert the leather needle through the top of the strap, from back to front. Pull the wire through the strap, leaving 1-inch of wire on the underside of the strap.
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4
Run a bead of glue down the center of the strap. Thread beads over the needle to the point the wire exits the strap. Press the beads into the glue as you insert the needle back through the leather at the bottom of the strap.
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5
Remove the needle from the wire. Twist the ends of the wire together beneath the strap.
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6
Cut a strip of felt to fit the underside of the beaded sandal strap. Glue the felt on top of the wire along the back of the strap with viscous jeweler's glue.
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7
Repeat to bead other straps on the sandals. Allow the glue to dry completely before wearing the sandals.
Microbeaded Sandals
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8
Clean the sandal straps as previously directed.
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9
Cover one section of one strap with viscous jeweler's glue. Spread the glue evenly over the strap with a toothpick or a craft stick.
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10
Cover the glue covered area with microbeads. Press loose beads into the glue with a toothpick. Microbeads are also called "no-hole" beads. They are tiny glass beads, smaller than seed beads.
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11
Repeat until the straps on the sandals are fully beaded. Let the glue dry completely before wearing the sandals.
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1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sandals - african design image by Charlie Rosenberg from Fotolia.com
