How to Paint Vinyl Doll Shoes

A doll's shoes can be easily touched up by a fresh coat of paint.

Whether you are sprucing up a plain pair of doll shoes or intend to give an old pair of doll shoes new life with a new coat of paint, an acrylic paint will work best on vinyl shoes. Acrylic paints and painting tools can be purchased inexpensively at a local craft store. Since a doll's shoes will generally be a small medium for painting, you will want to use a a fine brush or even a toothpick to apply the paint.

Things You'll Need

• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Acrylic gloss
• Toothpick
• Gemstones (optional)
• Bow (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash and dry the shoes using a mild soap and warm water. Make sure the shoes are completely dry before you begin painting.

2. Dip your brush into the paint and apply evenly to all accessible parts of the shoe. Do not try and move the shoe to reach inaccessible parts, such as the bottom, while the paint is wet. This can be done once the top of the shoe is complete.

3. Apply paint to small areas such as a shoe strap by dipping the point of a toothpick into paint and applying to the shoe. If you are painting different details a different color, such as a shoe buckle, wait until the main painting is complete and dry before adding the details.

4. Allow to dry and then add a second coat of paint to the areas already painted. Allow the second coat to dry.

5. Apply small details and embellishments to the shoes, such as polka dots or stripes, by dipping the toothpick into another color and carefully applying to the shoe. Allow to dry completely.

6. Coat the entire top of the shoe in an acrylic paint glass to seal in the color and prevent it from chipping. Allow to dry completely.

7. Flip over the shoe and paint the bottom and any other hard to reach places. Allow to dry completely between coats and before and after applying the gloss.

Tips & Warnings

• Add small, three-dimensional details such as a gemstone or bow by apply the decorations with a hot glue gun once all the paint has dried.

References

• Parabox: Custom Doll Beginners
• All About Dolls: Shoes