How to Decorate Children's Tennis Shoes
Decorating children's tennis shoes is an economical and earth-friendly way to give new life to an old pair of shoes. Plain canvas shoes can be turned from uninteresting footwear into a walking work of art. You do not need to be a skilled crafter to decorate a pair of tennis shoes. Children as young as four can likely help choose and place materials on the shoes themselves. Sew on the embellishments if you have the skill set, but spray adhesive and fabric glue will suffice. Use fabric dye to change the base color of the shoes before adding adornments such as bows, ribbons, gems or embroidered appliques.
Things You'll Need
- Tennis shoes
- Sewing notions, spray adhesive, Velcro strips or fabric glue
- Adornments such as beads, scrap fabric, fabric paint, patches, bows or ribbon
- Internet connection or craft periodicals (optional)
- Fabric dye (optional)
- Washing machine, sink or bucket (optional)
- Clothes dryer (optional)
Instructions
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Browse craft websites or shoe advertisements for design inspiration. Look through crafting booklets or take classes at your local hobby store to get creative ideas. Print or save a copy of the images to take with you when shopping for adornments pieces or choosing a dye color, if you're dyeing the shoes.
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Choose the shade of fabric dye for your shoes, if you're dyeing them. Buy two packets of dye, unless the shoes are toddler size. Follow the packet mixing instructions and use your washer, kitchen sink or a bucket to dye the shoes. Allow the shoes to air-dry overnight and then wash them alone to remove any excess dye. After you wash the shoes, dry them in the dryer or leave them to air-dry overnight once again. Remove the shoelaces before dyeing the shoes so that the color doesn't fade or become darker on some areas of the shoes than others. You can put shoelaces in the dye if you want, but remove them after 15 minutes to prevent fraying.
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Browse the local discount and hobby stores for decorative items for your shoes. Turn scrap fabric depicting your child's favorite cartoon characters or toys into a display piece on the shoes. Cut scraps into simple circular or square pieces and outline with fabric paint to form a frame. Add cabochons, beads, ribbon, bows, patches and charms to create a personalized pair of shoes.
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Purchase sewing notions, spray adhesive, Velcro strips or fabric glue to attach your shoe adornment pieces. Put bows near the toe end of each shoe with a colorful gem or cabochon glued in the center to portray a dainty look for a young lady. Scatter small sports, firefighter or animal embroidered patches across the entire shoe to create an array of the child's favorite things or even a scene. String beads through the shoelaces in colors that match the other adornments for added flare.
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Tips & Warnings
Fabric paint comes in a wide variety of shades including a glow-in-the-dark version for adding hand-drawn designs and letters.
Gently wash the shoes when needed and don't place them in the dryer.
Canvas shoes will soak up dye more quickly than shoes constructed of leather or mesh.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
