I know. Are these the cutest shoes EVER?
I know. I can’t handle it. And guess how much they cost?
$2.95
I know!
To think, all these years, I could have been wearing super cute spangled shoes. Geezers. For shame on moi.
Materials
- Beaten Up Old Party Shoes (Free) Pick something with clean lines that have a fabric or leather exterior (the adhesive doesn’t seem to stick to plastic/vinyl very well). And don’t go and buy new shoes –use old ones that you have worn in a bit. It’s important that the shoe has already been molded to your foot, otherwise the shoe shape will alter as you wear it, stretching/tearing the adhesive bond, allowing your cute beads to fall off. No bueno. Old shoes por favor!
- Busted Up Old Costume Jewelry (Free) Rummage that shoebox —you know, the one you keep next to the panty hose—and see what funky treasures you can find. The uglier the better. And break up an old beaded necklace or two. I really wanted to find my old *BEST FRIENDS* broken heart necklace set and wear one half on each shoe. Then I realized I only had one half of the set, and the other half belonged to a girl I haven’t spoken to since 1989, who once tried to give me a home perm using a bottle of windex and the contents of her parent’s fork drawer. So, I’m thinking, yeah, she can keep the other half of that necklace and I’ll stick with beads.
- Silicone Adhesive ($2.95) You will find it at the hardware store, usually in the plumbing section. Sometimes it’s called tile adhesive or bathroom sealant, just make sure it’s made of clear silicone and comes in a simple tube that doesn’t require a special gizmo to operate. You might see clear silicone in your home already—lining the seam between your bathtub the wall, or your countertop and backsplash. It’s cheap, waterproof, and reliable. It’s roughly the consistency of toothpaste and dries to the touch in a about an hour. You are going to love it.
Start by putting the big stuff on first using the traditional pin/earring backs/etc. Now try on the shoes and make sure they comfortable. Sometimes big brooches can alter flexibility, so rearrange as necessary. You are going to want to wear these all the time, so make sure you are comfortable.
Now we’re cookin! Squirt a blob of silicone directly under the larger jewels and immediately around each bauble. Lay a row of beads in the row of silicone, alternativing sizes and colors. Start from the middle with larger items, working outward with smaller pieces as you go. Now stop. Let it dry for an hour. Take a load off and watch something on Bravo.
Note: Silicone is not messy if you squirt directly from the tube. Don’t bother with brushes and gloves, just be nimble with your hands and have your beads ready to go.
Another Note: Live a little and don’t be all conservative and make your shoes perfectly symmetrical looking. Seriously, when are you going to get a chance to buy non-symmetrical shoes in a store? So boring. So have fun with these and arrange your beads and baubles differently on each shoe. Look for balance — not symmetry.
Now go back with more silicone and fill in the gaps. IMPORTANT: Do not go all the way to the edge. The beads will scrape the ground as you walk, fall off. The exposed silicone will get ragged and ugly and you will hate it. Hate. It. So don’t do it! Leave the outer perimeter exposed and use a line of something cheap and flat along the edge, like seed beads or sequins. No one will notice the edge. So chill.
Let them dry overnight undisturbed. Don’t go messing with them as they dry or the silicone will not bond properly. Leave them be!
BOOM. There it is.
Send me pictures if you make some on your own. I want to see what you made!
I am SO gonna DO that!!!! I need something to get my mind off Oprah leaving, and this looks like a totally do-able project. thanks! ( God, am I gonna miss her!)
i love these! they’re wild.
hm… I can’t pull those babies off, but if I tamed them down just a little, I could add some sparkle to my very, very sad work shoes… *ponders*
Love them!! Such a great idea!
Peaches these are outrageous and shoe much fine!!! So smart to advise against a new pair too, well broken in, to be sure to get the adhesion. The funkiest pair of shoes EVERRRR.
Oooooh, sparkly! Someday, I will use this….pinning now!
Wonderful tips – I would have done pretty much every one of the things that you pointed out as mistakes, so 1000 thanks for that! Your green sparkle delights are so cute!!!
Too cute! I don’t wear heels, but I do have some ideas brewing…
If I actually make anything I’ll let you know. 🙂
this is great….now to muster up my creative energy…thanks…yours are adorable…
These are way too cute! :]
Very cute & clever, my dear.
Thank you for sharing
Great shoes and it is comforting to know that your title won’t fall off. Spell check is useless.
OMG. Michel. OMG. Michel.
Thank you.
No really, thank you.
i do like these babies!!!! i might have a pair that would be fun to sacrifice!!!!
Love, love, LOVE your shoes! If I wore shoes I’d make a pair!
These are great! I am absolutely going to make a pair. Thanks for the idea and all the tips. Thank you too for always cracking me up! I love your blog.
Fancy feet! Very impressive…
You are hilarious! (I just read your gardening/mutant marsupial post too. Literally LOL over here!) And I can’t wait to try these! So fun and a great way to clean out that “miscellaneous” shoebox. I hope I’ll actually get around to doing this…I’ll keep you updated. 😉
Love love, love! Thanks for sharing your spangle-fication process! I’ll be linking
Peaches- Just found your site today and I will be back! I love this tutorial so much I linked it on my facebook! Wowzers this rock!A-MAZING!
These shoes are fabulous!
CUTEST SHOES EVER!!!!! LOVE “EM!!! Also, love ur writing. U r so funny, u make me lol ALL THE TIME! I have a feeling u would b the coolest person ever to craft with! 🙂
I already knew I was going to love you,when you said your favorite color is leopard!
You have a wonderful sense of humor,and taught me something new today;and that’s difficult to do since I know everything…I have been an art teacher/advisor/bs. mgr/head of art depts all my life..always teaching others all the stuff I know. So when the opportunity comes along to find and learn something I don’t already know,it makes me very happy; and you have made me very happy today….so,I have just one question-why are you still single? I have an adorable son,yadda,yadda…Where do you live,I want you to be my next daughter in law.Since I don’t have any,you could be my first…
Hugs,H
Haha….THANKS! Wow, what a compliment! Geez, wouldn’t that be fun? ….Unfortunately I am in Chicago — I’m guessing by your screen name that you are in NYC 🙁 Just the same, I am so glad you like my blog and I was able to share something new. Art teachers are my favorite people 🙂
I love this idea. This will dress up plain shoes into spectacular shoes in a jiff! I have some of this sealant and some old jewelry.
OMG going to make these tomorrow ,thanks for sharing
Amazing and wonderful slippers,i love it.i want to wear this type of slippers only.Really very nice and cool idea.