GLITTER SHOES -Recycled From Ugly Worn Out Looking Shoes

This is my first Instructable so bear with me. I have been debating whether to enter in the contest or not and I think I will even though I would say I wasted some plastic bags in my process, still I feel that I rescued a pair of shoes so I guess that is the trade-off this time. I didn't know about the contest when I did the project.

Here I will show you how to rescue some ugly shoes and transform them into a princess girls dream shoes. I might note too, that I have seen glitter shoes for kids and regardless of the price they usually last for a couple wearings before the glitter falls off and they become ugly, this could be a way to restore them or just create your own out of some hand-me-down shoes you think are ugly to begin with. I loved this project because I didn't go out and BUY anything for it. I checked the garage and my craft stuff and found all I really needed to rescue these shoes.

Step 1: Gather Materials

you will need:
-shoes that are begging to be rescued from ugliness
-all purpose spray adhesive (you could probably something else but I haven't tried it)
-Glitter (I used tiny glitter because it's what I had, but any should work)
-masking tape and plastic bags for taping off the shoes

Step 2: Tape Off the Shoes

Push plastic bags thorough clean/dry shoes to cover the inside, and wrap it to the underside to protect the shoe from glue overspray. use tape to mask off the sole and keep plastic where you want it and out of the way of the spray area. I think one could use paper instead but I used plastic bags to be sure none of the glue got through to the parts I didn't' want glue. If you were doing a pair of tennies or other closed shoes I would just fill them with paper and tape off the sole/lower edge.

Step 3: Get Your Glitter Area Ready

Put out 2 sheets of paper with a crease down the middle for catching the glitter and re-applying it and have glitter ready to go, remove any packaging or stopper inside glitter jar so you can be quick about pouring it when it's time.

Step 4: Spray Glue the Shoes

GO outside and use the all purpose spray adhesive and spray the area of the shoe that you want the glitter, I would go ahead and put a nice thick coat (thicker than the one I used so you don't have any bare spots when you are done) and be careful to get the whole area, especially along the lower edge by the sole. I used a plastic bag under the shoe to keep from getting the glue in the grass (errr..buttercups, grrrr). Also be sure to clean the nozzle on your spray glue per instructions on the can.
(usually turn upside down and expel glue from nozzle till just air comes out)

Step 5: Get Ready for Glitter

Remove the plastic bags and tape from the shoes, being careful not to let them stick to the newly glued area. At this point I would hurry a bit as I think a wetter (tackier) glue will hold the glitter better than when it is dry to the touch like for contact cement adhesion.

Step 6: GLITTER TIME

Set shoe on creased paper and pour glitter into glued area. Use a spoon to scoop glitter up and put back on shoe or move shoe to second piece of paper and then pour glitter from the first piece of paper over it as necessary and press with the back of the spoon to really stick it into the glue, be sure there is lots of glitter under the spoon so you don't mess up the glue. Keep doing that till you have all the glued area covered with a nice layer of glitter. This is the part the kids can help with, at least a little bit, depending on their age.

Step 7: Clean Up Excess Glitter

Shake shoe and tap to get excess glitter off and onto paper for reuse. (then I whacked the soles together to shake off the rest of the excess glitter.).
Then clean up excess glitter that has gotten all over you and your work space, this could be a good outdoor project all together. :-)

Step 8: Let the Kid (or Yourself) Wear Them

All purpose spray adhesive dries very fast so there really isn't any waiting for glue to dry, by the time you are finished glittering and shaking off glitter they are ready to go .

Let the kid wear them! They are dying to try them on and go outside to be blinded by their sparkly shoes. They will be proud of their "new" sparkle shoes and you'll be teaching them a really valuable lesson that they won't have to even notice they learned. How to be resourceful and refurbish and reuse things that may have been poorly designed or designed to wear out, but you can overcome that and Save a pair of shoes from the landfill. Your kids will be proud to say that "Mommy (or whoever) made these pretty shoes for ME!"


I did this project today and she has been wearing them outside most of the day(so that any glitter that is going to fall off will be outside), they seem to be holding up well, but if there are any issues I'll add that when it happens. One other thing, I think this idea would be great for a wedding or fancy event but it's also fun for everyday shoes.