Easily transform boring canvas shoes into custom footwear

If you dig really deep into the farthest corner of your closet, you might just find a pair of these hidden there: white canvas shoes. But if you don't, you can always buy a pair of here. When they're new, they look crisp, clean and cool. But after a few wears, that pearly white sheen quickly gets dirty and the effect is lost. Besides, isn't plain white a bit too... well... plain? Here's a trick that will help you spruce up your slip-ons and create your own unique designs.

You'll need:

  • 1 pair canvas sneakers (new or used)
  • lace or other decorative material
  • fabric glue
  • scissors
  • razor blade
  • paintbrush

Here's how:

Cut out a piece of material so that it covers the front part of the shoe. Be sure to cut a bit extra so it extends past the area you want to cover. The excess will be trimmed off later.

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Now spread the glue over the area that you want to cover. Be generous and use a paintbrush to spread it around.

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Let the glue dry until it's sticky and then apply the fabric. Be sure to press it down hard and try to remove all creases and air bubbles.

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Now do exactly the same to the back part of the shoe. Cut the material, brush on the glue... 

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... and press it on firmly. While you're busy working on the second shoe, the first one can dry and set.

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When everything is firmly set, use the razor blade to cut away the excess fabric.

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Simply follow along the stitching as you cut. This part is easy, but use a light touch. These types of knives are very sharp and you don't want to slice through the shoe.

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And when you're finished, your new shoes will look like this! In this example the middle section was also covered with lace. But for your shoes, the design is up to you.

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As you can see, with this method there are endless ways to give your shoes a one-of-a-kind makeover. So what are you waiting for?

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You can watch the whole process in this video.

A really practical idea to put the spring back in your step. And the best thing: nobody else has the same shoes. Guaranteed!

Comments

Also hefty