doesn't mean we have to LOOK like we do the work of 10 people, right?
These shoes are my effort to make it look effortless.
Glitter Girl Shoes.
I made this pair to go with my Easter Sunday outfit last spring, but like a goose, I didn't take pictures. Silly me.
(Just a note: These were black. I painted them white, just like all the tutorials in Bloggerville said I could, but the cracked terribly. I actually followed instructions from a company that repaints and resells shoes. I used the same brands and everything. The glitter worked perfectly and didn't come off at all, but the paint was a total fail. I don't recommend painting your shoes. Unless maybe you are just going to hobble in, sit down in a fancy chair and look pretty all day. If you actually plan to walk in your shoes, you might want to rethink painting them.)
Anyway, I have been waiting for the perfect thrifted pumps so I could make you a tutorial. Alas, the perfect pumps haven't arrived. Well, I did find a totally cool pair of pewter pumps for next to nothing, but they were already awesome -- no transformation necessary.
Then I remembered I had a pair of sandals that had seen better days. Someone (who shall remain unnamed because they were really, really sorry) borrowed them and walked across a surface that ruined the heels. They were super comfortable, so I hung on to them even though I knew I would never wear them again. Why not hide the damage with glitter?
Here they were:
And here is what they became:
Are you ready to add a little magic to your days? Here's what you will need:
Gemstone glue. The brand doesn't matter, but gem glue is a nice glue for this project. It is tacky, so there are no drips and the glitter adheres well. It's also made for attaching gems and such to clothing, therefore, it is made to be laundered. This means it can handle a little wear and tear.
Small plastic cups. One is to put your glue in for easier access. Not necessary, I guess, but it makes the job easier. The other is for catching and reusing excess glitter.
Glitter. I like the super fine kind, not the kid craft kind. Super fine glitter is a little less "Tinsel Town" and a little more "Fairy Dust," if you know what I mean.
Polyurethane Clear Coat Spray. This adds a layer of protection and waterproofing. Not that I would recommend jumping in mud puddles while wearing heels... It also prevents you from leaving a glitter trail everywhere you go.
Painters Tape. For taping off the areas you don't want glue & glitter.
Flat style detail paint brush. For applying your glue. Like these:
How To Make Glitter Girl Shoes:
1. Tape off the areas you don't want to be glittered. If you get glue on the area, you will end up with glitter there. If you have a steady hand, you don't need to tape around the sole and upper join. If you are unsure, go ahead and tape.
I like to glitter the sole of the shoe, because I like hidden surprises. If you want to have a glittery sole, don't glitter the entire sole. If you do, you will end up leaving a fairy dust trail everywhere you go because the part you walk on will wear off as you walk. Not cool. Instead, tape a line just before the shoe begins to bend up. Glitter the part that doesn't touch the ground, and leave the parts that contact the ground alone.
Like this:
If you are doing pumps and want the upper heel of the shoe to be glittered (like my Easter pumps), decide whether you want a straight or curved line. In pencil, lightly draw the line you want directly on one side of the shoe. Trace the line onto a piece of paper and cut out your template. To make the other side of the shoe exactly the same, just flip your template over, lay it on the shoe and trace. It will be an exact mirror image of your first line. Now use the same template to do the other shoe. Ta Da! Matching lines.
2. Apply the glue. The gem glue dries out fairly quickly, so I work in sections. First I do the heel back, then I do the underside of the shoe. Don't put the glue on too thin, or it won't hold enough glitter. But you don't want it so thick it runs, either. Just a generous, happy medium.
3. Now it's time to get messy. Remember when you were in kindergarten? And they gave you glitter. And more of it ended up on the floor than on your project? I hope you liked that class...
Spread out a piece of paper. This will catch the excess glitter so you can reuse it. This really doesn't use a lot of glitter, but you will have to dump a lot to get it where you want it to go.
Sprinkle glitter over your glue, making sure to cover all the glue well. Shake off the excess onto the paper.
I glue and glitter the other heel back before working on the undersides. Be careful not to smudge up the parts you have already glittered. Use the paper to gather and dump the excess glitter into a cup. Keep reusing the same glitter pile until you are finished.
When the glitter has been applied, it should look something like this:
4. Carefully peel off the painters tape. Allow to dry thoroughly.
5. Once the shoes are dry, paint another coat of glue just on the heel back (or all of it if you missed spots). Apply a second layer of glitter. This really gives the heel a deeper and richer look. Allow to dry thoroughly.
At about this point, you will suddenly notice that you sparkle. Don't worry. This condition doesn't last forever, although it can sometimes be contagious. I recommend pretending you're Tinker Bell...
6. Tape off or cover the un-glittered parts of the shoes. Spray with 2-3 light coats of polyurethane, allowing to dry between coats. Allow to dry thoroughly for several hours before use.
