With Summer still in its last throes I wanted to share this quick and easy DIY makeover for sandals with all of you…especially as there is only a few more weeks to wear it before we all start switching over the Fall boots. I’ve seen a lot of sandals that have an ankle strap made of elastic, which is a pretty cool design element, and definitely ups the sexy factor to any shoe. I wanted to convert a regular pair of ankle-strap sandals over to this fun elastic banded-type, which is also a breeze to switch out if you’re looking for a different color or look to the top strap. Just a little bit of hand-stitchery necessary! Here’s how:
Well, I did this step-by-step DIY of a pair of Luxury Jones belt-wrapped boots (as found on FreePeople.com) a little while ago and couldn’t wait to share the tutorial. You need: a pair of vintage Western-style boots with mid-calf or knee-length shafts, 3-4 belts that you like, a sharp box cutter, a pair of shears, and some glue for leather/vinyl. (As well as some matching shoe polish if your leather boots are dirty.;-)However, I also happened to find this DIY in video form, and must give full credit to Mr. Kate, who shared the how-to first on Youtube:
Think of all the possibilities – if you can just find the right pair of vintage-style Western boots!
I still have a ton of lace fabric from that curtain I bought last month to make my DIY Lace Maxi-Skirt…so I did a couple projects before I left for Japan to use up the extra. One of the DIYs was re-vamping a pair of granny-booties with a lace covering and making them into the perfect booties for Spring. With all the flowered boots popping up in retail stores lately, I figured it was high time to do a pretty feminine lace version! Here’s how:
I hate settling for something in a different color when the color I want is sold out. Take these faux-suede shoes, for example. I could only find them in a tan color (from UrbanOg.com, sold out now), but I wanted them in a dusky rose color. I already have a pair of tan suede heels, for goodness’ sakes!! And I wanted that pinkish color desperately. With leather, you can paint it…but with [faux] suede?
If you want to do it the right way, there are actual suede and nubuck dyes out there, but I wanted a faded , vintage-style look. This was accomplished easily and quickly with a marker.
Ideally I probably should have used a fabric marker, but I didn’t have one in this exact hue…and I did have a COPIC marker. So I filled in the parts I wanted pink, and paused every so often to rub the excess color off and massage it into the fabric fibers further.
And now I have pink shoes…until it rains the next time, I suppose!
Now I know there have been a million and one tutorials floating around the internet for glittery, blinged-out items…including shoes. So this may be a little superfluous, but it’s a little bit of a different method than the other tutes I have seen, hopefully resulting in a very permanent DIY! Read on for the how-to…
Carly J. Cais I am a DIY’er, designer, sewist, maker, and marketer. Chic Creative Life is where I share what I do, and help others bring their unique style into their own lives.
With Summer still in its last throes I wanted to share this quick and easy DIY makeover for sandals with all of you…especially as there is only a few more weeks to wear it before we all start switching over the Fall boots. I’ve seen a lot of sandals that have an ankle strap made of elastic, which is a pretty cool design element, and definitely ups the sexy factor to any shoe. I wanted to convert a regular pair of ankle-strap sandals over to this fun elastic banded-type, which is also a breeze to switch out if you’re looking for a different color or look to the top strap. Just a little bit of hand-stitchery necessary! Here’s how:
I hate settling for something in a different color when the color I want is sold out. Take these faux-suede shoes, for example. I could only find them in a tan color (from UrbanOg.com, sold out now), but I wanted them in a dusky rose color. I already have a pair of tan suede heels, for goodness’ sakes!! And I wanted that pinkish color desperately. With leather, 
And now I have pink shoes…until it rains the next time, I suppose!
