Sunday, June 14, 2015

...batty shoe DIY from flip-flops to Dr. Martens Bessie sandals...


Please ignore the chipped toenail polish!

This weekend has been one of transforming shoes. First, I wanted to make some bat bows and add them to some black flip-flops. I’ve included a picture with my supplies but I’m not very good at a step-by-step progress because I sort of just wing it. Bwa ha ha… pun intended! Get it! Get it! Um, *clears throat* moving on.

I bought some fabric glue but honestly I really didn’t need to use it. I ended out cutting felt into some batwing-shaped designs. I didn’t have a pattern. And this was my third design with the first two just looking a bit too ordinary-bow-like for me. I hand stitched the bows together and then stitched them onto the flip-flops. I personally love Columbia flip-flops because they have a bit more support than regular ol’ beach flip-flops and they have a running shoe type sole.



Transformed Dr. Martens Bessie sandals
The second item on my shoe transformation list was a pair of “gladiator-inspired” Dr. Martens Bessie sandals that I purchased last fall. I was hoping for a sale since the original price at $180ish; I waited too long and missed my size in black. Instead for under $50 I could buy the Oxblood which I thought would be a bit more red but looked much more brown…sigh. I planned to do a little DIY magic but it’s taken me this long to get my act together.

I ordered Angelus leather preparer/deglazer, leather paints in Passion Purple and black, and high gloss acrylic finisher from Dharma Trading Co. On their site they have a how-to video for preparing the shoes. I watched it and then gave it a go. I wasn’t so sure about adding the bat stamps because it wasn’t easy to stamp the shoes evenly. But after adding the acrylic finisher, I was pretty pleased.
 

20 comments:

  1. Both shoes are gorgeous! I am definitely going to follow your bat DIY ideas if ever I get flipflops. It has been so cold here in Finland I wore my winter boots last week! :O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!

      It was almost 100 here yesterday. I wish the weather were a bit more moderate. Consistantly cold doesn't sound too good but maybe a day or two of a chill might be nice.

      Delete
  2. Cute! :D I love the bat bows.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your blog inspires me while simultaneously acting as a reminder to stop fussing and do something about it :) Thanks for that.

      Delete
    2. Yay! I'm so happy to hear that! Sharing and inspiration are the goals of the blog. :D

      Delete
  3. You have inspired me again! I have a pair of linen zip-up wedge shoes that I got at Target on clearance for practically nothing. Love the shoes, but discovered that the linen color isn't my favorite (and I don't really have anything to wear them with.) With the motivation that this post provides, I think I will break out my paints and see what I can do to these shoes. They're cloth, so no specialized leather supplies are necessary (I hope). I'll let ya know how it turns out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cool! Linen should be somewhat easy to paint! Can't wait to see the new versions :D

      Delete
  4. I really like the purple sandals. I am looking for new sandals as well, still don't know which kind I want to choose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had success with Fly London but I am brutal on sandals with my commute. After a year or so, my soles are shot.

      Delete
  5. Who knew there was such a thing as leather paint? I generally just dye my shoes or boots plain black, but this information offers up so many possibilities. Thanks for that useful info! **runs to closet to see what shoes could use a makeover** ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I intentional left out the first step of me spray painting them last year and how the paint immediately cracked... ah, the fun part of DIY is trial and error :p

      Delete
  6. Great updates to otherwise mundane shoes! Well, the fushia ones weren't exactly mundane, but they're wonderful now! :-) I've been itching to fiddle with some of mine, sounds like a now is a good time to do it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do it! Let me know how it turns out.

      The flip-flops are really just garden/quick errands shoes but I needed to do something to them and I've been wanting to make the bat bows I always see on Pinterest or Etsy.

      Delete
  7. I also thank you for the leather paint info, I had no idea it existed. I have a ridiculous number of boots. I wonder if I could pinstripe a pair, or wrap some tentacles....I see a craft day coming!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Okay that sounds amazing! I'm not sure I could be that crafty at freehand tentacles but I can't wait to see your attempt!

      Delete
  8. Amazing work! They are both wonderful but that second pair!!!!! Oh wowwwww!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think they turned out pretty snazzy :)

      Delete
  9. Oh my! All these shoes are fabulous, well done!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your shoes are amazing! I never dared to make any changes to shoes but you make me think I could do it!

    ReplyDelete