Glitter and Trim Your Flats {tutorial} + Giveaway (CLOSED)

by Julie

They say imitation is the finest form of flattery, and if that's the case, then Mini Boden should be super flattered. I love stores like Mini Boden. I have been eyeing these darling little glitter ballet flats since they came out. It’s just not realistic for me to spend forty bucks on a pair of glitter shoes. Let's be honest, the glitter always rubs off the toes after a couple of months anyway.

When I realized I could make them for under $10, I decided to go for it. This project can be done for pennies if you already have everything on hand. Just grab a pair of flats and get started. Your local thrift store would be a great place to find shoes. It doesn't matter if they are worn; you are going to cover them with glitter. I didn't have a pair  to work with, so I headed over to my neighborhood Old Navy, where I found these silver gems on clearance for $5.49 (this was on Monday so run—don’t walk—to grab a pair). Honestly, I even thought of just keeping the shoes silver and adding the bias tape. Wouldn't that have been cute too?!

 I wanted big glitter, not the micro-fine kind (although you could definitely use it). I went to Michaels where I found Martha Stewart Tinsel glitter on clearance for $1.50 (regularly five bucks, woot woot!). I was on a roll. Then I stopped at JoAnn for yellow bias tape. I bought double fold, but upon returning home realized the single fold stuff would look better and, luckily, I had some on hand so all was not lost. I recommend not going to three stores, but somehow that’s how it played out for me.

Let's get our glitter on!

Supply List

• ballet flats
• tacky glue
• glitter
• bias tape (I used single fold, not the double fold shown in the pic)
• foam brush
• painters tape or masking tape
• newspaper
• paper clips or binder clips
  (whatever you have on hand)

If you start off with new shoes, I recommend scuffing them up a bit. You can use fine sandpaper, or just go the au natural route and let you kids wear them for a week. You don’t want to skip this part, otherwise the glue won't adhere as well. Also, mark off a quarter inch or so, so that you can attach the bias tape.

Next you want to tape off the sole of the shoe and stuff the inside with newspaper. This will keep them looking professional by keeping glitter from getting everywhere. Plus if you pack in a whole sheet of newspaper, you can use the paper as a handle, and keep you fingers clean.

Now get a bowl and mix a little Mod Podge and glitter together. Just eyeball it, you really can't screw it up. You want to keep a gluey consistency so it glides on well.

Using a foam brush or paint brush (I am not sure it matters what you use), brush on your first coat of glitter glue. Do one shoe at a time, and by the time you are done with the second shoe the first should be ready for another coat.

Brush on a second layer of the glitter glue. Get yourself a treat while you're at it for doing such an awesome job!

Now you just sponge on some glue on the spots you have missed. I like to sprinkle dry glitter all over the shoe after the second coat to give it a little definition and really make it sparkle.

Check for empty spots and fill in where needed.

Let the shoes dry for a while, maybe overnight, or maybe while you watch an episode of Project Runway—it's your call.

Now take out your bias tape and measure around the shoe to get the length you need to cut. Remember to add a little extra to fold and overlap. Iron one side of the bias tape open.

Initially I wanted to sew the bias tape on, and then I realized this was a physical impossibility when it came to sewing the area close to the toe. I was crushed, I didn't just want to slap the puppy on there, it would have looked too crafty. Then I had a brilliant idea—sew down the folded side of the bias tape to make it appear to be sewn on to the shoe instead of glued. Seriously pleased with this sudden burst of thought, pat on my back! If you really wanted to you could faux sew the toe and then sew the rest of the bias tape to the shoe. Just make sure to use an needle meant for leather. But I opted to faux sew the whole thing.

Now you just take a little tacky glue and wipe it around the rim of the shoe on the inside and out, just do three or four inches at a time.

Just use your finger to spread that glue on there, or use a paintbrush, whatevs!

Now is the time to use those trusty binder clips and paperclips. Clip one on every few inches to make sure the bias tape stays in place. Let dry for the recommended time on the bottle, or half a KU basketball game, which is what I did.

Touch up any holes in the glitter and in the bias tape to make sure it is secure.

Congratulations! You just made a pair of glitter shoes with a fancy bias trim for eight bucks when they retail for $40 online (plus $10 in shipping). You are also encouraged to spray a sealant of some sort to keep it from all coming off. Use whatever you have on hand, just make sure its glossy. otherwise you will lose all that glittery goodness!



Think of the possibilities: you could make shoes to match all of your little girl's dresses. If you made her dress you could also make bias tape from the dress fabric and make a perfect match. Think of how cute these would be with striped or floral bias tape. Oh the possibilities!

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not sure how these will hold up. My daughter has to wear sneakers to school, so really she will only be wearing these to church. I will keep you updated with how they wear!

Stay tuned for another "make it your way" project coming soon.

And since this is my first posting I am thinking a giveaway is in order!
I will be sending one lucky reader everything (except the shoes) you need to make and trim your own pair of glitter shoes for your favorite little girl.

Giveaway Rules:

• Leave a comment 
• One entry per person
• Open to those living in the U.S.
• Winner picked via random.org
• Giveaway ends 2/17/13 at 10pm est

Winner will be announced on Monday, February 18th.

May the odds be ever in your favor :)

And the winner is #29 Happy Homemaker And Momma  who said: Thank you so much for this tutorial! These are sooo cute! 

Featured on:

and Craftgawker

I shared this project at:

Show and Tell Saturdays at Be Different Act Normal
Strut your Stuff Saturdays @ Six Sisters Stuff
House of Smiths
Craft-o-Maniac
Skip to my Lou
So you think you're crafty