Give your Summer footwear a makeover with this fun crafty tutorial for DIY pretty painted sandals. And since shoes come in all different styles and materials, we’re sharing the step by step instructions for painting on both canvas and leather surfaces.
Getting Creative with Painted Sandals
Have you ever thought about painting a pair of shoes or sandals before wearing them? I remember doing so on a pair of plain canvas Keds when I was a teenager but these days, there are actual paints intended for these types of crafts. These fabric paints won’t crack or peel over time and bond well to all fabric surfaces including leather (real and faux), canvas, burlap and others. So when my 11 year old recently asked for a pair of canvas shoes to paint on (after being inspired by a young YouTuber), I excitedly already had the right fabric paint for her to use!
The hardest part of painting sandals (or any shoes for that matter) is making both shoes identical! But putting that need for perfection aside, this is a really fun, carefree and enjoyable craft (similar to painting t-shirts; which we’ll share the tutorial for that soon). It’s a great way to personalize your accessories and creatively express yourself!
Materials Needed:
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- Sandals (wedges)
- White canvas sandals
- DecoArt Stylin Paint in Blue, Fuchsia, Green, Yellow, Turquoise, White
- Water container
- Palette or plastic plate
- Paper towels Small brush
- Paintbrushes, Medium brush, fine-tip, including round
- Rubbing alcohol (or acetone)
Helpful Hint: Clean the shoe surface with alcohol or acetone (for surfaces with a glossy or factory coating) for best adhesion.
How to Paint Canvas Sandals
Dip a round tip paintbrush into Blue, then slightly into Turquoise, and then into water. Use this mix to paint one oval petal in the center of the sandal strap.
Add two smaller petals next to the larger oval petal in the center. Dip a fine tip paintbrush into White and then into water. Paint this mix over the petals.
Paint two contoured lines alongside the three petals.
Repeat these steps to paint two additional flowers on either side of the first flower.
Dip a fine tip paintbrush in Yellow and then in water. Use this mix to dab the base of each painted floral. Add Green stems from the base of each flower.
Using a fine tip paintbrush, paint small, 5-petal flowers in random spots using Fuchsia.
Using a fine tip paintbrush, paint the center of each small Fuchsia flower in Yellow.
Allow the paint to cure fully before wearing.
How to Paint Leather Sandals
Use a medium brush to paint the main area of the shoe in Blue.
Next, use a small brush to paint the leaves in Green and the flower petals in Fuchsia.
Use a small brush to paint the center of the flowers in Yellow. Let dry.
This project originally appeared in DecoArt’s project gallery, bright and pretty floral sandals and fun evening wedges.
More Ways to Get Crafty!
For more paint projects and fun crafts, check out these rock painting ideas, painted mason jar crafts and other decor.
Birch Bark Decorative Books 
Painted Glitter Jars 
Kindness Rocks
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DIY Pretty Painted Sandals
Materials
- Sandals wedges
- White canvas sandals
- DecoArt Stylin Paint in Blue, Fuchsia, Green, Yellow, Turquoise, White
- Water container
- Palette or plastic plate
- Paper towels
- Small brush
- Paintbrushes Medium brush, fine-tip, including round
- Rubbing alcohol or acetone
Instructions
Floral Sandals
- Dip a round tip paintbrush into Blue, then slightly into Turquoise, and then into water. Use this mix to paint one oval petal in the center of the sandal strap.
- Add two smaller petals next to the larger oval petal in the center. Dip a fine tip paintbrush into White and then into water. Paint this mix over the petals.
- Paint two contoured lines alongside the three petals.
- Repeat these steps to paint two additional flowers on either side of the first flower.
- Dip a fine tip paintbrush in Yellow and then in water. Use this mix to dab the base of each painted floral. Add Green stems from the base of each flower.
- Using a fine tip paintbrush, paint small, 5-petal flowers in random spots using Fuchsia.
- Using a fine tip paintbrush, paint the center of each small Fuchsia flower in Yellow.
- Allow the paint to cure fully before wearing.
Flower Accent Wedges
- Use a medium brush to paint the main area of the shoe in Blue.
- Use a small brush to paint the leaves in Green and the flower petals in Fuchsia.
- Use a small brush to paint the center of the flowers in Yellow. Let dry.