Pick up a pair of basic canvas sneakers or slip-ons for less than 10 bucks. Then indulge your creative side by customizing with glitter, paint, fabric — even wings. We’ll show you how.
1. Sparkle
Photo credit: Love Maegan
Glinda the Good Witch would be thrilled to have these sparkly shoes in her gift stash. Get the step-by-step directions on how to bling out your own sneakers with fabric glue and glitter at Love Maegan.
2. Maps
Photo credit: Cut Out + Keep
Attention map lovers. What if you could display your affection for cartography on your shoes? With a little Mod Podge and an old map, you can have the world at your feet. Instructions on Cut Out + Keep.
3. Doodles
Photo credit: Dream a Little Bigger
Love to doodle? Move beyond the notebook and doodle on your sneaks. Use fabric markers to avoid bleeding and make sure not to press too hard. Find this and more DIY goodness at Dream a Little Bigger.
4. Schwing!
Photo credit: Perpetual Kid
Schwing! Add instant flair to your sneakers with these lace-on wings (Perpetual Kid, $7). Perfect for kids and for those of us who will always be kids at heart.
5. Mod Podge
Photo credit: AmeliasCrafterie on Etsy
Who would have thought a decoupaged napkin could look so good? Grab a jar of Mod Podge and DIY it, or check out all the bright and happy decoupaged shoes like this matryoshka pair (Etsy, $20) at AmeliasCrafterie on Etsy.
6. Embroidery floss
Photo credit: Skunkboy
Take your shoes from plain to plucky with a needle and embroidery floss. Find instructions on the Skunkboy blog.
7. Faux saddle
Photo credit: Dream a Little Bigger
Faux saddle shoes made from inexpensive canvas sneakers. What’s not to love? They’re so simple to make, you might not even need the tutorial. But you will need Sharpie fabric markers (Amazon, $12).
8. Ikat
Photo credit: I Love to Create
Can’t get enough ikat? Profess your love of the exotic pattern on your shoes. All you’ll need is some fabric paint and a tie-dye kit. Find instructions on I Love to Create.
9. Stripes
Photo credit: Crazy about Coral
Pick up a pair of cheap canvas sneakers and stripe them up with fabric paint and painter’s tape. Find the easy-to-follow instructions on Crazy about Coral.
10. Studs
Photo credit: Honestly WTF
Make your own studded va-va-voom Vans with brass cone spikes and super-strong glue. That’s right. No piercing of canvas is involved in this “glue-it-yourself” project. See how it’s done at Honestly WTF.
11. Dip-dyed
Photo credit: A Mess to be Made
The dip-dyed, ombre trend is still going strong. Go ahead and get the effect on your canvas sneakers by dunking the toes of your shoes in fabric dye multiple times, dipping the shoe deeper each time. Full instructions on A Mess to be Made.
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