How to Make Hand-Painted Shoes

Ingredients:

an old pair of leather or vinyl shoes

acetone

paintbrushes

good quality acrylic paint

a pair of rubber gloves

an old rag

acrylic based clear gloss sealant in a spray can

a container of water

Step 1: In a well ventilated area (outside is best), gently wipe down the shoes with acetone on an old rag. This will help to break down whatever paint or primer was on the shoes originally, and prepare the surface for painting on.

Step 2: Mix a base colour, and paint directly onto your shoes, being sure to cover evenly and neatly. You may need to tape off the edges of the shoes if you are using a bold colour. Set shoes aside to air dry.

Step 3: Mix the colours that you will paint your design on with. I have chosen to paint with a coral pink and a mint green.

Step 4: Start painting! Remember to keep the design simple as you will be painting both shoes fairly rapidly- acrylic paint has a drying time of about 15 minutes.

Once the first colour is on, wash your brush and begin to paint with the second. Repeat this step until you have used all the colours and your design is complete.

Step 5: Spray shoes with clear sealant. Be sure to spray from a distance and keep it evenly distributed. Less is more! You can always repeat this step if you feel there is not enough coverage. According to instructions on the bottle, let air dry for 2 to 24 hours.

Step 5: Thread your laces on and admire your new one of a kind painted shoes!