Sure, you can buy rhinestone covered cell phones, and mirrors and sneakers! They are tons of fun. But did you know you can easily bling out your own stuff? You can – and it’s very easy. One of my absolute favorite “bring the bling” projects are sneakers for kids! I made some this year to match a rhinestone shirt my daughter was wearing to her very first day of preschool!
You will need:
- A pair of plastic toe shoes. Converse sneakers work great.
- Rubbing alcohol
- E6000 glue or a Swarovski Crystal Glue Pen
- Enough Flat back crystals to cover your shoe or object(Swaroski elements or imitation commonly found at Micheal’s Craft store or similar)
STEP 1.
Use some rubbing alcohol to clean the plastic toe cover of the shoe. Let dry.
STEP 2. You will want to lay all your crystals flat with the pretty side up. When buying rhinestones you will see 3 types. Hot fix, peel and stick, and flat back. You want flat back! Peel and stick will fall off shoes almost immediately, and hot fix needs to be bonded on to fabric with high heat from an iron- obviously that wont work on plastic. Also, my advice is to look for smaller crystals rather than the larger sizes. The smaller you go- the more secure they are. I personally like to mix sizes a bit.
STEP 3. Use your glue to make a small square and then attach a single rhinestone. If your using a glue “pen” then use the reverse side to pick up the crystal. If you’re using E6000 glue, just lightly wet the tip of your finger and press a crystal. It will stick to your finger easily.
STEP 4. Cover the whole toe box with crystal rhinestones and then let dry for 48 hours. To dress shoes up even more, try pretty ribbon in place of shoe laces! Enjoy your shoes!
Are you a visual learner? Check out the quick “how to” video below!
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
Great idea and super special for a lil girls shoes!!! LOVE LOVE.. what are we going to crystalize next!!!
Those shoes are just too precious! You did an awesome job & I’m sure she just loves them! Love the extra laces too! Great tutorial!
super cute!!
wm
These are so cute! I loved getting to see how much your daughter enjoys them.
I don’t know why I never thought of doing this myself! I am going it this weekend! Thanks for sharing!
Those are so cute! What a wonderfully creative idea.
Very cute! My daughter would love these!
These are so amazingly adorable! I have the perfect pair to try these on, I can’t wait!
LOVE this idea! I looks great and doesn’t look like you have to be Martha Stewart in order to pull it off! I am going to try this for my daughter…Thanks for sharing this idea.
🙂
Um…well…I’m 64….am I too old for these? I loves me some bling!!! Seriously, what do you suppose my co-workers would think? On the other hand….who cares?! I just might have to try this…for myself!!
Stopping by from Mom Loop. These are totally cute! Wouldn’t work with my boys, but totally adorable!
Hello from The Moom Loop Comment Follow. OMG! This is just what I needed! My daughter is asking for ruby slippers to wear to see WICKED. This would work GREAT.
These are so cute! I love the bling!
Adorable! What a cute way to turn a regular pair of sneakers into something totally cute!!!
very fetching!
How fun! Sharing on Facebook. :}
Oh, my daughter would LOVE these!
Oh how neat is that? Such a fun and easy tutorial thanks!
great ideas!! i’m having a huge ($100) giveaway over at my blog and would love for you to stop by and check it out!! http://thelovelypoppy.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-follower-giveaway.html
LOVE THIS!!! My daughter would love to do this. What a fun idea!
Thanks for sharing..
Jocelyn
caramelpotatoes.com
Love it! Please post this, and anything else you may have,in my link party at
http://diycraftstomake.blogspot.com/
Thanks,
Peggy
Just stopping by to let you know that I have featured your project on Fun Family Crafts! You can see it here
http://funfamilycrafts.com/custom-swarovski-crystals-sneakers/
If you have other kid friendly crafts, I’d love it if you would submit them 🙂 If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above.
What a great idea!!! I must try it with my daughter, thanks 🙂
I featured it as Article of The Week, hope you don’t mind. Just a thumbnail and link to your post.
These are absolutely adorable! Great instructions. Thanks for sharing.
XOXO,
Valerie
BeehiveChic.com
SO fun!! Bling makes everything better! Would you share these here?
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2011/11/shine-on-fridays-3-and-some-fabulous.html
Saying hi. Found you from Tip Junkie. I think we can all use a little more bling in our life! Well done. Hopen’ you visit my page.
This is so cute! My daughter is so obsessed with shoes and I must admit that sometimes she sleeps with her shoes on, I’m afraid if I did these to her chucks she would want to bathe in them as well:)
I just love those shoes!!! I’d love you to link up with us.
http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2011/12/fun-stuff-fridays-2.html
Awww. That’s super cute. I like how she can’t keep her eyes off her shoes.
These are so gorgeous am going to buy a pair for myself and have a go. I hope they look as professional as your ones…thanks again for responding to my post on Youtube.
Hey these are too cute. My little girl just started pre-school last week and would love these- can you tell me all the different sizes you used please?
Hope to hear from you,
Xx
This is awesome!
What size crystals did you use ? 🙂 xx
What size crystals and do I use flatbacks I am working n converse for 2year old I am thinking of using AB crystals Aurora I think is the color name…thanks
Yes use flat backs! hope this helps:)
Thank you so much for the video. We’re on a tight budget and you saved me $70. Bless you
My daughter will go nuts over these. I am showing her your tutorial. Thanks for sharing!! Glad I found you on the link party.
I would so do this! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!
Thanks for linking up with us at Tell Me About It Tuesday! I hope you hop over again next week. http://www.sweetsillysara.com/2014/02/welcome-to-tell-me-about-it-tuesday-and.html
Awesome! I have a few little girls in my life that will love this! ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Love this idea!
Thanks for linking up to Tip Me Tuesday linky party this week. {knuckle bumps} Did you know that I can “lend” your blog posts my Google page rank for better search engine traffic? {fabulous} If you upload at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL into your Tip Junkie craft room, you’ll be in business! {wink} ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie} http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie/ –
Hi Shannon! I am in just in love with these adorable and sparkly shoes – I want to make a pair for myself! 🙂 Thank you so, so much for sharing them at Best of the Weekend; I’m featuring them at tonight’s party. Hope you have a happy Friday and fabulous weekend!