The Dollar Tree is chalk-full of SO many amazing supplies for the DIY’er. Their craft aisle is totally awesome and every few months, they fill up the 4 front aisles with new seasonal holiday goodness that makes me excited to explore their rows of dollar dreams.
Recently on my bi-weekly Dollar Store trip, I found these stinking adorable paper napkins. There were also matching plates and cups. I think they are so beautiful. I picked them up knowing they would be perfect for something. I just wasn’t quite sure what yet.
I used a few of them for my English Garden Easter Tablescape you can see here, but I still had a bunch of napkins left.
A few days later at Walmart, I found white canvas shoes for $5 and the light bulb went off, my friends.
I decided to fancy up my plain white shoes using Mod Podge and those gorgeous paper napkins.
The result? FAST, FRUGAL AND FREAKING AWESOME FLORAL GOODNESS! And I’mma show you how I made them!
Gather your supplies and cover your work area.
- White Canvas Shoes (mine were found at Walmart, but I have seen similar at Target, KMart and even the Dollar General!)
- 2 Foam Brushes
- Paper Napkins (or tissue paper, comic book paper, newspaper, wrapping paper, craft paper, scrap-booking paper…)
- Mod Podge
- Clear Acrylic Spray
- Sharp Scissors
- Utility Knife
- Painters Tape (optional step)
If you are going to use the painters tape to cover the rubber bottom, now is the time to apply it.
*note* I made one pair with painters tape and one pair of shoes without. Honestly, I didn’t notice enough difference to make it seem useful enough to do it again. I don’t mind things not “perfect”. That’s why this step is optional.
I left the manufacturers paper stuffing in the shoes because I liked how it pushed out the fabric while I worked on it. I also added some paper to the exposed insert to prevent spilling any Mod Podge inside the shoe.
The next step is to place the paper on top of the shoes in the area you want to cover. I wanted the front and back to be covered in the pretty napkins, using the existing stitch lines of the shoes, so I made a rough outline of where to cut with a pencil.
*note* this step is probably the trickiest part. But, don’t be discouraged if you mess up. Worst case scenario you start again with a new napkin until you get it right. No biggie!
Once your napkin pieces are cut, you are ready to apply. Using a foam brush, cover the area of the shoe with Mod Podge. A nice, even layer. Place your cut piece on top, even it out across the area with your fingers and add a layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper.
*note* Go easy here. It’s paper so it still rips when wet. Make sure your swipes are quick, even and that the coat of Mod Podge is light. You will want to do 2-3 coats, so light coats are best here. Also, the more you swipe across the paper, the higher the chances of the color bleeding. Another reason why light coats are your friend. If it does tear or move, manipulate the paper with your fingers gently until it is in the desired location on the shoe.
When wet, the mod podge will look “milky”. Don’t be worried about the foggy appearance. The Mod Podge will dry clear. That is how you know you are ready for the next layer.
Once your shoes have completely dried, you will want to spray them with a clear acrylic sealer to protect them. I chose a spray with a glossy finish, but if you prefer Matte or Satin, make sure you pay attention to the label.
*note* Even though we have top coated these, it’s probably best to not wear them out in a heavy rain storm. Just Sayin’
