Heels are great and all, but sometimes a good pair of flats is what I REALLY need. Take this weekend for example. I’m going on a little road trip with my husband and I know we’ll be walking a lot. I’ve gotten into this situation in wooden heels before and it’s not happening again. I have been on a mission to collect cute flats this year. This time, I thought it would be fun to make a cute pair for our trip! *Also we recently updated this post with more info and a video of this project so we wanted to show you another look achieved with this same technique.
So I purchased a plain pair of teal flats in a suede-like material. This material is perfect for paint as the paint will soak in and really stick, like when you sand furniture before painting—same concept at work. Here’s a step-by-step for how I printed mine at home-
1. Use masking tape to create a fun, geometric pattern. Think stripes or triangles… any shape you are comfortable cutting out about 50 times. 😉 I cut masking tape pieces in half with varying lengths for a fun, irregular stripe.
2. Be sure to press the edges of the tape over the seams around the sole and inside the shoe for the cleanest results.
3. Use matte fabric paint (this is my favorite) and a small, flat brush to paint a coat over the entire surface. When dry, remove the tape and enjoy your new pair of flats. It’s fun having a piece of clothing that no one else has.
You could also use shape stickers to mask off an area for a fun pattern as well! Throw your new flats into a cute weekend bag and you’re ready for a road trip! xo. Elsie
Credits // Author and Photography: Elsie Larson
94 Comments
Amazing well done girls
http://daphniaslife.blogspot.gr
Very VERY cool idea! And that last photo, in particular, is adorable. Have fun!
This is a super cool idea! You ladies come up with the best DIY’s on here!
Oh my goodness that is such an awesome idea!! Thanks for sharing, you guys are so creative!!
xoxo,
Shio
Love it!
Great idea! I love the colors and the uniqueness! Have a wonderful trip (happy feet!)
xo
sarah
http://atticlace.blogspot.com
Such a cute DIY Elsie. Love how easy but awesome this would be to recreate. Have great time on your road trip lady!
xx Allison
http://www.thrifted.ca
these are fantastic!
kw ladies in navy
Great idea! Super cute 🙂
so pretty!
xxx Sabrina
http://bbutterflybrain.blogspot.com/
I’m looking for a new pair of flats, and that color is perfect! Where did you get them?
Those are so cute! I love the color combo.
Super cute! I love it!
(I also love that tote bag in the last photo. What brand is it?)
this is so creative! printed flats are usually super expensive. so this is a great way to make them affordable! love it!
http://www.simplylovelyxo.blogspot.com
My gosh, those are so cute!
http://www.shannonheartsblog.com
Very cute! Just wondering, where you got the flats?
Kara
So cute! I think I’m going to have to find some cheap suede flats to play around with now.
Awesome idea! I’m so picky about patterns that all my shoes are solid colours. This would be a great way to add a pattern that I would actually like.
This is so cute and definitely a cute DIY if you want to beautify old shoes!
Carlee
http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/
hi! Very, very good idea! The flats looks really good!
kisses
kity-cri
http://thekityshoesworld.blogspot.com.ar/
Absolutely love!
This is awesome! No one would ever think you painted them! And I love how the little rectangles aren’t all perfect, like they probably would be, if you store-bought them like that. I’m definitely going to try it out now!
Love this! Super cute, thanks Elsie!
I love this! The pattern and color are so unique!
SaraM
http://clochedeletoile.blogspot.com
Ahhh this is perfect for a gift I wanted to make for my roommate! Brilliant! 🙂
Cool!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
I just want your bag, haha! Great job on the flats. <3
nice
WHERE is that gorgeous floral bag from?!?
What an amazing idea, they look great!
That looks great and like a perfect idea. I would like to do it on my clutch too. Have a great day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com
What a clever idea!!!
xxx
http://www.caraward.blogspot.com
Super cute diy idea 🙂
xx
This is a fab idea! I bet you’ll get asked where there from a lot now 😉 I’m going on the hunt for a plain plain of flats now!!
Lulu xx
http://www.luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
Awesome idea. I love it!
Amazing !!
New post up: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/2013/02/16/inspirations-2/
gorgeous, love the colour & the pattern you created
wow that is a really creative idea!
http://sunsetswings.blogspot.com
This is such a great idea!!!
Thank you so much! I’ll be doing this very soon.
Such a great way to restyle old shoes, or to create a pair that I cant find anywhere. I love to have things that are customized and one of a kind. I need to make a cute pair!
Besitos from Barcelona!
Ko-Shin
http://www.diamondlifeandstyle.com
The flats are so fun and cute! Have a fun and safe trip!
Fang Ting
http://ftashion.blogspot.com
That is totally cool 🙂 thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Very cool!!
This has given me an idea 😉
Are you kidding me?! LOVE this! Awesome idea!!!
~Sacha
Awesome!!!!
Love it, the color combo and the geometric print looks amazing. I always tend to get all artsy after seeing your DIY’s!
http://sincerelylara.com
That’s a great idea. Your new flats look great! xx Mallory
I love your blog 🙂 You have so many great ideas 🙂
This is such a good idea! They look amazing xx
http://www.jessthetics.wordpress.com
this is a great way to fix up old flats or spring time!
M.
This is such a great idea! I can’t wait to try it.
Nicole
http://www.younglovestyle.blogspot.com
amazing idea!!
I have to do that !
http://www.fashionsalade.com/thelimitsofcontrol/
Wow, I love them! Great design and cute color combination.
This is such a good idea! they look super cute 🙂
have fun on your road trip 🙂
Kerri xx
http://lorellalilyblog.blogspot.co.uk
UK Fashion & Beauty Blog
So Cute!
Anna
Those are so cute, definetly going to try this!
http://aclotheslook.com
Such a great idea, I’m totally going to remember this when it’s finally the weather for pumps! Thanks for sharing and have a lovely trip.
The older I get the less I wear a heel and especially not a wooden one. This are really cute! Hope you have a great weekend! It’s snowing here!
ahh i need to try this! pure genius!
Very cute idea, Elsie! They will be perfect for your weekend away. Also, pretty sure I have a very similar vintage suitcase@ Love it. 🙂
xoxo,
Laura
http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/
Oh my goodness! This is such a great project! I’m definitely doing this.
What a great idea. And these look so expensive! I’d definitely wear them out.
http://aweekfromthursday.com
Love this idea, good flats are a must 😉
How clever!
🙂 Liz @ rusticpeach.com
That’s a fun way to transfer a bright pair of shoes.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
I like the shoes. How much does the fabric paint sell for?
what a cute idea! i just went out and bought striped flats about 10 minutes before i saw this post. womp womp. oh well, next time 🙂
omg how fun are those!?!?
so bright and fun love this idea 🙂
you always make everything so accessible
I can’t get over how great this idea is!
xo
chelsea at http://nowismagic.blogspot.com
They look lovely 🙂 not sure the result would look so good if I tried it though! I’m doing a giveaway at the moment if you fancy popping over to my blog 🙂 x
I love the petrol color of those flats, I wouldn’t have painted them 😀 But your result is pretty as always.
What a fun way to personalize flats! Definitely will need to do this for spring! Thanks for the idea girls!
Very beautiful! You are so creative 🙂
http://www.thestuddedpearl.blogspot.co.uk
Now I have another excuse (like I needed one, haha) to go shopping for some cheap flats to be customized to my own taste.
I hope you had tons of fun in your new cute flats. 🙂
xx Kaisa
http://reindeertrails.blogspot.com.es
Lovely way to make some plain flats unique! Makes me want some more flats.
Such a cute and simple diy! Love it 🙂
♥Brooke
http://youreinbrookelynn.blogspot.com/
You girls certainly got some great ideas, well done and keep up the great work
Beautiful flats, I can’t wait to try this DIY soon!
Jess
http://deepinthemeadows.com
Really want to try these! So fun, and sounds (!) easy too! Love how it all stacks up so well in the bag!
I love this idea because it’s so difficult to find flats that have an interesting pattern
These are so cute! I just got a bunch of paint on a pair of flats (I work at a preschool) so I’m definitely going to have to put this project on my to-do list now! 🙂
WOW! I just love your new made shoes!! You’d never be able to tell they were originally the first shoe! =)
I really love this… it’s beautiful and looks so doable (enough that I will actually try it!) Thanks 🙂
these are so cute love the teal color best they look straight from the store. I want some will have to do this thanks for the idea! xx. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ http://www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
These are beautiful! Now to dig out all of those old shoes that I have lying around… *raids the shoe cupboard*
Great idea!!! XO! ♥
They look amazing! This is awesome idea! I love it! My flats are so boring :D, but with this will look awesome!
xx
Biskvittka.blgospot.com
Interesting!
Sarah=)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/owleyevintage
great idea. 🙂
http://www.style-ettos.blogspot.in
Love the color of the flats! Super cute! They look awesome painted too 🙂
XO Nat
http://www.natinlove.com?cm=1
Nat in Love
I love the flat shoes that you did with the abstract look and I understand that you painted over the entire shoe with a different color fabric paint, but what I dont get is why did the masking tape design change? That’s what I’m NOT getting..
Thanks
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