A Visual Guide to Painting Shoes.

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   For vinyl or leather footwear, use leather or spray paint. Shoe leather can be painted with special acrylic paints. Like these acrylic paints, you can pick them up at your neighborhood arts and crafts shop or online retailers like Amazon. Use a brush to apply these paints for a professional look that lasts. Another option is to use spray paint that you get from a hardware store or online. Select a spray bottle with the smallest nozzle you can find to avoid wasting any product. [1]

   • Although you can quickly and easily spray paint your sneakers, the medium won't lend itself to intricate designs. When painting your shoes an entirely uniform color, spray paint is your best bet. Keep in mind that painting will be easier if the shoelaces are removed first.

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   Cloth footwear should be painted with fabric paint. Specially formulated acrylic paint for use on fabric. It's long-lasting, takes a brush, and is easy to apply. It's also available in a rainbow of hues, some of which are glittery! It also doesn't tend to crack after drying, which is a big plus. [2]

   • Fabric paint can also be used on leather or vinyl footwear. In order for the paint to stick, however, the shoe's surface must be extensively sanded down to the fabric underneath.

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   For intricate designs, paint markers are your best bet. Most art and craft stores, as well as online retailers like Amazon, sell paint markers. They have different sized tips, ranging from extremely thick to extremely thin. In order to try out different combinations of colors, it's helpful to have a large selection of markers in one color family. You should also try out different paints to see which you prefer in terms of thickness. [3]

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   Make a blueprint for something If you only want to use one color on your shoes, that decision is easy to make. Make preliminary sketches on paper if you plan on doing an elaborate pen drawing or painting. Alternatively, you can use a program like Photoshop to make a three-dimensional model. [4]

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   To create a canvas shoe with a tie-dye effect, simply use permanent markers and rubbing alcohol. Use the markers to draw in your design, then dab at the ink with a cotton swab. This will make them appear gentler.

   • Think about the design from all perspectives, including the back and the top.
   • Try to stay away from designs that require a lot of complicated layering of colors or images if you're just starting out. Choose patterns with big, solid blocks of color, geometric shapes, or easy swirls.

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   Draw your pattern on the shoe in pencil. Keep your marks faint enough, and even the most transparent paint won't be able to reveal them. Others prefer to use a fine brush or marker with a fine tip to go over the pencil outline. [5]

   • If symmetry is your goal, check your sketch one last time before you add the finishing touches with marker. Make sure the toes, heels, and sides all look the same.

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   Place a sheet of paper over your desk. Find a stable, flat table, and cover it completely with craft paper or newspaper before you begin painting. If you have any paint drips or spills while working, you won't have to worry about damaging your surface.

   • You can also use brown paper bags, which can be repurposed by cutting them open and taping them to the table's surface and perimeter.
   • Care must be taken when working with white or light-colored fabric shoes and newspaper. Black smudges may be left on the material from the newspaper.

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   Use a worn pair of shoes for practice. Although this isn't always possible, it is recommended that you practice your technique on a cheap pair of shoes. Because of this, you can determine whether or not the paint's consistency and shade are suitable for your needs. In fact, you can get a good pair of practice shoes at a thrift store.

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   Shoe cleaning: wipe down the upper When caring for shoes made of natural leather, use a cotton ball dampened with rubbing alcohol to wipe down the upper. Cleaning synthetic leather footwear requires nothing more than a cotton ball dipped in acetone. Before painting, clean slightly grimy cloth shoes by wiping them down with a rag dampened in warm water and soap. The paint will adhere better to the shoe if any dirt or debris is removed first. [6]

   • Before you even think about painting, make sure your shoes are completely dry from being cleaned.
   • Use only pure acetone for cleaning, not diluted nail polish removers.

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   If the leather on your shoes is too shiny, you should sand it down. Even though patent leather footwear is renowned for its gleaming appearance, it is notoriously difficult to decorate. In small, circular motions, use a piece of fine sandpaper to buff the shoe's upper. It's important to keep going until the shoe loses its shine. Sandpaper is widely available at home improvement stores and on the internet.

   • You should inspect your footwear and sand it evenly to ensure consistency. If not, your painted surface might look lopsided.

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   Tape the inside and bottom of the shoe. To protect the areas of the shoe that won't be painted, use painters' tape in narrow strips. Therefore, you'll also need to clean around the shoes' heels. To keep their form while wet, some people also stuff newspaper into their shoes.

   • The use of painters' tape will prevent paint from seeping into unintended areas. It's sold at home improvement centers and on the web.

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   Use even, short strokes when painting fabric or leather. To apply acrylic paint to shoes, simply dip your brush into the paint and apply it in quick strokes. Repeat this process as many times as necessary until you can no longer see the original shoe surface. [7]

   • Brushes with a number 6 or 8 are flatter, making them ideal for painting along edges. A round brush, especially a size zero or one, is ideal for fine work. Using a fan brush, size 1 or 2, paint can be quickly applied to the smooth surfaces of a shoe. Sets of paintbrushes in various sizes are available on Amazon.

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   For an uneven finish, use a sponge to apply paint to fabric or leather. Obtain a compact sponge for use in the shower or as a scrubber. Get a small bowl and pour in your paint. You should wet the sponge by dipping its edge in the bowl. Then, wipe the excess color off on a sheet of paper. After that, you can quickly press the sponge against the shoe until it's covered in paint.

   • If you want to use multiple colors or even let some of the shoe's original color show through, this is the way to go.

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   If you only want one color, you can spray paint the shoes. Keep the spray can's nozzle at a distance of 6-8 inches from the shoes. Apply paint evenly across the shoe by pressing down firmly on the nozzle trigger. Be sure to include everything.

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   Apply a glittery glue to the footwear. Fill a plastic cup halfway with Mod Podge. You'll need 4 ounces. Mix in a tiny bottle of glitter and give it a stir. Apply the glitter glue with a paintbrush directly onto the fabric of your existing shoes. This can be used over freshly painted shoes, but only if the paint has had ample time to dry.

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   Leave the shoes out to dry. You should dry your shoes for at least an hour on the paper-covered table. Then, if necessary, you can paint a second coat. Waiting two to three days before donning them is also recommended. The paint on your shoes (if any) can dry on both the exterior and interior this way.

   • To prevent brushes and sponges from drying out in between coats, wrap them in plastic.

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   Carefully remove the tape that has been protecting it. In order to remove the tape from the shoe, you must first grab both ends and pull gently. Don't stop until you've taken out everything that belongs there. Use metal tweezers to pick up any stray fragments. [8]

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   Avoid washing your shoes and instead use a spray-on acrylic sealer. You can use an acrylic sealer spray (for fabric shoes) or a clear matte spray paint (for leather shoes) to protect your design from moisture. Even though this will keep the rain out of your shoes, you shouldn't put them in the washing machine. A warm washcloth and a dab of cleaning solution will take care of any stains.

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