Hi! Thanks for stopping by! Today’s how-to DIY is not a new idea or method but it is fun inexpensive, and unique! Tie Dye Sneakers! For the past two years, I’ve challenged myself to create cute Halloween costumes for my now three year old daughter. She’s got loads of personality, so any old princess costume just won’t do for her. Last year, she was a chicken! Everyone loved it. She was the only chicken trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. (Check it out below). This year, she’s able to communicate better and I decided to give her a couple of options for her costume. She got to choose from being a fruit of her choice or a unicorn. (I secretly prayed that she would choose the unicorn–shhh). She did! She solely picked that costume because she could have a tail (LOL).
It’s an easy costume to put together really. Not much effort was required on my part. I just had to get a leotard, tights, long sleeved shirt, and a horn headband. The most difficult part was decided what would be a good shoe for a three year old fireball to wear that 1) complements her costume and 2) that she could wear more than once.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: GLITTER SHOES
That’s when my wheels started turning. First, I looked online for some ideas. They’re having a costume party at her school so I want to make sure she’ll be warm. I immediately opted out the idea of ballet slippers. Next, I thought I could buy a pair of rainbow Allstars, buuuuut I am frugal! She’s only going to grow out of them, like, tomorrow. NEXT! I came across a pin on Pinterest where someone “tie dyed” their white canvas shoes! (We have a winner!) It’s just a quick picture tutorial (pretty self explanatory) that shows you what to do, but doesn’t include text with tips and tricks to get the desired look you may want.
I like to call myself a graduate of YouTube University, so I went there and found a similar tutorial with different colors (to make galaxy-looking shoes) and used it to make my daughter’s. If you’d like to make a pair of tie dye sneakers (and don’t feel like getting sucked into the endless YouTube how to’s), keep reading!
All you need is:
A pair of white canvas shoes. (Mine came from Walmart, $5.97)
Sharpie colors of your choice. (I like the neon colors)
Ribbon to replace the laces (Optional)
Rubbing Alcohol
Dropper
Tie Dye Sneaker Instructions:
First, take the laces out of the shoes and get an idea of what colors you want to go where.
Next, use your markers and start coloring!
Make sure to leave some white space in between each color to prevent over-blending.
After each color, put the alcohol in the dropper and drop some drops of alcohol over the color. You’ll start to see it fade across the fabric of the shoe.
If you want it to be more faded, use more drops of alcohol until you get your desired look.
The tutorial I watched recommended to do one to two colors at a time to have more control over where you want your colors to go.
Do this for both shoes and let dry!
You’re done! I added some little yarn poof balls on the back of the shoes to match her costume tail but of course it’s optional. Put some ribbon in the lace holes for added flare and you’ve got a new pair of shoes that NO ONE else has!
Halloween 2016’s DIY Chicken Costume:
Halloween 2017’s DIY Unicorn Costume
