Painting leather shoes process
If you have old shoes that are nice to wear but look a little tired or dated, turn them into stylish custom designs with a little leather painting and maybe some embellishment process for that extra special touch
Changing the color will make an old pair look brand new, and it’s quick and easy to achieve if you know the right technique
You can also buy new or cheap used shoes from discount shoe stores, vintage shoe stores, or thrift stores and remodel them to reflect your style
Choose a pair of shapes you like and use this tutorial’s simple painting and decorating tips and tricks to transform them to match or complement an outfit perfectly
In this step-by-step tutorial on how to draw leather shoes, I’ll show you how I transformed a boring old pair of comfy beige leather sandals from bland to wonderful
Along the way, I’ll share some simple tips for bringing old leather or faux leather boots, shoes, sandals, or handbags to life or creating a new one with new colors, trims, and other cool details
You can mix and match custom paint colors to match a favorite outfit or special occasion!
All you need is acrylic fabric paint, a few paintbrushes, and simple supplies like masking tape, alcohol, and cotton balls to transform ordinary, old leather shoes and accessories into new colors at home
If you’re painting faux leather instead of real leather, these step-by-step instructions also cover adjusting the prep for that painting technique
Do you like your accessories to be artsy or have more bling? Take your custom-painted leather shoes up a notch by adding rhinestones, faux gems, ribbons, lace, feathers, fabric, or other fun accents to your custom-painted leather shoes
Ready to learn how to transform your old shoes, sandals, boots, wallets, belts, and other leather accessories into your unique custom creations? Let’s start! Finding extra wide sandals that fit my “problem foot” has always been a major challenge
Finding things that look attractive and stylish is more of a mission: impossible
My old, worn, housewife-looking tan leather sandals are euphemistically called “comfort sandals,” which are marketing code for ugly, bulky, and unstyled low heels
They’re also among the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever walked on, with a thick, flexible sole that cushions my feet
So I decided to take on an evidently impossible challenge: turn my shabby, boring, incredibly comfortable sandals into fun, stylish shoes
Angelus Leather Paint: The first is Angelus Leather Paint, an acrylic paint specifically used to paint leather shoes, handbags, wallets, and more
As far as I know, I’ve also had to buy their exclusive brand Leather Preparer, Finisher, and maybe something called Deglazer
The deciding factor for me was that I couldn’t find a local retailer that carried all of the Angelus leather paint colors, and I wanted to look at them before deciding which ones to buy
Spray paint: The second is spray paint
I don’t think it has the flexibility to prevent cracking and peeling at the folds of the leather while walking
And I’m not too fond of the idea of inhaling paint or propellant fumes
Acrylic Fabric Paint: That leaves me with a third paint recommended by several websites: Acrylic Fabric Paint
It is available in various colors, stays flexible when dry, and bonds well to genuine leather and leather-like materials
I’m very interested in Plaid’s FolkArt Extreme Glitter Acrylic Fabric Paints – I can’t wait to try them on a pair of heels – but I don’t think the glitter will look good on my casual sandals
Jacquard’s Lumiere and Neopaque acrylic paints are ideal for painting leather (and faux leather, but not vinyl, rubber, or plastic) shoes
Paint-ready leather must only be gently cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol
Pledge inexpensive acrylic floor finishes are perfect as a sealer to protect painted or faux leather
Learning to paint and decorate leather shoes means you don’t have to be at the mercy of the seasonal colors fashion dictators have adopted this year or limit yourself to what’s available in stores or online—line, or to your specific size and width
Now you can opt for any color or combination you like, whatever the trend, and paint yourself a beautiful pair of shoes in any style, color, and pattern you want
You can choose a color scheme to match your most used clothes or a particular favorite
If you wear mostly neutral colors, consider adding a pop of color by painting a pair of shoes or sandals in the season’s on-trend hues
Don’t worry if you make a mistake – it’s easy to fix
You don’t like the color after all? No problem! Pick a different shade and paint over the first shade
You can always have a change of mind and even repaint your shoes next season, next year, or anytime
If you change the color after applying the clear coat of Pledge Floor Finish, sand it lightly before preparing and reapplying the old color
By mixing any Lumiere color (or any custom color you’ve mixed) with Neopaque white or black paint in varying proportions, you can easily combine a range of shades of that color for tonal looks (including gradients)
Adding white paint will create a lighter shade of that color, and adding black paint will produce a darker shade
Want something a little more daring? Try using strong contrasting colors with color blocking or animal print designs
Do you have art? How about freehand drawing your creations? Or use a stencil to add a pattern and more color, as I did in my comfy sandals makeover project below
Remember, you are a designer
Let your imagination get wild and have fun
I chose painter’s tape over masking tape because it’s low tack and less likely to leave residue on the leather after removal
I tried Scotch blue all-purpose paint tape and FrogTape brand green painter’s tape
Both hide painted areas like the heel and sole of my sandals well, but Scotch Blue Painter’s tape is easier to remove
