How to Make your own fun designer shoes with napkins

The designer shoe tutorial, created with napkins was one of my most popular posts several years ago.  In case you missed it, I'm re-posting a new version.  By the way my shoes are still beautiful four years later and I can't wear them anywhere that I don't receive some compliments. 

So I'm sure you've seen all the designer shoes in the magazines.  They are embellished with colors and flowers and jewels.  Did you know with a just few supplies and some floral napkins, you can make your own individual, one of a kind designer shoes.  And you are the designer!  It's really quite easy to apply the cut out from a simple napkin with decoupage glue (available in every craft store) Finish with a final coat and you are ready for Easter or any event.

Don't stop with just napkins though.  Even though the flower shoes are so cute, you can even add jewels with some hot glue, for further embellishment.  So let's get started!  You may even want to try this technique with older shoes to up-cycle a favorite pair that needs a little oomph.


Pair of white shoes (I used white but other colors will work with equally wonderful results)

Napkins with flower prints (look for ones that you can cut the flowers out individually, party stores are a great source)

Mod Podge exterior decoupage glue

Small paintbrush

Small pointed scissors

1.     Separate all layers of the napkin leaving only one top layer.  

2.     Use the small pointed scissors to cut out individual flowers to apply to the shoes.  Cut more flowers out as you need them.

3.     When you have cut out quite a few flowers, use the small paintbrush to apply some Mod Podge to the shoe, immediately apply a cut out napkin flower.  Apply some more Mod Podge on top of the flower you just applied.  Continue applying glue, flower and glue in a pleasing arrangement until you have covered the entire shoe.  If there are any folds in the shoes use the paintbrush loaded with Mod Podge to tuck them in nicely.

4.     Repeat steps 1-3 for the other shoe.  Let dry overnight.

5.     Apply another coat of Mod Podge glue on top of both shoes and let dry at least 24 hours.

How to easily make a beautiful pansy hairpin

If you are looking to make some gorgeous items for gift-giving this year this pansy hairpin is a perfect stocking stuffer or small gift for any gardener, teacher, etc.  Make them in sets and display them on a piece of cardstock edged with decorative scissors.

They are so easy to make with the air-dry paper clay.  After it is dry follow these step-by-step instructions to paint and then add the hairpins or jewelry findings.  This hairpin is an easy version of the pricey capo di monte flowers so popular these days.  Don’t stop with hairpins though.  These flowers look wonderful added to jewelry boxes, necklaces, and mixed media applications. 

You will want to make several for everyone on you gift list!

Materials:

Paper clay air dry modeling clay

Acrylic paint, Purple, navy, light yellow, bright yellow, white, and metallic purple

Acrylic gloss finish

Small flat paintbrush, liner brush

Work surface lined with waxed paper

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Hairpin with bezel

Instructions:

Make the pansy

1.     Roll out one large ball and four small balls of the paper clay.  The large one is approximately ¼” and the small ones 1/8” but the measurements are do not have to be exact. Natural flowers are all different sizes.

2.     Mold the larger ball with your fingers into a crescent shape, then press it flat.  Mold the smaller balls into tear drop shapes and flatten with your fingers.

3.     Add the smaller flat petals to the larger piece as shown.  Set aside and let dry completely.  Drying will take one to two days depending upon the humidity and other factors.

Paint the pansy

4.     In a palette or paper plate add some acrylic paint in navy, dark purple, white, light yellow, bright yellow, and metallic purple.

5.     With the flat paintbrush add some white acrylic paint from the center to halfway up each of the petals.  While the paint is still wet, add some light yellow paint on each of the petals right to the area of wet white paint, blend together.

6.     Next, and while the paint is still wet add dark purple from the edge to the where the yellow color begins.  Rinse your brush and use it to blend the areas together.  Repeat all around. See photo.

7.     Now, using the liner brush, add some white paint in an inverted V- shape.

8.     Make ragged lines from the center into the petal with the navy and liner brush on four petal areas.  (See photo)

9.     Add some bright yellow right under the white center area.

10. Work around the edges, darkening the purple and navy sections if necessary.  Let dry.

11. Turn to the back and Paint the entire back metallic purple.  Let dry.

12. When all the paint is dry, brush on a coat of gloss acrylic finish and let dry.

13. Fill the bezel area of the hairpin with hot glue and carefully press it to the center back of the flower.  Let dry and enjoy!

Monogram burlap rose wreath

With all the cool burlap ribbon in the stores these days and monogram letters of all kinds, I thought it would awesome to create a monogram rose burlap wreath for my front door. 

Since I put my wreath on a glass storm door with a suction hook, it was hard to photograph without a reflection so I took the photograph on an indoor wall so you can better see how gorgeous it turned out.  When you attach it to a glass door it’s even more beautiful!

Supplies:       

Flat wreath form 12” diameter

2 ½” wide wired natural color burlap ribbon

Green burlap ribbon

Monogram wooden letter of choice ½” thick

Self stick cork sheet

Eye screw

18 ml wire

7 Daisy artificial flowers in choice of color

Drill with small drill bit

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Lighter

Pencil

Scissors

Ruler

Instructions:

1.     On the self-stick cork sheet, trace around your letter, cut out. Remove the backing attach to the letter.  Do this on the front of the letter and then turn over and repeat on the back of the letter.

2.     Using a drill and small drill bit, drill a hole in the top center of the letter. Attach an eye screw in the hole you drilled.

3.     Wrap the green burlap all around the wreath form and attach with some hot glue.  Make sure you mark an area on the wreath from where there is a hole (There are holes all around this flat wreath form) Thread a piece of wire through the hole in the burlap covered wreath from, form a loop at the top and twist to secure. (This will be the top hanger of your wreath)

4.     Attach another piece of wire through the eyehook on the top of your letter; thread the ends through the same hole you used for the hanger and twist to secure.

5.     Make your burlap roses.  Cut a piece of 2 ½” natural colored burlap ribbon 24 inches long.  Begin by burning both ends with a lighter to stop any fraying.  Next, twist the ends around for the center of your rose and put a dab of hot glue to secure.  Continue twisting and turning, and occasionally adding a dab of glue. Always twist and turn in the same direction. Continue until you reach the end.  Secure with a dab of glue.  Make 6 more so you have seven burlap roses. 

6.     Starting at the top, attach a burlap rose with an ample amount of hot glue to the front of the wreath.  Add a daisy next and continue around alternating, rose and daisy till you reach the end.