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Pair of floral shoes.
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DIY Floral Decoupage Shoes

Learn how to make these pretty floral sneakers using napkins and mod podge. This fun decoupage project allows you to personalize canvas shoes with any pattern you can find on a napkin.
Prep Time2 hours
Drying time1 day

Ingredients

  • White Canvas Shoes
  • Paper Napkin
  • Mod Podge Matte
  • Small Foam Paintbrush
  • Painter's Tape
  • Exacto Knife
  • Spray Sealant
  • Piece of Plastic Wrap

Instructions

  • Grab a piece of plastic wrap and set aside. Pull a few napkins apart until you have just the top layer.
    Using pieces of tape to pull two layers of napkin apart.
  • Tape off any areas on the shoes that you don't want the napkin to be transferred to.
    Edges of shoes taped off with painters tape.
  • Paint a layer of mod podge over the upper portion of the shoe, where you want the napkin to cover. Be sure to get into the corners. Wipe off any mod podge on the soles and then pull off the tape.
    Using foam paintbrush to paint modpodge on canvas shoes.
  • Place the top layer of a napkin over the shoe. Wad up the plastic wrap and use it to gently tap the napkin down onto the shoe to adhere. Do not touch the napkin with your bare fingers. Keep tapping it with the plastic wrap until it is adhered to the shoe.
    Covering shoes with top layer of napkin, pressing down with plastic wrap.
  • Repeat with the other shoe. Allow both shoes to dry completely, at least an hour or two.
    Front of shoe covered with floral napkin.
  • Use an exacto knife to trim away the excess napkin. Carefully cut right along the sole of the shoe and pull away the napkin. Then carefully cut right along the trim of the shoe that you taped off and pull away the napkin. If any small pieces of napkin are stuck to the sole, use your fingernail or the back of the knife to gently scratch them off.
    Using exacto knife to cut excess napkin away.
  • Use the tip of an iron on medium heat to smooth down wrinkles on the shoe. Use the iron gently and keep it moving so it doesn't stay too long in one place.
    Using iron to flatten wrinkles on the shoe.
  • Paint over the entire shoe upper with a layer of mod podge and allow it to dry completely, about 4 hours. Then repeat with a second layer of mod podge. When that is dry, spray it with a spray sealant. Repeat with one more layer of spray sealant.
    Painting over the napkin with mod podge.

Notes

If you end up with any tears or holes in your napkin, you can patch them BEFORE you iron or seal the shoes. Tear a piece of napkin that is the same color as the area you'd like to patch and just a little larger than it. Dab some mod podge down on the area, then place the torn piece over it and tap it down using plastic wrap. Allow it to dry completely before continuing.