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DIY American flag shoes with fabric markers and star stickers
Print Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

DIY American Flag Shoes

Turn a pair of plain white canvas shoes into American Flag shoes using fabric markers or acrylic paint.
Prep Time1 hour

Ingredients

  • White Canvas Shoes
  • Small Star Stickers
  • Masking Tape or Painter's Tape 1/4 inch wide OR plan to cut it down

To Decorate Shoes with Fabric Markers

  • Fabric Markers red and blue

To Decorate Shoes with Paint

  • Acrylic Paint red and blue
  • Small Foam Paintbrushes
  • Textile or Fabric Medium optional, for best results

Instructions

  • Place star stickers on the section of shoe that you plan to color blue. Press them down well to adhere.
    Canvas shoes with star stickers on the tops; roll of tape
  • Cut masking or painters tape into strips 1/4 inch wide. I did this by taping a long piece of tape to a cutting mat and using an exacto knife and ruler to slice it into 1/4 inch wide strips. Run the tape around the sides and back of your shoes to create stripes.
    If desired, you can also use tape to mask off the white sole of the shoes. I didn't bother with this and was just careful as I drew or painted near the soles.
    Pair of white canvas shoes with star stickers on the top and rows of masking tape along the back
  • If you are using fabric markers, begin by outlining the blue section of the shoe. Then color in the blue section. I used strokes that were all going the same way, and when I was close to a star I started the stroke on the star and drew away from it, to ensure I didn't accidentally move a star out of place and color under it.
    Then use the red marker to color in the stripes along the sides and back of the shoes, being careful not to color on the sole or "trim" along the top edge of the shoe.
    Canvas shoe with star stickers on it; hand coloring it with blue fabric marker
  • If you are using paint, apply stickers and tape as directed above. Mix your paint with fabric medium, if desired, according to fabric medium instructions. Begin applying blue paint to the top of the shoe by dabbing the paintbrush straight down onto the shoe. This helps ensure the stickers stay in place and paint doesn't bleed under them.
    Painting over star stickers on the top of a canvas shoe
  • Be careful when applying paint near the soles. If you do get paint on the soles, you can wipe it off with the corner of a wet paper towel.
    Painting the top of a canvas shoe blue
  • Fill in the red stripes, again using a top down dabbing motion.
    You may want to let the paint dry and then go over any spots that seem patchy with more paint.
    Painting red stripes on a canvas shoe
  • Remove the star stickers and tape along the sides to reveal your design. If you painted the shoes, it can be helpful to use tweezers to remove the stickers and tape.
    Allow shoes to dry thoroughly before wearing.
    Removing star stickers from top of painted shoe with tweezers