Stepping Into the DIY Zone

Blogging

Okay, this is where it gets real. While I said I was stepping out of my comfort zone on my last post, I literally inspired myself :o) and jumped into action on a project that I had waiting for me…

I have always wanted to try a DIY that I’ve seen on Pinterest–Painted Toms–but I would never attempt such a thing on an expensive pair of shoes. I do love TOMS and what the organization does, but this girl is a rookie, and I wouldn’t dare chance it.

TOMS has given more than 45 MILLION PAIRS of NEW SHOES TO CHILDREN IN NEED. ONE FOR ONE.^®

SO, instead I chose a pair of $9.99 shoes from Wal-Mart:

This risk is still high, because I am no artist. I AM a doodler, though, so I decided to stick with what I know I CAN do.

First, I took a picture of my shoes and printed it out on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Using a pencil, I sketched what I wanted them to look like:

You might recognize the design from my post, “My Tattoos Are Scars”. It was easy to replicate, and I knew I wanted a verse for my first try, so I chose Matthew 19:21. I practiced on my paper version, then using a pencil to lightly sketch where everything would be, I started very carefully with a Sharpie using thin lines, then thickening the ones that needed it. I LOVE how they turned out! When I finished I sprayed them with waterproofing to seal in the permanent ink, just to help protect the canvas from stains or smearing. I’ve only worn them once, but I know that they will be a perfect shoe for the fall. The neutral colors ensure their versatility–they will go with anything!