The best shoes for this project are an old, comfy pair. If you don’t have anything suitable, look in Goodwill or other second hand stores for shoes in your size. The color doesn’t matter in the slightest – once the shoes are covered in glitter you won’t be able to see the original color. Plain high-heeled pumps or ballet flats are the best style of shoe for this project, as they are easy to cover in glitter. Anything with laces or straps will involve more work, and the glitter will wear away much faster.
Super fine glitter will produce a much smoother, more even finish, whereas chunky glitter will result in a goopy, uneven mess. Any color glitter will work – you can either do your shoes in one solid color, tape off patches of the shoes and use different colors on different parts, or mix different glitters together to produce a rainbow effect – it’s up to you! If you are making the glitter shoes to match a particular outfit, make sure to bring the outfit with you while craft shopping to get an exact color match.
Mod Podge is the best glue for the job, as it is a glue, sealer and finish all in one! Choose either the matte or gloss finish, either will work just fine. [1] X Research source If you can’t get your hands on Mod Podge, all-purpose Elmer’s Glue is a good alternative, in addition to Martha Stewart’s glitter glue. If all else fails, a good fabric glue will do the trick.
Take an old newspaper that you can lay on your work space. This is absolutely necessary, unless you’re okay with getting glitter everywhere. Grab a plastic cup or bowl for the glitter and glue, plus a plastic spoon or wooden stick to mix the two. Get a couple of fine-bristled paint-brushes – one for applying the glitter-glue and one for applying the final top coat of glue. Find some masking tape or painter’s tape which you can use to protect the soles of your shoes from becoming covered in glitter.
No matter how careful you are, glittery glue will find its way onto the soles and once you start wearing the shoes you’ll leave a trail of glitter wherever your go. Cover the soles of your shoes in strips of masking or painter’s tape, trimming off the excess around the edges. If you’re using high heels, remember to tape off the small section at the bottom of the heel! You may also want to stuff the insides of your shoes with newspaper or plastic bags to prevent the glitter glue from finding its way in there too.
It’s important to get the consistency right – if the there’s too much glue, you’ll need to use a ton of layers to cover the shoes in glitter, if there’s too much glitter, you’ll get a clumpy finish.
Don’t panic if the glue looks white as you paint it on, it will turn clear as it dries. [2] X Research source Once you have covered both shoes in an even layer of glitter glue, set them aside to dry, somewhere where they won’t be disturbed by curious pets or children! You should also cover the glue and glitter mixture with some plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
If you like, you can sprinkle a little additional loose glitter over the shoes while the glue is still wet. This will give the shoes some extra sparkle and a slight 3D effect! After the third layer of glitter glue the shoes should be covered evenly in glitter, with none of the original color peeking through. However, if there are any patches, you can do as many additional layers as needed to cover them up.
Pour some fresh Mod Podge into a clean plastic bowl or cup and use the second paintbrush to apply a light, even layer to the surface of the shoes. Alternatively, you can spritz the shoes with an acrylic or polyurethane spray. This will also effectively seal in the glitter.
