Ombre Shoes: July DIY Week

On the third day of this DIY week I knocked off another craft on my Pinterest board, and I am really excited about how these turned out. The original DIY can be found here.

What you'll need: White cotton shoes

Dye

Vaseline

An old toothbrush or bristled brush

A tub

Salt

Baking powder

First you need to prepare your shoes, by first taking out your laces and anything else that is removable. Then to keep your soles white, put a thin layer of Vaseline on them, just enough to create a barrier in between the rubber and the dye. Make sure you don't get Vaseline on the sides. It will leave spots, as seen on my final product. (My mom suggests using the Vaseline to create a pattern on the shoes. I think this is her way of making me feel better for my mistake...)

Then wet your shoes. They only need to be damp.

You then need to prepare the dye by following the instructions included with it. This is when you will use the salt if it is needed.

Then take you shoes and dip them about three thirds of the way into the dye. Continue this step staggering the level of your dip creating the ombre effect, this will make the tip of your shoes the darkest and the heel the lightest.

Next take a damp cloth and gently rub away any harsh lines and marks. If you need to dip the cloth into a cup with a diluted mix of the dye.

When you're happy with the color allow the shoes to sit for five minutes and then rinse them out in the sink until the water runs clear. Then hang them up to dry overnight. (I decided to go the ratchet route and tied them to the old toilet paper holder in the laundry room...)

When your shoes are dry you can remove the Vaseline by putting a little bit of baking powder around the sole. Using a toothbrush or bristled brush to scrub, the Vaseline should start to roll away in balls. Continue scrubbing until it's not longer tacky to touch.

And then you are done! I think these are to cute and simple for the most part to make. The dip dye effect is perfect for summer, and is a fun way to keep color in your wardrobe year round.