DIY Martha Stewart Glitter Shoes & Heels

I'm getting married in October (about 40 days to go), and I've had difficulty finding shoes that I absolutely love. I wanted something glittery, but I couldn't find them in stores or online. Everything was sold-out or coming soon. Ready to give up, I decided to take matters into my own hands. How hard could it be to make glitter shoes? It couldn't be impossible because they existed-- just not when I needed them to. One of the first wedding decisions I made was that my something blue was going to be my shoes. So, some cute shoes + lots of sparkly glitter = adorable shoes that only look like a million bucks.

• Shoes
• Glitter
• Glue
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Tape (optional)
• Shellac

The beauty of covering shoes in glitter is that they don't have to be the same color as the glitter. So you can do this to revamp an old pair of heels or buy a certain shoe for a special project you have in mind. If you don't want the full Dorothy Gale effect, you can put a light dusting of glitter on (1 layer) a matching shoe. Shoes that have a strap and buckle are difficult to glitter.  Plus, the glitter will last a significantly shorter amount of time if constantly threaded through and buckled or just touched in general. This craft is ideal for ballet flats or simple heels.

Glitter comes in many shapes and every color. Keep in mind that the large glitter specks will give your shoes more of a mosaic look. I like to use Martha Stewart's glitter and for my wedding shoes I mixed turquoise and blue glitters. Prepare to work in an area that will definitely get glittery! I like to work near my kitchen sink or on my back patio, both places that offer an easy clean up. Remember not to touch your eyes or face.

I love Martha Stewart's glitter glue! To be honest with you, I don't know how it's any different from Elmer's white school glue. It comes in a cute bottle and has a brush built into the cap. It goes on milky white and dries clear. I first tried it because I needed glue anyway and it was conveniently located right next to the glitter at Michael's. Work a section at a time, painting your glue on into a nice thin layer. Remember to cap and close your glue so it doesn't get thick or dry up. I also use a clear spray glue, which I'll explain in the next step.  Both of these are available at Michael's.  I paid less than 6 dollars for each and you will have a good amount left over for other crafts.

If you're an expert crafter, especially in the ways of glitter, then you may have a different technique. Use whatever works best for you! If this is your first time, the spoon and bowl method makes it easy to not waste or spill your glitter and also makes for easy clean up. When it comes to the bowl and spoon, the bigger the better, but don't go crazy. Pour your glitter into a mixing bowl. If you're mixing colors, be sure to mix them together thoroughly. Holding your freshly glued shoe over the bowl, scoop up some glitter with your spoon and drop it onto your section. Excess glitter falls back into the bowl for later. Once covered, tilt or tip the shoe to dump the remaining excess back into the bowl. Repeat as needed. After each glitter application, hold the shoe upside down and use your spoon to gently tap the bottom sole to free any more excess glitter. Work in sections until you get bored or no longer have a section of shoe to hold onto. It's impossible to get a full coat on every inch in one sitting. Let dry overnight. For my second and third layers, I use a clear spray glue that comes in a can. It's called Aleene's Tacky Spray and  is also available at Michael's.  Make sure you get the crystal clear kind.  It works great because it's super sticky and since it's tacky, you have time between spraying and spooning for it to get sticky without drying out.  (I also used this spray to seal my homemade wedding envelopes and boy does it hold!)  Spray on per instructions on can and repeat the previous steps. For a full three layers, you'll need at least three days for proper drying time in between glitterings. Pay attention to seams or threads as they may need some extra attention for covering up.

Tape is great if you're doing designs and need to make straight lines or distinct sections. I use blue painters tape because it's sticky without beeing too sticky. I also like to use it during my second and third coats because I have less control of a spray than a brush and I don't want spray and then glitter ending up inside my shoe forever. I like to tape off the inside linings to avoid this. In case you accidentally get some glitter inside that won't quite shake out, the tape step is great for getting it out.  Just remember to peel out all tape before wearing.

After your shoes are 100% glitter-tastic, it's time to seal them. For this craft, I used Aleene's Final Step Spray Acrylic Sealer in a Gloss Finish. I purchased it at Michael's. Inspect your shoes for any imperfections or missed spots and fix as necessary. Make sure your shoes have dried overnight before sealing. Make sure your shellac is clear and glossy. Using a matte finish will dull your glitter and ruin your hard work! Spray shoes in a ventilated area and according to any instructions or precautions listed on the can. Allow at least 24 hours to dry or longer if specified on can. Once dry, wear them and be the talk of the town!

Heather says: This is an awesome craft that requires time and patience!  Doing a cute heart in a contrasting color is a cute idea, but you may want to opt for a glitter heart shoe clip instead.  You can find them online or make your own using your new glitter skills.  This way the heart is both 3D and temporary!  This craft is perfect for making costume shoes or just an awesome pair of club shoes that don't cost an arm and a leg.  Wear them with a knockout dress or just jeans and a tee.

I have included some pics from my wedding day so you can see how beautiful my shoes looked in the photos. These were taken by my friend and wonderful photographer, Nicole Stewart. Click to view full sizes.

Check out more hubs in my wedding series:

• Using peacocks & peacock feathers in your wedding motif
• A Wedding Candy Buffet- a table of sweet treats for your special guests
• Do I Have to Have a Guestbook at My Wedding?
• 5 Tips from One Bride-to-be to Another
• My antique Underwood typewriter