Painted Cheer Shoes

Painting canvas shoes never gets old! Every single custom pair is a little bit different, which keeps it interesting!

This is a pair I painted for a cheerleader, but I really think these would be popular with the cheer moms too!

 I will list here what I did as well as a few suggestions for when you paint your first pair!

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These are expensive Vans shoes, but the Walmart and Target versions of these work just as well and may offer you peace of mind if you would like a practice run! You can usually find them for about $10 vs. this pair that runs closer to $60!!

Do this no matter what color the shoe is! If you don't, the canvas sets you up for bleeding or feathering of paint, especially if you use a paint marker. On this pair, I did a light base coat of white (Fluff Dixie Belle Paint) using plenty of water to keep the paint really thin. Let it dry.

If you feel like you aren't able to freehand your design, use stencils or patterns. You can print shapes and images from the internet and use them to trace the shapes, then all you have to do is draw in the details. Have fun with this part! The more you add to the shoes the better, so try not to leave any space blank!!!

PRO TIP (even though I didn't do it here): Trace with a Sharpie, so the pencil doesn't smear. Plus, this offers a nice outline for your images.

It's great because the paint works well with water and it's easy to keep thin, which you want to do so it doesn't build up too much on the shoe surface. Time to dry again!

However, I don't spray it, because I want to ensure I cover the whole surface. Instead, I pour it into a bowl and brush it over all painted areas. A single coat works!

I recommend not washing shoes and keeping them dry for 30 days to allow the paint to fully cure. After 30 days, you can wash in cold water and air dry.

These shoes are absolutely adorable!!!!

I hope to have the opportunity to paint many more! I certainly hope you feel inspired to give it a try, because they make great conversation starters for fun events such as birthdays, wedding parties, school sports events, etc.!