Tattoo Your Shoes, Easy Tutorial

Mama’s got some new shoes.  Actually they are my old sandals that I love to wear around the house.  They are just too comfortable to throw out.  I have newer sandals that look great, but they are nowhere near as comfy as my old ones.  You’ll see in the photo just how shabby my old sandals were.  Some of the original camel color had worn off and made them look dirty.  I could have had them dyed at the shoe repair shop, but they were not that good anymore.

Then, I had an idea.  Why not use a Sharpie to make a pattern?  So one night while watching tv, I got to it.  I’m quite pleased with the result and I think it even makes my foot appear smaller!  The different shadings are camouflaged by the pattern & maybe even enhance it. 

By the way, the photo makes it look like I got confused in making the pattern.  Actually all of the lines are going in the correct direction, but the camera shows them the wrong way.   

1.   I used a piece of thin cardboard, like you would find in a small box, as my line guide.  I drew two horizontal lines about 1/2-inch apart with a black Sharpie permanent marker.  They were approximately parallel, and I had to do some of it without the cardboard guide when I got close to the sole.

2.  Then I filled in between the lines with slanting lines that are approximately parallel to each other and about the same distance apart.  I didn’t worry too much about the exact spacing because I was going for a natural woven “island look.” Sometimes I added an extra slanting line where the space was too empty.

3.  Then I drew the next line as in step 1, again about 1/2 inch from the last horizontal line.

4.  To fill in the new empty space with diagonal lines is just like step 2 with one exception.   Draw the angle going the opposite direction of the angles in the parallel line next to it.  Start each new diagonal line at the point where the one above it ends.    With each horizontal line having the diagonal lines going in the opposite direction, you get a sort of a chevron or herringbone look eventually.  

I like this look, but feel free to make X’s and O’s or whatever you like.  If you have a steady hand you might like to go for some free-hand paisley looks.  My hand is not steady enough for that, but I’m happy  with the herringbone look. 

One last tip.  When spacing the horizontal lines, try to make it all come out even, or close to even at the front of the shoe/sandal and the sides/back of the shoe/sandal.  Just eyeball it to give a pleasing look.  I don’t know how long the Sharpie lines will stay without wearing off.  If it gets to be too much of a problem I’ll probably just wear them in the house again!

Since Sharpies come in all sorts of colors you can get really creative with these!  Revive those old sandals, clogs, or shoes.  Have fun!