DIY & Save: Shoe Makeovers

Good shoes are so expensive! Great fit and great price ... but the looks don't thrill you? Buy 'em. Maybe you can give them a DIY makeover. Same goes for comfy but boring shoes you already own. Vintage earrings, stencil cutouts, spray painting, crochet and collage. Get some inspiration and get to work.

Blogger Vera Sunshyne's inspired and adorable Mary Janes were made from a $6 pair of garden clogs purchased from Big Lots. A little clever stenciling and cutting, superglue and embellishments of choice (rhinestones or beads look great) and look at the result. I would need a generous dose of patience to do this craft right, though.

Shoe fanatics have started a Flickr photo pool dedicated to shoe makeovers. Shoe Refashion: Refresh Your Step is a Flickr group that anyone can view, although you must be a member to add photos. These people know how to have fun with shoes. Take a peek.

Piggy bank empty but need new shoes for a big night out? A Halloween party, perhaps? Break out the spray paint! Yes, you can transform a thrift store pair of heels with a cheap can of paint. Okay, don't expect the finish to last forever, but it sure works for a special occasion. Metallic gold heels, anyone?

DIY designer knockoffs? Yes, you can pull it off. Just see how Fashion Mongers blogger, Patricia, turned a pair of Mary Jane heels into a dead ringer for the spikey heels with studs designed by Christian Louboutin for Rodarte. Personally, I would not describe these as gorgeous, but I do admire anyone who gets an incredible look like this for peanuts.

Check out this past DIY Life post about shoes painted with mural designs. It put me on to this nice little photo gallery of painted shoes. Clever results from some creative people.

The DIY Life team also loved this truly wonderful Craftster post on painted heels. Witness the transformation of an ultra dated pair of cheapo burgundy heels into a sleek and shiny chocolate brown pair with ribbon and button embellishments. They look amazing with a pair of boot-cut jeans, as modeled by their creator. Wow.

Last up, there's a Tree Hugger post that's worth a look with some good hints and links on salvaging old shoes. You can be as practical or as pretty as you like. For example, how about sequins?