DIY Personalized Sneakers for Your Flower Girl

Give your flower girl something she'll remember (and want to wear). David Stark of David Stark Design and Production walks us through decorating sneakers with a hand-drawn design for a big-day accessory that's cute, clever, and comfy.

david_stark_design_diy_monogrammed_shoes_1_intro.jpg
Photo: David Stark Design & Production

The hand-drawn look is incredibly popular right now. It's a simple way to add a personalized touch to any affair. We have many brides who come to us requesting hand-drawn invitations, save-the-date cards, menus, and monograms. Another popular trend right now-for home décor, fashion, and everything in between-is painterly patterns and watercolor florals. These whimsical, romantic motifs provide a fresh contrast when paired with modern styling. We've combined the two trends together to create a fun, one-of-a-kind pair of canvas sneakers for that special little girl walking down the aisle with you. The unique pattern and adorable details will help her feel festive on the big day. And the sneakers are a gift she can wear over and over after the wedding, making her the star of the playground. We also love the idea of creating a second pair in your size to change into once those gorgeous heels start hurting your feet on the dance floor. You don't need to be a skillful artist or have any elaborate supplies to create these personalized sneakers-you'll be surprised at how easy it is!

david_stark_design_diy_monogrammed_shoes_2_materials.jpg
David Stark Design & Production

THE TOOLS

david_stark_design_diy_monogrammed_shoes_3_step_1.jpg
David Stark Design & Production

HOW-TO

1. Mix 3 parts decoupage glue to 1 part water in a small dish. Apply the mixture evenly all over the canvas shoes with a small paint brush, making sure fully cover every place that you intend to decorate. The reason for this step is to prevent the Sharpie or other markers (even those specifically intended for fabric) from spreading and bleeding across the canvas of the shoe. A thin layer of this glue mixture allows you to create fine lines and draw directly onto the shoe almost as easily as drawing on paper.

david_stark_design_diy_monogrammed_shoes_4_step_2_1.jpg
David Stark Design & Production

2. Allow the glue to thoroughly dry. Then, use your pencil to sketch out the monogram and/or pattern you are making. Don't worry: You will be able to erase any mistakes at this stage.

3. Next, begin coloring your creation using the Sharpie markers. We dreamed up a bright and zesty citrus pattern, ideal for a sunny summer wedding. To re-create our pattern, simply draw a series of yellow ovals at different angles all over the shoes. Once the yellow fruits are finished, give the lemons a short stem and a simple leaf. After that, we used multiple shades of green to add more leaves in the negative spaces until we were happy with the pattern. Lastly, we added a few stippled dots of pale orange to our lemons to give a little texture.

david_stark_design_diy_monogrammed_shoes_5_step_2_2.jpg
David Stark Design & Production
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles