Butterflies Dance Decorated Sneakers.

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I have been using a lot of Pink in my Fashion Art designs lately and have been busy making project samples for my up coming Camp. Today I want to share another pair of sneakers I decorated... The "Butterflies Dance Decorated Sneakers". This a fun and easy tutorial that you can do on your own or with your daughters...and...depending on how young at heart you really are...you might end up wearing your own pair as well...yes you might...

The embellishments I used in this project are probably available already in your studio and if not you can find them at crafts and department stores. Let's get started!

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MATERIALS: 

A pair of sneakers from a department store
Liquid Fusion® Clear Urethane Glue
Aleene's® Fabric Fusion®
Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint {Purple}
Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint Crystals {Sparkling Raspberry}
Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ Pain - Gemstone {Topaz}
Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ {Aqua}

Long arm tweezers {to work with your crystals}

Fabric/plastic appliques in two sizes {butterflies}

Craft Brushes {various sizes}
Tweezers - long handle {a Crafts Tweezers set would be nice to have when using crystals}
Ribbon

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INSTRUCTIONS:

Wash your sneakers. Do not use fabric softener and let them dry completely.

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1- Using a pencil draw {freehand} a semi circle {the size of your choice} on the front of your sneakers to add a new section to decorate.
2- Using Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint {Purple} paint your sneakers.
3- Let dry completely. About four hours.
4- With a thin craft brush paint all seams and front of your sneakers using Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint Crystals {Sparkling Raspberry}.
5- Let dry completely. About four hours.

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TIP: I love this new paint! Glitter and paint in one. When painting with crystal/paint you will see the sparks shinning through once is dry. This kind of paint won't cover a surface completely. Depending on your project you might need to apply more than one coat.

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6- Using a thin craft brush {or carefully right out of the bottle} apply Aleene’s® Fabric Fusion® on the border of the semi circle that you draw on the front of your sneakers. 
7- Start adding Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ in Aqua{one by one}.
8- I chose Aqua, {available in your multi-colour pack}. You can choose your own. 

TIP: I always apply the glue and let it rest a little. It will become stickier and crystals will set easier. They can be slippery. Make sure you don't smear them with glue as it is difficult to remove and crystals will loose their shine.

9- Let dry completely. About two to four hours.
10- It is time now to embellish the seams of your sneakers with Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ Paint {Gemstone palette} I chose Topaz.  

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TIP: Before using them I highly recommend practising on a piece of paper first. You need to learn how beads form once they come out of the tube. And also see the sizes you can give to your beads. Take a look at the images above. Beads dry better when flat. Work in sections, let them dry and avoid runny paint on your canvas.

11- Hold your Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ tip at about 1/16" above surface of your seam.
12- Squeeze it gently for the paint to slowly come out of the tip.
13- Let it squeeze out right onto the seam to begin forming a bead.
14- Once the bead is in place lift the tube straight up.
15- Repeat steps 11, 12, 13 & 14 to cover all seams on your sneakers.
16- Let dry completely. About four hours.

TIP: Mind the weather, please. Depending on where you are located paint could dry faster or slower. 

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17- Finish your sneakers using your favorite ribbon.
18- Using Liquid Fusion® Clear Urethane Glue squeeze it right of the bottle and apply it on the rubber around your sneakers.
19- Let dry completely. About four hours.
20- Choose four fabric/plastic appliques in two sizes. Three small and one big. 
21-  Using Aleene's® Fabric Fusion® glue them to your sneakers. I glued mine as if butterflies were flying out of the sneakers. 
22- Let dry completely. About four hours.
23- To finish the look of your sneakers using Aleene's® Fabric Fusion® glue a small butterfly to the ribbon on the back of your sneakers and one on the front.  
24- Measure and cut ribbon for your ties. 


NOTE: There are so many ways to add and style the ties to your sneakers. Mine is only a sample.

TIP: Here is where the ribbon ends meet. Adding a butterfly on it will hide it.

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Questions? I love answering your crafty questions. Send them in. Email me! 


Your sneakers are ready and it's time to choose a pretty ribbon as ties. I chose a bright pink ribbon with butterflies and flowers motif. Decorated sneakers make a sweet gift and this particular pair would be great to give to a girl.

DISCLOSURE: I have a material connection with Ilovetocreate because I received a cash payment, gift or other thing of value or product that are mentioned herein.

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Gabriela