Need a little summer in your step? This week in MakeKind, I’m colorizing a few pairs of plain white sneakers perfect for those warm weather strolls. I’m using my favorite dying technique and testing out a new red dye. It smells like strawberries and colors perfectly!
MATERIALS // dye (I used the Rit powder for blues and strawberry Kool-Aid for the red), parchment paper, rubber cement, damp paper towel, plain white sneakers
STEPS // 01 PREPARE SNEAKERS First, gently remove sneaker insoles, laces and set aside. Then, brush a thin coat of rubber cement on toe and heel soles. This will block out any dye from adhering to the rubber (and wear off overtime).
02 // MAKE WARM DYE BATH Select a shallow baking dish. Add desired dye (I used one Rit powder packet for blues and two Kool-Aid packets for the red), then fill dish with hot water till about a 2.5″ deep. Stir to blend.
03 // DIP DYE SNEAKERS Dip toe edge of sneaker into warm dye bath and soak for at least 3 minutes. Repeat with heel side of sneaker. With damp paper towel, gently wipe soles to remove any excess dye. Place sneakers on parchment paper to dry.
this idea is so great and perfect for summer with the pastels!! i can’t wait to make my own pair of shoes!
i’m totally trying it out, too! so genius!
This is awesome, awesome, awesome. Gotta get new white sneakers first thing tomorrow!
So clever, Christine! I love these!
love keds and this idea!
Love it! Can’t wait to get some white sneakers and try this….great idea!
Thank you sweet ladies! If you are looking for sneakers, try Payless. I picked up mine for less than $15!
Do you need to wash the tennis shoes first to remove sizing, and how do you make sure the dye will stay when tennies are washel? IE how do you set the dye?
Awesome idea! Can you dye whole shoes?
Great question Laurine! I haven’t had any problems with mine fading or bleeding just yet, but you could always hand wash them in warm water with a mild detergent after dying. Then, rinse with cool water and air dry.
Sasha, I think you could absolutely dye the whole shoe! I did dye some laces, which were pretty fun.
oh i LOVE!
Thanks!!! I am heading out to buy some today. I am not one of those graceful ladies who never gets her shoes dirty! :)
Ha! I am not either Laurine AND for some silly reason, I LOVE white. ;)
Love this Christine! Such a creative lady you are.
oh, Meg you are TOO sweet!
What a darling idea! Wish my grandchildren were nearby to do this with them but since they are not I will just have to do some for moi! After I get some new white Keds that is! My deceased mom loved her Keds in every color..wish she was still alive to do them for her! Oh and btw if you have a wide foot, Nordstrom’s will special order Keds in wide widths for you! That’s how my mom got hers! Loving the Cool-Aid idea…thank YOU! Ooooo maybe I can do some for my 2-yr old great niece, I bet she’d love it! Tooo cute! Must.do.
good tip, valerie!
I think I’m going to try this, I love the final effect!
My Own Project
will this still work if i used tie-dye?
I looove this!! Gotta try it!!
Wow. These are beautiful! Does the dye run if you get it wet? Just seeing as it tends to rain randomly here ;)
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This is such a great idea especially when you’re someone who wants something unique! Thanks Christine! I also want to let you know that I’m having this featured on my blog. I hope you wont mind. :) Thank you!
I wanted to ask would this work on a pair of nike air man as I want to dip dye them purple, but I am scared in case it doesn’t come out right
Wal Mart has $5 white sneakers exactly like this!!
How long did you leave the shoes in the dye for the light blue?