Plain white canvas sneakers are basically a blank page with laces, and these 19 DIY tennis shoe ideas fill that page in every way imaginable. A tennis shoe makeover is any project that changes a store bought pair with paint, markers, dye, glitter, vinyl or iron on transfers, and most need less than $20 in supplies. Some take five minutes (the bicycle print pair is mostly a squeeze bottle and a steady hand), while the watercolor and tie dye pairs ask for an overnight wait. There are faux oxfords, cat faces, monograms, galaxies and ombre laces, so there’s a style for kids, teens and grown ups alike. The best tip for every one of them? Stuff the toes with paper or plastic bags before you start, so the canvas stays firm while you work. Want a warm weather version? Try this flip flop makeover.
Table of Contents
- 1. DIY Glitter Shoes
- 2. Black Cat Shoes
- 3. DIY Galaxy Shoes
- 4. DIY Bicycle Print Shoes
- 5. DIY Flamingo Shoes
- 6. DIY Oxford Shoes
- 7. Christmas Lights Sharpie Sneakers
- 8. DIY Missoni Shoes
- 9. DIY Unicorn Watercolor Shoes
- 10. DIY Chevron Canvas Shoes
- 11. Rainbow Tie-Dye Shoes
- 12. DIY Monogrammed Shoes
- 13. Retro Canvas Shoes
- 14. Super Easy Rainbow Shoes
- 15. DIY Sparkly Shoes
- 16. DIY Polka Dot Shoes
- 17. DIY Diamond Sneakers
- 18. Indigo Dyed Ombre Shoelaces
- 19. Painted Faux Saddle Shoes
1. DIY Glitter Shoes
DIY glitter shoes take plain canvas sneakers, a jar of decoupage and loose glitter, and the whole pair comes in under $20. Mix the glitter right into the decoupage (more glitter means a more solid coat), stuff the shoes with paper so the toes stay firm and brush it on in small sections. Let the first coat dry a few hours before the second, or the brush drags up the glitter underneath. Seal with a clear layer of decoupage and leave it overnight. Tape the rubber soles first, because glitter loves those grooves.
Get the full tutorial at The Crafted Life.
2. Black Cat Shoes
Black cat shoes are a cute way to wear Halloween without a full costume, and they still work the rest of the year. Cut a cat face from black heat transfer vinyl with a Silhouette or other cutting machine (a craft knife and a traced design work too), then weed out the negative space. Set the design on the toe and trim the carrier sheet to the curve of the shoe. Stuff the toe with tissue paper for a firm surface and press each section with a mini craft iron for 10 to 20 seconds, with paper or cotton fabric over the vinyl.
Get the full tutorial at Persia Lou.
3. DIY Galaxy Shoes
DIY galaxy shoes need only navy and white paint, a little purple if you feel extra creative, and about an hour. Plain canvas sneakers turn into a swirl of deep night sky with soft white starlight, and no two pairs ever come out the same. The source page walks through every stage in a step by step video, so it’s easy to pause and paint along. It’s a great first painting project for teens who want a pair of shoes nobody else at school has.
Get the full tutorial at DIY Projects for Teens.
4. DIY Bicycle Print Shoes
DIY bicycle print shoes are a five minute makeover that takes zero skill and gives a tired pair of canvas tennis shoes a fresh, preppy look. All it takes is fabric paint and a plastic bottle with a metal writing tip, both easy to find at a craft store. The metal tip lays down a thin line that looks screen printed instead of the raised, puffy finish of 80s fabric paint. Follow the picture guide on the source page to draw the little bicycles, then scatter small dots in the spaces between them.
Get the full tutorial at Our Fifth House.
5. DIY Flamingo Shoes
DIY flamingo shoes start with inexpensive white canvas slip ons (about $5 or $6 at Walmart) and a set of fabric markers. A small 1 inch flamingo stencil keeps every bird the same size. Trace the shape all over the shoes, then color the birds in with neon pinks and corals. Outlining each flamingo with an extra fine tip black Sharpie makes them pop, though they’re cute with just the pink. Total time is about 15 minutes, which makes these a quick summer craft for kids of all ages and their grown ups.
Get the full tutorial at Made with HAPPY.
6. DIY Oxford Shoes
DIY oxford shoes fake the look of classic wingtips on a pair of plain white tennis shoes that cost about $5 at Walmart. Take out the laces and pencil the oxford design onto the shoe, using the seams as a guide. Paint the toe cap and heel panels in a light khaki acrylic, then dip the end of a brush handle in white paint and dab rows of dots along the edges for the brogue detail. Fabric medium is optional. Finish with a spray protectant so the faux leather look holds up to real wear.
Get the full tutorial at This Grandma is Fun.
7. Christmas Lights Sharpie Sneakers
Christmas lights sneakers use nothing but white canvas shoes and a set of permanent markers in colors that work together. Test the colors as lines on white paper first, since the caps don’t always match the ink. Draw and fill small circles all over the canvas with the first color and let the ink bleed outward on its own. If it doesn’t spread, hold the tip still in the center for a moment. Add the second color, then the next, until the shoe is covered. Sew in elastic for laceless sneakers or simply re-lace them.
Get the full tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
8. DIY Missoni Shoes
DIY Missoni shoes copy the famous zigzag knit look on plain canvas sneakers with fabric markers and a ruler, for just a few bucks. The idea came about when the designer’s Target line sold out almost instantly. Use the ruler to lay out even chevron rows across the canvas, then fill each band with a different color, working slowly so the lines stay crisp. Patience matters more than skill here, since the whole pattern is repetition. The source walks through every step in a photo slideshow, so it’s easy to follow along.
Get the full tutorial at Refinery29.
9. DIY Unicorn Watercolor Shoes
DIY unicorn watercolor shoes blend pastel color into a dreamy galaxy look with a basic watercolor palette. Tape off the rubber if you like (any stain comes off with a magic eraser). Flick white acrylic paint across the canvas with a stiff brush and let it dry about 10 minutes. Then dip a second brush in water and color and dab it on, letting the shades spread and blend. Air dry 24 to 36 hours, or dry about an hour and finish in the clothes dryer for softer pastels. Seal with Scotch Guard.
Get the full tutorial at Life She Has.
10. DIY Chevron Canvas Shoes
DIY chevron canvas shoes need plain white canvas shoes (about $7), acrylic or fabric paint, small brushes, a pencil and a chevron stencil, or a steady hand. Stuff the shoes with plastic grocery bags so the canvas stays stiff, then trace the chevron pattern onto each shoe. Paint the zigzags in two shades of turquoise blue and add a coral accent around the edges (mixing pink and orange works in a pinch). Small brushes keep the lines tidy. Put the laces back in and they’re ready for summer.
Get the full tutorial at Krafty Mama Kas.
11. Rainbow Tie-Dye Shoes
Rainbow tie-dye shoes take a tie-dye kit, white canvas shoes and painter’s tape. Tape off any part of the shoe you want to keep white, since missed spots are hard to clean. Mix the dye and water well to avoid clumps, then work slowly in sections, pouring dye lightly from the toe toward the heel. Too much dye makes the colors run together, and a foam brush and cup also work for painting it on. Seal the shoes in a plastic bag overnight, wash them and air dry for 24 hours.
Get the full tutorial at A Pumpkin And A Princess.
12. DIY Monogrammed Shoes
DIY monogrammed shoes put your initials on the tongue of a pair of Converse with freezer paper and craft paint. Design the monogram in Cricut Design Space sized to the tongue, mirror it and cut freezer paper shiny side up (a craft knife works if you have no machine). Unpick the logo patch, remove the laces and iron the stencil on shiny side down, setting the centers of letters like O or R back in place. Dab on craft paint mixed with fabric medium, then peel the paper. The whole job takes about 15 minutes.
Get the full tutorial at The Polka Dot Chair.
13. Retro Canvas Shoes
A retro canvas shoe makeover turns plain gray sneakers into 80s style kicks covered in bright white triangles. Rough cut triangles from white vinyl or shipping labels and stick them on to plan the spacing. Practice on scrap canvas, then draw each triangle with a white fabric paint marker, removing one sticker at a time. Start a little small, since a triangle can grow but not shrink, and lift the marker slightly at the corners for sharper points. Skip seams where you can and add a second coat once the first is dry.
Get the full tutorial at The Thinking Closet.
14. Super Easy Rainbow Shoes
Super easy rainbow shoes use a small tie dye kit (about $10 for five colors) and white canvas shoes, which ran $3.88 to $5 a pair. Wash older shoes first, remove the laces and tape around the soles with painter’s tape. Plan the color order so neighbors blend nicely instead of turning muddy, then pour dye from the kit bottles, angling the shoe so the color stays put. Wrap the shoes in plastic overnight or at least six hours, then wash them by themselves the first few times. Kids love helping with this one.
Get the full tutorial at My Frugal Adventures.
15. DIY Sparkly Shoes
DIY sparkly sneakers dress up a plain pair of white canvas shoes with tiny pink rhinestones and glittery ribbon laces. The gems go on in a loose polka dot pattern across the toe and sides, so there’s no measuring and no wrong answer. The source shares the whole project as a short stop motion video, which makes the steps easy to follow at a glance. It’s simple and inexpensive, a nice way to carve out a little creative time, and the pink sparkle is just right for a birthday or a girls’ night out.
Get the full tutorial at The Polka Dot Chair.
16. DIY Polka Dot Shoes
DIY polka dot sneakers need just two things: an inexpensive pair of black canvas sneakers and a permanent white fabric pen. Take out the laces and stuff the toes with a couple of plastic grocery bags so the canvas holds its shape while you work. Then start dotting. There’s no set pattern to follow, so space the dots however you like, close together for a busy look or loose for a classic one. Going laceless shows off the eyelets. Inspired by a catalog pair, these are about as easy as shoe makeovers get.
Get the full tutorial at Golden & Lovely.
17. DIY Diamond Sneakers
DIY diamond sneakers mix paint, doodles and a little sparkle on a pair of white canvas shoes. Paint the back of each shoe in a mint blue acrylic, mixing enough to finish both. Once dry, draw diamond doodles across the white toe in pencil, or transfer a printed pattern by shading its back with an HB pencil and tracing over the lines with an H pencil. Fill some diamonds with two sparkly nail polishes, let them dry and outline everything with a black Sharpie. Tape and scissors help with the stencil.
Get the full tutorial at conillpanxut.
18. Indigo Dyed Ombre Shoelaces
Indigo dyed ombre shoelaces give plain canvas sneakers a shibori feel without dyeing the shoes. Remove the white laces and, wearing gloves, mix 1/4 cup navy liquid dye with 1/2 cup very hot water in a bowl you won’t need again. Wet the laces, wring them, fold each in half and set the folded end in the dye with the rest lying flat on a tray. The color creeps up on its own; about 15 minutes gives a nice fade. Rinse in cool water until it runs clear, let them dry and re-lace.
Get the full tutorial at Alyssa and Carla.
19. Painted Faux Saddle Shoes
Painted faux saddle shoes turn cheap white canvas tennies into a 1950s classic, perfect with a poodle skirt. This updated version uses black fabric paint, which holds up to washing far better than the Sharpie on the first pair. Puddle the paint, then brush it around the piping and eyelets, following the shape of the toe to form the saddle. A firm brush made for fabric makes it easier, and cotton swabs round out the supply list. Little painted dots along the saddle add extra pizzazz.
Get the full tutorial at Mom Spark.
