You know the routine: With each new season comes new shoe trends that we’re all dying to try ourselves. This year, sporty chic and all-fringe-everything are dominating the runways and seriously tempting us to break those personal shopping budgets. But, as they say (err, as we say), why buy when you can DIY? With just a few scraps of leather, you can update last season’s strappy sandals into some serious 2015 footwear. We actually used leftover pieces of leather from our Leather Fringe Jewelry Kit to make these beauties come to life. Scroll on to learn how yourself.
The Tassel Trick
Materials
– strappy shoes (we used these Old Navy heels)
– leather scraps
– E6000 glue or a hot glue gun
– pencil or pen
– ruler
– fabric scissors
Instructions
1. To make each tassel, cut a 2.5 x 4-inch swatch of leather. Draw a line about 1/3 inch from the top of each swatch on the back side of the leather. Then carefully cut up to this line to make the tassel’s fringe.
2. Cut a separate small strip of leather — this will be the top loop of your tassel. Using E6000 or a hot glue gun, glue both ends of this strip to the top left of your fringed leather swatch to make a loop. Starting at this loop, tightly roll the uncut part of the leather, gluing as you go. Repeat these steps to make at least five more tassels.
3. Once all of your tassels are dry, slip them onto the top strap of your sandal. Then trim them to your liking.
Did we mention how affordable this DIY is? SUPER affordable. Your wallet should be thanking us :)
To make each tassel, cut a 2.5 x 4-inch swatch of leather. Draw a line about 1/3 inch from the top of each swatch on the back side of the leather. Then carefully cut up to this line to make the tassel’s fringe.
Pro Tip: The wider each piece of fringe, the more stiff the tassel.
Cut a separate small strip of leather — this will be the top loop of your tassel.
Using E6000 or a hot glue gun, glue both ends of this strip to the top left of your fringed leather swatch to make a loop. Starting at this loop, tightly roll the uncut part of the leather, gluing as you go. Repeat these steps to make at least five more tassels.
Are you in love with tassels as much as we are? Learn how to make them out of all sorts of materials here.
Slip your tassels onto the top strap of your shoe. We put three on each, but who says you should stop there?
Try on your shoe, then trim the fringe to your liking.
Ta-daaah! You just turned a perfectly plain set of heels into kicky, fun shoes.
Get Fringe-y With It
Materials
– strappy shoes (we used these from Forever 21)
– leather scraps
– E6000 glue or a hot glue gun
– pencil or pen
– ruler
– fabric scissors
Instructions
1. Measure your shoe strap to determine how long your leather swatch should be.
2. Cut a leather swatch that’s about two times as long as it is wide (we cut a 3 x 6.5-inch swatch). Next, cut a pointed tip at one end of the swatch. Then fold your swatch in half to mirror this cut on the other end. Cut the leather in half while it’s still folded so you have two identical pentagons.
3. Draw a line about 1/2 inch from the top of each piece of leather (make sure it is drawn on the back side!). Carefully cut fringe up to this line.
4. Glue the fringed swatch to the strap of your sandal, making sure it’s centered on the shoe. Let dry.
How fresh is that teal leather? You can thank our Leather Fringe Jewelry Kit for that :)
First up — measure the shoe strap to determine how long your leather swatch should be.
Cut a leather swatch that’s about two times as long as it is wide (we cut a 3 x 6-inch swatch). Next, cut a pointed tip at one end of the swatch. Then fold your swatch in half to mirror this cut on the other end. Cut the leather in half while it’s still folded so you have two identical pentagons.
Draw a line about 1/2 inch from the top of each piece of leather (make sure it’s drawn on the back side!). Carefully cut fringe up to this line.
Fringe, you’re so pretty.
Using E6000 or a hot glue gun, glue the fringed swatch to the strap of your sandal, making sure it is centered on the shoe. Let dry.
Cute, right?!
The Good Sport Sandal
Materials
– strappy sandals (we used these from Old Navy)
– leather scraps (2 colors)
– E6000 glue or a hot glue gun
– pencil or pen
– ruler
– fabric scissors
Instructions
1. Measure the strap to which you’ll be adding the embellishment. Cut a swatch of leather that is the same length and about one inch wide. Using a different colored leather, cut another swatch that is equal length and half the width of the first color.
2. Glue the thinner swatch down the center of the wide piece using E6000 or a hot glue gun. Let dry.
3. Carefully glue one corner of your leather to the edge of the strap, only covering about 1/3 of the shoe’s fabric. Glue sparingly as you go, pasting the rest of the strap down. Add extra glue to each edge to ensure the leather will stay put. Let dry before wearing.
TBH, these pink strappy shoes are pretty gorgeous on their own. Three cheers for Old Navy.
Measure the strap to which you’ll be adding the embellishment.
Cut a swatch of leather that is the same length as your shoe strap and about one inch wide. Using a different colored leather, cut another swatch that is equal length and half the width of the first color.
Glue the thinner swatch onto the center of the thicker piece of leather. Let dry.
Because a thicker shoe strap is very much in style, we decided to make this bottom strap wider with the leather.
Rather than gluing your leather directly over the bottom strap, glue it just above, so you’re only covering about 1/3 of the shoe’s fabric. Add extra glue to each end to keep the leather in place.
All done! FYI, we adore these.
How easy was that? Leather might just be our new favorite DIY medium.
Are you gussying up your old shoes with the help of this DIY? If so, share photos with the hashtag #britstagram and #iamcreative. We love to see what our readers are making!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.