Peep Toe Shoes

Problem 1: I love shoes but shoes, particularly pointy shoes, particularly vintage pointy shoes squish my toes.
Problem 2: Shoes bought from charity shops or vintage stores may be worn and scratched on the toes and this is more obvious to the eye than on the heel or back of the shoe. Shoes with scratches are also cheaper. I got mine for £2. They were such a cheery yellow that I thought they deserved some help.

Solution: Turn them into peep toe shoes.

I apologise if this sounds like an idiot's guide. I have been making and adjusting things for over a decade and often when talking to friends I've been told I forget to describe the inbetween steps which make all the difference when trying to follow a set of instructions :-)
You need:
1 pair of problem shoes
20cm lace or trim
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Cloth scrap
Craft knife or sharp cuticle scissors
Paper and pencil
Clear nail varnish or wood varnish.
Optional: 1 pair flower hair grips (or other decoration)
Craft glue - I used UHU Power glue

1) Wipe down your pointy (or not pointy) shoes. Mix acrylic paint to match the colour of your shoes. Paint over areas where there are cracks or scuffs on the shoes. This works best for non patent leather or synthetic leather. For patent shoes fill cracks with a matching durable nail varnish and a fine paintbrush. Rub the acrylic into the cracks with a cloth and then wipe off the excess paint. Leave to dry.

2) Next is to cut out the peep toe. To do this make a small arc-shaped paper template of the cut out line and apply to the shoe to draw around. This will ensure the same amount is cut off each shoe.

3) You can use a craft knife for this but too much force may cut the inside of the shoe underneath so I prefer to use a pair of cuticle scissors - they're stronger than embroidery scissors but the small curved blades work well for detail and cutting around curves. Stab a hole in the cut out area until you can maneuver the scissors to cut out the toe. Be careful not to cut into the sole of the shoe.

4) Once the raw edges have been neatened with careful cutting, use the acrylic paint from 1) to paint over the raw edges. Once the paint is dry, varnish the edge with nail varnish (clear or same colour as the shoes) or clear wood varnish.

5)  However neatly you cut it will still look like a hole has been cut in the shoes. Add your choice of trim to cover the raw edge. If you like the shoes plain then try ribbon the same colour of the shoes. Look for nylon or polyester ribbon rather than satin because it is more hardwearing. It may be necessary to seal the ends of the ribbon with clear nail varnish to prevent fraying before gluing to the shoes.


6) Clip on flower clips or add other decoration (buttons, beads, painted designs). Chunky ear studs are great because they come in pairs. I like these clips because they are cheap, you can take them off to clean the shoes, they can be removed easily when they get worn out or if you get caught in a sudden downpour.

You can see the right one looks slightly neater than the left.

From a distance the painted edge blends in well with the rest of the shoe

Enjoy!

Emerald 000:-)