CraftShare Week 6: Chalkboard Shoes!

This week's CraftShare topic is Chalkboard Paint. This handy stuff makes any porous surface into a chalkboard (wood, terra cotta, paper maché, canvas and galvanized tin) AND comes in a variety of colors besides the usual black, so there are tons of ways you can use it. Just paint on a coupld of coats, & when dry condition it by rubbing chalk on it. Boom! Instant chalkboard.

This was one of my first ideas: Chalkboard Shoes.  I can't tell you how many times I've been tempted to buy sneakers with designs printed on them for myself and for the kids.  They are always so cute!  The problem is they rarely go with much stuff, so they really don't get worn as much as they could.  Add in that there's usually a higher price (the Converse ones can cost $55 a pair!), so most of us can't afford to have more than one pair.  So I took matters into my own hands and came up with these.  They're cheap, give you loads of looks and are fun to decorate!

How To Make Them:

- 1 pair of canvas shoes (Got mine at Target for $9.99)
- 1 jar of chalkboard paint (There are several kinds: sprays, the craft kind, the "regular" cans, etc.).  I used the craft one.  
- Foam paint brush
- A roll of painter's tape (if you're like me & not the neatest painter)
- Package of chalk

I taped over the laces to keep them neat and then brushed on a coat of the paint all over the shoes.  Since I was doing white on white the edges near the bottom were pretty easy, but if using another color paint, I'd recommend using tape down there too.  After an hour I added the second coat and then let dry overnight.  The next day I conditioned them by rubbing chalk all over them:

And then wipe off with a a dry sponge or chalkboard eraser.  I had the not-so-hot idea of using a damp paper towel and blue chalk, so let's just say that could have gone better (read - that combo made some edges I missed a bit blue).  Definitely best to stick to the dry stuff.  Also using stick chalk gives way better control when drawing than those shaped ones or the giant sidewalk style ones.  Now you & the kids can decorate to your heart's desire.  Write messages, draw designs, get the kid's to make some wearable artwork, the possibilities are endless.

I really wanted to find some kid-sized shoes to do too, but didn't see any in shops around here.  I'll have to search around more.  If anyone knows somewhere to find them, I'd love the assistance!  I think this would make an awesome (and inexpensive) gift for a kid.  Just add in a box of chalk & eraser and it's ready for a budding artist to beautify!

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