Mod Podge shoes are a great way to revamp your wardrobe on a budget. Here are 20+ inspirational ideas – pick your favorite DIY decoupage shoes project and get crafty!
Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the post to get a bonus video for adding a no sew cuff to boots with Mod Podge.
Skills Required: Advanced Beginner. I believe it’s probably best to have some experience with Mod Podge given that you’re going to have to work around the shape of shoes and seams.
You are going to laugh – I’ve only Mod Podged shoes a few times – once for my book, Mod Podge Rocks. BUT I have a pair of heels as we speak that are ready to be Podged.
There are so many reasons to Mod Podge shoes. You can customize them to fit your personality, you’re upcycling, AND it’s the perfect budget craft.
FAQ for Decoupage Shoes
Before we dig in, you might have some questions about decoupage shoes, and I’m more than happy to answer them.
What Can I Mod Podge on Shoes?
I’ve seen it all, my friends – napkins, fabric, paper. I’ll say that cotton or cotton blend fabrics work better than poly fabrics in my opinion. I’m also not a big fan of silk or felt because it discolors and gets a weird texture.
I always go for medium weight or thinner when Mod Podging shoes because you have to go around a lot of round edges.
You’ll see in the tutorials below that some people use very thin items, even napkins, to decoupage shoes.
If that’s the case, keep in mind that you might be able to see the background through the item when you Mod Podge it down (so you might want to paint your shoes white or use white shoes).
Which Formula Do I Use?
If I had to choose one formula, it would be Fabric Mod Podge. It’s highly water resistant (just like Mod Podge Outdoor), and it’s made for bonding fabric to fabric, which is a likely scenario if you are going to decoupage shoes.
Outdoor Mod Podge is a close second, but it’s thicker and therefore harder to work with. Technically you can use the regular formulas (Gloss or Matte), but those aren’t made for exposure to water so you need to seal them very well.
How Do I Seal Them?
If you use Fabric Mod Podge you can leave them as-is. It might take awhile for them to fully cure and the tackiness to go away, especially depending on the climate you live in.
Therefore I’m a big fan of spraying or brushing on a clear acrylic sealer in the finish of your choice (Gloss, Satin, or Matte).
Minwax Polycrylic is a big favorite with a lot of people. You can really use anything – just make sure it’s clear, and acrylic.
I always do it because hey, there’s nothing wrong with making the shoes even more durable.
Can I Make them Waterproof?
To make them completely waterproof, you’ll need an additional sealer that is completely waterproof. Buy something from the hardware store like an engine enamel or something similar that is clear.
Mod Podge is highly water resistant but not waterproof; learn more here.
Are you ready to jump into the tutorials??
Some of these decoupage shoes are easier than others (go for glitter if you’re a newbie to Mod Podge) but all are amazing.
I can’t wait to Mod Podge my own shoes and share with you. In the meantime, enjoy these 20+ Mod Podge shoe projects!
1
Glitter Shoes
Learn how to make glitter shoes using Mod Podge! This sparkly footwear DIY is simple enough for both children and adults.
Glitter and Mod Podge are the perfect craft supplies for fixing up scraped heels. These Mod Podge shoes would be perfect for a wedding, elegant party, or New Years!
Make these embellished sandals with an unexpected item – hot glue! Learn how to use a unique technique that is REALLY easy. Take a simple pair of shoes from boring to fabulous.
We paint on ALL types of surfaces, why not a pair of canvas shoes? These decoupaged and painted shoes are the perfect accessory for the Halloween season!
Kasia did this wedge makeover spontaneously with what she had on hand! That included Sharpies, Mod Podge, crepe paper, and some other embellishments. I love how the final (bright and fun!) project turned out.
You've seen projects above that use entire napkins, but you can use pieces too. These flowers were cut out as shapes and applied with Mod Podge to the shoes (tweezers really come in handy!).
This is a cute idea. Does anyone have some idea of how these hold up over time?
omgee PLEASE send me the link for the comic book strip heels im in love!
Help! I made glitter heels and every time I wear them the glitter flakes off! What am I doing wrong?
Hi Audrey! Did you seal over the top with Mod Podge or another sealer? That will help. A clear acrylic spray sealer is probably better because Mod Podge will dull the glitter a bit more.
I used mod podge. I didn’t think it dulled the glitter. I’ll try again with the sealer. Maybe the sealing layer of mod podge made it too thick and that’s why it chipping. Thanks for the help!
I don’t know how I missed this! Thank you so much for featuring my Mod Podge Wedges, Amy! Super awesome projects up here, so much inspiration!
Thanks for the feature!! What an awesome post 🙂
eek those floral boots are beautiful! I may have to copy those! I’ve often drawn on canvas pumps but never mod podged them – sounds like fun to me but are they durable? We’re just rained out here in england 😉
So many fun ideas! I just finished a pair of flip flops using fabric mod podge and my son loves them!
These all look awesome!! I definitely want to try the pretty fabric ones.Sarah
I had a terrible recent experience with trying to put fabric on shoes. I didn’t use Mod Podge because I couldn’t find the fabric variety so I used something else I found at Walmart. The shoes I made came out horrible! They were stiff and scratchy, and my daughter will NEVER wear them. I was pretty disappointed.
Hi Susan! I would give it a try again one day with Mod Podge and cotton fabric. Not sure what you used, but Mod Podge works great. You don’t need the Fabric kind – though it is more durable and waterproof, you can still add an Outdoor sealer and have it be fine unless someone is puddle jumping 😀 Also, even cotton will be slightly rough with Mod Podge (though not “scratchy”) – you can’t apply any glue to a fabric and have it remain completely smooth.
Awesome. Mod Podge on shoes,the list is endless! Great inspiration yet again x
This is a cute idea. Does anyone have some idea of how these hold up over time?
omgee PLEASE send me the link for the comic book strip heels im in love!
Help! I made glitter heels and every time I wear them the glitter flakes off! What am I doing wrong?
Hi Audrey! Did you seal over the top with Mod Podge or another sealer? That will help. A clear acrylic spray sealer is probably better because Mod Podge will dull the glitter a bit more.
I used mod podge. I didn’t think it dulled the glitter. I’ll try again with the sealer. Maybe the sealing layer of mod podge made it too thick and that’s why it chipping. Thanks for the help!
I don’t know how I missed this! Thank you so much for featuring my Mod Podge Wedges, Amy! Super awesome projects up here, so much inspiration!
Thanks for the feature!! What an awesome post 🙂
eek those floral boots are beautiful! I may have to copy those! I’ve often drawn on canvas pumps but never mod podged them – sounds like fun to me but are they durable? We’re just rained out here in england 😉
So many fun ideas! I just finished a pair of flip flops using fabric mod podge and my son loves them!
These all look awesome!! I definitely want to try the pretty fabric ones.Sarah
I had a terrible recent experience with trying to put fabric on shoes. I didn’t use Mod Podge because I couldn’t find the fabric variety so I used something else I found at Walmart. The shoes I made came out horrible! They were stiff and scratchy, and my daughter will NEVER wear them. I was pretty disappointed.
Hi Susan! I would give it a try again one day with Mod Podge and cotton fabric. Not sure what you used, but Mod Podge works great. You don’t need the Fabric kind – though it is more durable and waterproof, you can still add an Outdoor sealer and have it be fine unless someone is puddle jumping 😀 Also, even cotton will be slightly rough with Mod Podge (though not “scratchy”) – you can’t apply any glue to a fabric and have it remain completely smooth.
Awesome. Mod Podge on shoes,the list is endless! Great inspiration yet again x