DIY Tutorial: Red Toe-Capped Bling Heels

In my last post I wore my DIYed “red carpet heels” and promised I’d follow it up with a tutorial – this is my first DIY post so I hope it’s easy to follow! I may not have photographed every stage as much as I should have, so apologies for that… as it was the first DIY I’ve properly documented I did tend to forget to photograph every stage as I went along. I’ll fill in the gaps with instructions as best I can! 


Materials used:

• 1 pair plain nude courts similar
• Unibond easy-on-off masking tape
• Paint Factory can neon pink spray
• 1 roll of Celebrate craft cord ribbon in Wine
• Superglue (gel control)
• Sharp scissors (preferably dressmaking/fabric scissors) similar
• Swarovski craft crystals similar
• Craft pick-up pencil

1. I used masking tape to tape off the toes and heels. I’ve never read a colour-block shoes DIY post that explains how to get the two masked-off areas even: I measured the same distance from the centre of the round part of the shoe at the front and started the tape there. The tape will automatically follow the natural curve of the shoe if you do it slowly and without stretching the tape – I held the two shoes together and could see by eye that they were even.

2. I taped up the edges of the soles – most DIYs I’ve seen leave the soles exposed at the front so they get painted too. However, I’m a perfectionist and couldn’t bear to have the visible edge of the sole in the painted colour at the front, only for it to stop halfway round the shoe! On the very curvy parts (around the curve of the heel, for example) I used smaller pieces of tape, and made sure the edges were well pressed down so as not to leave any gaps. I used the edge of a dried-up ballpen to press the edges right into the gap. Oh and make sure you cover the soles too!

3. I covered the rest of the shoe with newspaper to leave just the parts to be painted exposed. I used neon spray on the toes and heels; unlike paint it took several thin coats – and used up the whole can. I thought about adding an “undercoat” of white so the colour would be much brighter and a truer neon, but decided to see what it was like without the white in the end… plus I’m impatient. Luckily it was a happy accident and it dulled to a perfect red – though you’d need that undercoat of white if you wanted a proper neon colour.

Tip: If you want to use a spray can make sure you buy enough so as not to run out halfway through. I used a whole can for just the outside of the heel and the toe, so painting may be a better way to go.

4. Once completely dry, I very carefully and slowly removed all the masking tape. To add a little more interest, and hide the “join” between the painted and unpainted parts, I stuck craft cord ribbon around the edges of the sole and along the edge of the spray on the toes. Using a control gel superglue would stop it running anywhere and give you a precise tip for accuracy – I, however, used an industrial glue that required a fine stick to apply it, but next time I’d use the superglue which I used for the crystals (see point 5).

Tip: Use (preferably) dressmaking scissors to cut the ends precisely – they have to be scissors that are super-sharp right at the tips of the blades, otherwise you won’t be able to cut the cord to exactly the right length.

Tip: Use a lighter to very carefully singe the ends of the ribbon to seal the end – you only need to barely show the flame to the end.

5. I arranged the crystals on the shoe until I found a pattern I liked. Then, using the superglue gel, I added tiny dots of glue and stuck the crystals to the toe. I used a pick-up pencil tool to pick up and stick the crystals onto the glue dots – an absolutely essential item with such tiny crafty bits.

6. After working out the design I wanted on the back, I did the same to the back of the shoes with more crystals. I then tried them on only when I was sure they were completely dry.

And here’s the finished shoes!


So I’m really pleased with the makeover, and although I was hesitant about “ruining” a perfectly good pair of nude courts, I love them much more now (and I could easily find more nude heels to buy if I wanted some). Don’t forget to check out my outfit post where you’ll see them being worn with my red patterned ASOS dress.

I hope it’s given you a little inspiration – if you have any questions about the process at all don’t hesitate to comment below, email me: notdressedaslamb(at)gmail(dot)com or tweet me: @notlamb.

Happy Hump day to you all, and when my next post is up on Friday it’ll be officially (i.e. in my world) springtime. Bliss…!