If you have watched any of my craft room tours on YouTube or read the blog posts, then you know I have a LOT of stuff crammed into my little craft oasis 😊
I have large vintage jars full of miniature ceramic figurines, mostly little animals. And baskets and boxes full of fabric and vintage laces and trims. One day as I was going through the vintage lace and what-nots I found some vintage baby shoes that I had forgotten about.
For today's project, I decided to use one of the baby shoes and a little ceramic bunny for an Easter project.
Altered Baby Shoe Easter Cart
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I started with a vintage baby shoe. The high-top shoes like this work really well.
The napkins I used came from a friend in a box of goodies that she sent me (she knew I would love a big box of crafting goodies and I've been using bits and pieces of it here and there in my projects)!
Most, if not all paper napkins are three layers that are pressed together. To decoupage with a napkin, you'll remove the back two layers from the napkin and you'll be left with a thin sheet that has the design and two plain layers.
I used part of the napkin with the cute little ducks and part of the striped napkin.
To decoupage the napkin to the shoe, use a decoupage medium. I used DecoArts Decou-page Napkin. It's supposed to be better for delicate napkin decoupage to prevent tears but I didn't find that it was any better than Mod-Podge.
I covered the sides of the shoe with the duck napkin by putting a coat of the decoupage medium on, then gently laid the napkin on it and covered it with another layer of the decoupage medium.
It did turn out a little wrinkled but it flattened out some once it had dried and I didn't mind the wrinkles anyway.
Once the sides were dry, I used the striped napkin to cover the toe and tongue of the shoe.
Once that was dry I painted the sole of the shoe yellow.
Now we'll turn that shoe into a little cart!
I used the E-6000 (and some hot glue for instant grab while the E-6000 dried) to glue four large buttons to the sides of the shoe for wheels.
Then some mismatched blue buttons on top.
Then I added a piece of jute with a bead on the end to the front so it looks like a pull toy. I used an awl to poke through the front of the shoe and then threaded a piece of jute through.
I also rolled the tongue of the shoe down and glued it down.
To take up some space inside the shoe, I used a scrap of foam that I saved.
I just used the shoe insert as a pattern to cut out a rough shape and glued it into the shoe with hot glue.
I experimented with regular green easter grass and crinkle-cut paper and decided the neutral looked best. If the napkins I used had any green in them I think the green grass would have been cute.
Then I added this adorable vintage ceramic baby bunny 😊 Isn't he cute?!
Now that the main part is done, it's time to add details. Adding all the layers is my favorite part because I don't have a plan, I just get to experiment 😃
I made a steering wheel with two buttons and a toothpick.
I just poked a hole through the rolled-up tongue, snipped the toothpick a little shorter so the steering wheel was at the same level as his hands, and glued it into the hole with a drop of E-6000 glue to hold it.
I added some mini rick-rack trim around the edge above the sole to bring out the blue in the napkins a little more.
I always buy vintage seam binding tape when I find it at the thrift stores, it makes such pretty vintage ribbons. I like to wash and dry it in a lingerie bag to get the wrinkled effect and I have a whole jar to choose from now!
I used some yellow to make a little bow for the front of the cart.
These are some vintage birthday cake candle holders, can you guess what I used them for?
I then added one of these small carrots I found at the Dollar Store.
Because you have to have snacks when you are traveling!
I blushed his cheeks with a little bit of pink paint.
And I painted stripes on the steering wheel...
And for the finishing touch, I used one of these clay letter stickers...
And gave it a license plate. B for bunny!
What do you think?
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.jpg "decoupaging the shoe")
.jpg "baby shoe decoupaged with duck napkin paper")
.jpg "decoupaging the rest of the shoe with striped napkin paper")
.jpg "decoupaged baby shoe")
.jpg "glue the buttons to the cart")
.jpg "button wheels")
.jpg "awl, jute twine, and a bead for a pull string")
.jpg "jute twine for a pull toy string")
.jpg "foam to fill up the shoe")
.jpg "foam shoe insert")
.jpg "bunny in shoe cart")
.jpg "steering wheel added")
.jpg "candle holder tailpipes")
.jpg "painting the steering wheel")
.jpg "painted steering wheel")
.jpg "clay letter stickers")
.jpg "Altered Baby Shoe Easter Cart license plate")
.jpg "Altered vintage Baby Shoe")
.jpg "what to make with a vintage baby shoe")
.jpg "crafts with vintage baby shoes")
.jpg "altered baby shoe")
.jpg "repurposed baby shoe")
.jpg "I signed it on the bottom")
.jpg "finished Altered Baby Shoe Easter Cart")
On my gosh Tania. That is super adorable!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I struggled to get started for some reason but once I did, I couldn't stop! haha!
DeleteYour creative imagination always amazes me! I love how you did the duck and striped napkins. It's all those added little details that make your things exceptional. Love this!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the supplies Vikki! I love them :)
DeleteOh my gosh, this is SO adorable, Tania!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeannie!!
DeleteThis is about the cutest thing EVER!! I love it! And the tailpipes are awesome! LOL!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love the tailpipes too ;)
DeleteOh my goodness... I could only wish a surplus of craft supplies could result in such cuteness in my own house! This baby shoes go cart is precious and so unique!
ReplyDeleteOh please Donna, you are the queen of taking surplus goodies and turning them into amazing things for your home :D Thank you so much for featuring me at the party!
DeleteTania,
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! This is the cutest ever!!!! I have filled shoes before but a car- GENIUS ! This makes me smile and ooo and awe!
Just love your creativity and had to say hello :)
xo Lisa S
Aww, thank you Lisa! I'm so glad you stopped by :)
DeleteOMG! This is way, way beyond CUTE!!! How adorable! And so very creative! I LOVE it! I just found you from FunkyJunk blog. I can already tell that I will be spending a lot of time here and seeing more of your creativity. Can't wait! :)
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, where can I sign up to receive your posts in my e-mail? I glanced around looking for it, but haven't seen it.
Thank you so much Sue, I'm glad you like the little shoe, it was fun to make! There should be a subscription box embedded in each blog post :)
Delete