Make or mod your shoes

What can I use instead of fabric paint, painter's tape, cardboard inserts, or iron-on patches if I can't find them?

If you can't find fabric paint, mix acrylic paint with a fabric medium or use permanent fabric markers for details; swap painter's tape for regular masking or washi tape to cover logos, slide a piece of cereal-box cardboard or stiff cardstock into each shoe instead of the cardboard insert, and use sew-on patches or fabric glue in place of iron-on patches.

The paint is bleeding or soaking through—how can I fix it?

Make sure you've slid a piece of cardboard into each shoe as the instructions say, apply thinner even coats letting each layer dry (test on scrap cardboard first), and use painter's tape to protect logos and crisp edges to prevent bleeding.

How can I change the activity for younger kids or make it more challenging for older kids?

For younger kids, simplify by using stick-on patches or fabric-safe markers with an adult doing the taping and any ironing, while older kids can follow the full steps—sketching detailed designs, painting big color areas, adding fine outlines with fabric markers, and applying iron-on patches themselves.

What are some easy ways to extend or personalize my painted shoes after finishing the main steps?

After the paint is completely dry and you've added details, seal painted areas with a fabric sealer or clear spray, add glued-on rhinestones or studs before threading the new shoelaces, try glow-in-the-dark or metallic fabric paints for accents, or use stencils cut from scrap paper to create repeating patterns.