When summer rolls around, our family stashes the shoes and breaks out our Old Navy flip flops. Old Navy flip flops are really one of the best flip flop bargains on the market, and are affordably priced at $3.50 a pair or two for $5.00. At those low prices, I’ll buy extras in an assortment of colors and break them out for when my daughter has a slumber party. Decorating flip flops is a favorite activity for my daughter and her friends, and doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
Garbage sack chic
Every household has at least one bagful of plastic grocery sacks stashed under the sink. Strips of plastic garbage bags are a fun and funky way to decorate a pair of flip flops.
Supplies needed are an assortment of plastic grocery sacks (assorted colors are great!) a scissors, and a pair of Old Navy flip flops.
Step 1: Cut an assortment of double thickness 1′ x 4″ strips from the grocery sacks. This is done by setting a flattened bag on a cutting surface, and cutting through both layers of sack to create the strip.
Step 2: Starting near the toe strap, begin knotting the strips of plastic bag onto the straps until the straps are completely covered.
Step 3: You can either stop at this point for a wild look or trim the strips to create a ruffled edge. To create a ruffled edge, simply pull the ends of the strip straight up, and then trim with scissors to a height of one inch.
Rag Bag Chic
Instead of using garbage bags, a collection of cloth strips cut from rags or old clothes will also work for a colorful, raggedy look.
Supplies needs are an assortment of old raggedy clothes (such as jeans, shirts, cotton towels, or tee shirts), a sharp scissors, and a pair of Old Navy flip flops. The wildest effect is created with a mixture of different fabric colors and types. For a cleaner look, use strips cut from similar items such as using only jean strips or only tee shirt strips.
Step 1: Cut an assortment of 1″ x 4″ strips from your old clothes or towels.
Step 2: Starting near the toe strap, knot strips of fabric onto the sandal straps until the straps are completely covered. You can either stop at this point, or continue on to the next step.
Step 3: Tighten the knots one more time, pull the ends of the strip upwards, then trim to a height of 1 1/2 inches.
Step 4: Drop the sandals into a sink of water, and submerse to moisten the fabric strips. Toss the flip flops in the dryer for about 5 minutes to fluff out the edges of the material.
Step 5: Remove from dryer, snip any loose threads and let dry over night.
Ugly Nail Polish chic
For tweens who have bottles of unwanted nail polish, these can also be used to decorate a pair of flip flops.
Supplies needed include an assortment of different nail polish and glitter, and a pair of Old Navy flip flops. If you have it, a glue gun and some old pendants, charms, or mismatched earrings will also work.
Step 1: Use the nail polish brush to create random dots of nail polish over the surface of the straps. Mix up the colors and even the size of the dots. Once you’ve painted one sandal, gently sprinkle glitter over some of the nail polish dots. Set aside and let dry while painting the second sandal.
If you’d like, create nail polish dots along the side of the sandal as well.
Step 2: After the polish has completely dried, use a hot glue gun to attach a pendant, charm, or even the front of an old earring to where the two straps meet for the toe.
Decorating a pair of Old Navy flip flops doesn’t have to be expensive. In addition to these ideas, my daughter and her tween friends have also used bits of yarn and ribbon left over from other craft projects, pipe cleaners, sewing scraps, and once, even two rolls of stale Life Saver peppermints to create funky and fun summer footwear.
