These DIY marbled shaving cream shoes are SHOWSTOPPERS. They are unbelievably easy to make and the perfect activity for kids and adults.
I am going to make DIY marbled shaving cream shoes every year
This activity is a new discovery this Summer, and they’re going on the agenda for every Summer from here on out.
Having done shaving cream marbling many times over the years, this twist on the project piqued my interest and was a hit.
And I mean a HIT! I had never tie-dyed shoes before and couldn’t have loved this more.
Related: Also on the agenda every Summer is our GIANT 10-foot coloring page poster! These are a sensation every Summer.
You don’t need any fancy skills to make DIY marbled shaving cream shoes
Just like regular marble shaving cream art, the technique is super simple.
And as a bonus, this is a fun, easy way to impress your friends when you’re doing tie-dye.
Looking for more ways to use shaving cream? These are a blast:
- Colorful Shaving Cream Sensory Play
- Metallic Water Sensory Table
- Shaving Cream and Water Bead Cupcakes
- Shaving Cream Marbled Hearts
Materials
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- White canvas shoes – there are so many varieties including regular, platform (similar to ours!), and shoes for kids
- Tie-dye – this ultra-colorful set of mini bottles is PERFECT for this project
- Shaving cream
- Shallow tray
- Stick
Directions
- Begin by filling a shallow tray with shaving cream and smoothing it with your hand.
- Next, add drops of tie-dye directly onto the shaving cream. Using a stick, swirl the colors to your liking.
- Time to add the shoe! Lay your shoe on its side on one side of the tray, pressing it into the shaving cream, and roll it over to the other side until all of the shoe (minus the bottom) is covered.
- You can let the shoe rest for a few hours, or you can rinse it right away. Note: the longer you let the shoe sit with the tie-dye on it, the more vibrant and permanent the colors will be.
- Rinse the shoe with water until the shaving cream is thoroughly rinsed away. Let dry.
Some tips when making your shoes
Think about your colors first. When you marble the colors together with the stick, the colors will inevitably mix where they touch. You could end up with muddy colors if you use certain color combinations. Here are some ideas for colors that mix well together:
- Red + orange + yellow
- Green + blue + purple
- Pink + purple + red + blue
- Teal + green + blue
- Orange + yellow + pink
Test out the sole of the shoe. None of the dye stained the plastic sole of our shoes (yay!). However, I’d recommend doing a small spot test to see if yours stains. If it does, you can tape it off with paint during the dipping and dyeing.
Use the leftover paint for tie-dyeing shirts and other white pieces of fabric. We had extra dye and used it to dye white shirts!
FAQ
Any that can safely use the materials. I would easily do this with my 3-6 year old preschoolers + anyone older.
White canvas shoes that I can’t link to, but I did link some other fantastic choices in the materials list.
Liquid watercolors are not permanent like tie-dye is, so I wouldn’t think it would work and keep.
No two pairs of DIY Marbled Shaving Cream Shoes will be the same!
Like tie-dyeing on shirts, each piece of art is unique to the artist.
I already loved tie-dyeing shirts, and I am over the moon to find something else that’s so unique and exciting to make.
Have fun!
T Murphy says
We made these for back to school shoes and they turned out great! What a great idea!
Amy says
I want to do this with my 5 yo son! Do you need 2 trays for one pair, one for each shoe? Or can you do the pair in one tray? Can you do two pairs in one tray? TIA!
Kristian Klebofski says
Hi! You can use the same tray, but you’ll want fresh shaving cream for each pair of shoes. 🙂
Kristian Klebofski says
I love this so much! Thank you for being here!
Raima says
Should I wash the shoes first before doing the tie dye?
Kristian Klebofski says
We didn’t and it worked wonderfully!
Elizabeth C says
Hi! Just did this yesterday and they came out great! Did you just rinse and let dry then wear them? Did the color come off on your socks or jeans if they rubbed against the tie dye? Usually with t shirts I rinse, dry and then wash in warm/hot water to set it. Just don’t want color rubbing off on everything 🤦🏻♀️
Thanks!
Kristian Klebofski says
YES! So simple and so beautiful!