How to hang up your skates for good
Published Friday November 6th, 2009
Old pairs can make a pretty decoration
There’s a pretty good chance that you’ve got them. Maybe they’re tucked in a closet somewhere or collecting dust in the basement. I’m talking about old skates. We are Canadians, after all. If your skating days are done, if your feet have grown, or if you’ve got several pairs your kids have outgrown, then it’s time to hang them up. But don’t forget to decorate them first.
I don’t usually boast, but I have to say that my painted skates are one of the best crafts I’ve ever done. I love them. And when I’m at craft shows flogging my book, Simply Seasonal – Easy Crafts for Winter, Spring, Summer & Autumn, the skates on display draw people to my booth like crows to glitter. They’re beautiful and so simple!
If you’d like to make a holiday decoration for your home that’s bound to impress, or if you’d like to give a gorgeous gift, then follow the instructions and prepare to be amazed.
What you’ll need
Old figure skates
Holiday wire-edged ribbon
Thin wire ribbon (for laces)
Spray paint (to match ribbon)
Dimensional fabric paint (glitter to match ribbon)
Acrylic paints (to match ribbon)
Paintbrush
Paint tray
Spray glitter
Weatherproof varnish (optional)
Plastic table cloth
Scrap paper and pencil
No old skates hanging around? Take a trip to your local thrift store. I picked up several pairs in good condition for $3.99 each. Remove the laces. Wipe the skates with a damp cloth to remove dust and grease. Dry them.
Find beautiful wire-edged ribbon at most craft, department and grocery stores. Choose a ribbon with a holiday pattern you love and one that complements your home décor. Keep in mind that you’ll be drawing elements of the ribbon pattern onto the skates. Don’t get too complicated. Get acrylic paints and spray paint to match. I usually stick with the metallics – gold or silver spray paint.
Working in a well-ventilated area (outside, garage with open door) spread out a plastic table cloth. Place the skates, with the tongues pulled out as much as possible, near the middle of the table cloth. Spray paint the entire skate following instructions given on the can. When one side is dry, flip the skate over and spray the other. Don’t miss the lace area and heel area. Spray as many coats as you need, allowing the skates to dry in between coats.
It’s time to decorate. Pick an element from the ribbon to draw on the skates – it might be a holly leaf and berries like I’ve done, or snowflakes, swirls, polka dots, etc. Practice drawing the pattern on paper first. When you’ve got the pattern, you can draw it directly onto the skate with glitter dimensional fabric paint or sketch lightly with pencil first and trace over with the dimensional paint. This paint comes in squeeze bottles. It will go on cloudy and turn shimmery and rubbery as it dries. Let it dry overnight. Decorate one side of the skate only. The other won’t be seen.
Fill in the pattern with acrylic paints. You’ll probably need two coats. Once the paint is dry, give the skates a finishing touch with spray-on glitter. If you’d like to hang them outside, spray or brush on a coat or two of weatherproof varnish.
To complete the skates, cut a length of thin ribbon for each lace. Use the laces you took off the skates as a guide for length. Lace up the skates. Next, tie a bow on each skate (attach to the lace closest to the skate toe). Knot the laces and put them on display.
Painted skates make gorgeous keepsakes. Decorate your child’s first pair of skates or your grandmother’s old-fashioned ones. Have a figure skater in the house? She’ll love decorated skates painted to match her bedroom.
Jennifer Roos is a freelance writer, crafter and author of Simply Seasonal – Easy Crafts for Winter, Spring, Summer & Autumn. For more crafts, check out Jennifer’s expert blog at http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home-garden/experts/. Reach her at jennifer@jenniferroos.com.
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