DIY Project: Glitter Shoes

Things you need:

• A pretty-shaped pair of shoes, feel free to use an old pair, they'll look brand new after you get finished with them!
• Any color of glitter you want (I picked silver, gold and bronze, then mixed them) try to vary the size of the glitter. Pick big chunks and fine sands. It adds depth and texture.
• Modge podge. There are a hundred kinds at the store, pick the good old fashion kind:) if you don't want to spend the money, mix Elmer's with water till it's tacky.
• A paint brush that is at least an inch wide.
• Masking tape
• A plastic pallet of some sort. Bowl, plate, anything to contain the podge.
• A bowl to catch and throw the glitter with;)
• A shoe box
• Newspaper

Step One: Decide what's going to happen to the sole!
Do you want it a different color? Spray paint the area and make sure you don't leave any spot dry. Do you want to write on it? Do it carefully;) Do you like it the way it is? Then tape up the whole area, like I did in photo one. Make the lines precise, and don't forget the inside of the heel or the base/platform. (Pretty much, tape any part you don't want glitter, besides the inside)

Step Two: Prepare for the mess!
Spread the newspaper out across the floor/table. I recommend NOT doing this project over carpet. Glitter is hard enough to completely sweep off of a  wood floor. Mix your glitter if you want that look. I had two shades to work with and created an ombre effect. (Gold+silver and gold+bronze). Put your colors into bowls that are cereal bowl sized. I did mine with paper bowls.

Step Three: Paint and glitter!
Pour the modge podge into a bowl so it's easy to access, and paint it on the shoe. Spread it evenly. After that, hold the shoe over the shoe box and pour glitter from the bowl onto the glue- covered places. If your glitter runs out, put the shoe aside and pour the collected glitter from the box to the bowl and keep covering your shoe. I did my darker shade first and let it sit before starting my lighter shade.

Step Four: Optional multiple coats!
After you've completed your first coat of glitter, take a look at it. If it's everything you dreamed it would be, go to step five. If it needs more clumps of sparkle, be my guest! Dunk that thing in modge podge and glitter it again! (I did two coats on mine!)

Step Five: Seal it.
When the shoes look perfect, go ahead and paint a finishing coat of modge podge over all the areas covered in glitter. This step is important if you want your shoe to stay looking perfect and if you don't want a trail if glitter wherever you go!

Step Six: Resist wearing them!
For three days. You want to make sure they're completely dry before you sport your new shoes. Put them inside the shoe box (if they don't touch the edges) and make sure the shoe box is placed somewhere it won't get knocked over or disturbed. If they get scuffed, it'll look like your nails do when you try to open a drawer thinking they're dry...

Step Seven: Wear them!
Wear them at an evening event, where the lights can make a disco ball out of your feet. Wear them in the sun with a cute little summer dress and blind everyone:)

Thanks to our newest Wedding Day Assistant and new bride herself Britney!

Wedding Planner Journey: The Dress

Wedding Dress Disaster to Meant to Be

Planning has been moving along quite well in the McVaugh/Ermitano household.  Shea and I have realized that we are more on the non-traditional side of wedding planning. I don’t plan on having my dress stark white, throw a bouquet or garter, or having wedding cake. Additionally, I planned on having a unique dress , which was most importantly, me. I traveled back to Spokane Memorial Day weekend to visit with my family and to purchase my wedding gown. I ended up returning to the first dress I tried on a few months ago, and I realized that it was meant to be. I had tried on the dress several times prior. It was a beautiful, blush/champagne colored Oleg Cassini gown. It was far from traditional – I loved it. Over the last couple of months I had developed a close relationship with my stylist. She kept me in touch with updates from the designer and kept me updated on my timeline to purchase. Originally, I had put it off because the designer and stylist said I had nothing to worry about. It was a new design and it would be available for a few months- so I went on with my daily life and put wedding planning behind me. My mom, sister, and I scheduled an appointment with my stylist to try on the dress again and purchase. I tried it on, was ready to order, and then my stylist got on the phone. I looked at my mother, and then to my sister, I’m pretty positive they could see the fear in my eyes. She was having a discussion with their warehouse-over ride codes- oh, no. Something was wrong. My stylist got off the phone. I’m sure she saw my deer in the headlights look on my face. I knew I had lost the dress. Due to the color, the designer had pulled the dress and was not manufacturing the design anymore. Unfortunately the sample I had tried on was not the right fit and my dream dress destiny was over. I left the store before tears started to roll down my face, and I just cried. I feared that our wedding, which is planned around the color of the dress, was ruined. I got home, and my Dad- who is a man of few words when it comes to comfort- came in the house and said, “Rachel, there are more dresses honey. You’ll find a new one.” He is very quiet when it comes to comforting. He mostly tells me to, “Stop crying, and go wash my face.” These words helped me pick myself up, grab my mom and head out to a bridal boutique in Spokane.

The ladies at Bridal Collections were wonderful. I came in, explained my story, and after a gasp they said, “Let me help you!” My stylist Cynthia gave me the best experience. She asked me what I was looking for and went straight to work. She didn’t move outside the box, or try and get me in a dress I hated. She pulled every dress in the exact color that I wanted. I tried on dress one, a beautiful lace fit and flare, and I said, “Not for me.” Then, I tried on the most magnificent gown, in Parisian Mist with an Ivory overlay, and before walking out – I said, “I love this one.” As soon as I saw myself in the mirror, I felt like the most beautiful bride. I hadn’t felt this way in the previous discontinued dress. That was a beautiful gown, but now I was a beautiful woman that had found the perfect gown. We ended up ordering the dress right away. I would spend all day, every day, in that dress if I could. It is a Maggie Sottero gown, is traditional but offbeat, and most importantly, it is mine. I can’t wait to walk down the aisle with Shea, and do so looking like 1,000,000 bucks. Sometimes, disaster strikes during wedding planning, but remember there is always another dress or another way.

Visit BridalColletions in Spokane, WA if you want the fabulous experience I had!