Arts & Crafts Magazine

Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2

By Whitehaus @wecanredoit
Oh, flip flops, here we are again.While brainstorming what to do with the green flip flops (seen in the previous post) I came up with two ideas. I was still debating which one to go forward with when I found this second unused pair in a thrift store for 99 cents! Clearly I was meant to make both.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2This post isn't entirely different from last week's in the techniques used, but the change in materials create drastically different, and less casual results.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Materials: -2 ties (regular length, no shorties)-flip flops-piece of leather (or any non-fraying material)-thin soling rubber-shoe gluePreparing the soles:Step 1: Cut away the straps.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 2: Make a mark with the sharpie 2" away from one of the back two holes, going toward the toe. The hole you want is the one that would be on the outside of your foot, not the one closest to your arch. Using a punch and mallet make a hole directly over each sharpie mark.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 3: Lay each flip flop on the rubber soling. Trace around then carefully cut out the shape directly on the line.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 4: Trace the shape of the flip flop onto your leather, as you did with the soling rubber. Since this piece will eventually be going on the top you will also need make a mark within each of the holes. Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 5: Carefully cut out the shape directly on the line and use the punch to make a hole directly over each mark from the three holes.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 6: Completely cover the the side of the sole that will make contact with your foot in thin layer of your glue. Take your time to carefully lay your material over top of the flip flop so that the holes are in alignment. Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2(It seems easiest to start at the toe and slowly work back toward the heel.)Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Preparing the Straps:Step 1 : Begin with the tie that you'd like to appear most dominantly. Measure 20" from the tip of the skinny end and cut. Cut that length in half. Follow, by measuring 17" from the tip of the wide end and cut. Then, cut that length in half.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Ultimately you'll have four pieces that look like this.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 3: Take your second tie and cut around 20" from the tip of the skinny end. Fold that length in half and cut.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2(Keep things from getting confusing by separating the pieces into two piles, one for each foot.)Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 4: Sandwich all of the pieces needed for one of the shoes together. The two skinny pieces on top of one another, both facing up, topped with the wider piece facing down. Binder clip them together a several inches from the end.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 5: Sew together at an angle. To make it a little stronger you can sew two rows of stitches.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2If you've sewn them correctly it will look like this when you open it up.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2AssemblyStep 1: Begin inserting the ends of the straps through each of the holes. It was easiest for me to do this was by inserting the straps into the holes with needle nose pliers and then again using the pliers to grab the material from the backside and pull until a least a couple of inches were sticking out.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Because the there is so much material going through hole at the toes, you may need to do a little twisting and pulling to get it in to the position you want. Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2When you have finished inserting all of the straps the bottom should look like this:Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 2: Begin taping the pieces of strap onto the bottom of the flip flop. Having your foot in the shoe when you do this step is crucial to ensuring a great fit. Tighten or loosen the straps accordingly, before taping into position.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 3: If you have any strap pieces too close, or going beyond the edge of the sole trim away with scissors. When you are finished with this step the bottom of your flip flops will look like this.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 4: Begin gluing the straps into place by carefully lifting each strap and putting glue onto the sole and firmly pressing the strap back down over it. Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2When you are finished your flip flops will look like this: Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2(If yours seem excessively bulky trim away as much unnecessary material as you can without weakening the straps to the point that they may break.)Step 5: Completely cover the the side of the sole that will make contact with the flip flop in a thin layer of glue. Take your time to carefully lay the soling leather over top of the flip flop bottom.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2Step 6: Pound with a mallet to reinforce the adhesion, giving extra attention to the edges.Twice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2**Like the previous flip flop project, wait at least 24 before wearing so the glue has a chance to fully set**TOOLS*mallet*sharpie*scissors*needle nose pliers*punch*needle and thread/sewing machineTwice Saved Flip Flops: Part 2

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