From Peas to Personality: Upcycling a Pair of Converse Trainers with Decoupage 👟✨🌈

When I was working for 3P Learning, I won a pair of Converse trainers. The only problem? They were covered in a rather enthusiastic pea design!While they were fun and quirky, they were never really my style, so they spent most of their life tucked away in a cupboard. Now that I'm retired and have a little more time for crafting, I decided it was finally time to give them a makeover.

I've been experimenting with decoupage on all sorts of surfaces recently, and the trainers seemed like the perfect canvas for a creative upcycling project. A few beautiful napkins, some Mod Podge, a touch of gold, and a splash of imagination later, my forgotten pea trainers had been transformed into a colourful pair of wearable works of art.

Here's how I did it.

Materials Used

• Fabric Mod Podge

• Matt Mod Podge

• Decorative napkins

• Gold leaf paper

• Gold gilding paint

• Bright coloured shoelaces

• A soft cloth and paintbrush
  

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare the Napkin

Starting with one side panel of the trainer, I laid half of the napkin across the area I wanted to cover. Using a damp paintbrush, I carefully traced around the shape of the shoe section.

Following the damp outline, I gently pulled away the excess napkin. This creates a lovely soft edge that blends beautifully into the design.

Next, I carefully removed the two backing layers from the napkin, leaving just the printed layer.

2. Apply the Fabric Mod Podge

Working on one section at a time, I applied Fabric Mod Podge to the shoe. I found that using my finger worked really well, helping me spread the glue evenly and ensuring the fabric was completely covered.

3. Add the Napkin

Starting at the bottom of the section, I carefully laid the napkin onto the glue.

Using my fingers and a soft cloth, I gently smoothed the napkin into place, working slowly to remove wrinkles and air bubbles.

4. Seal the Design

Once the napkin was in place, I applied a second coat of Fabric Mod Podge over the top.

I repeated this process until all the fabric sections of the trainer were covered.

5. Add Decorative Details

To frame the design, I painted around the edges of the trainer using metallic gold gilding paint. This really helped to finish the piece and gave it a more polished look.

6. Create a Gold Feature Panel

For the back section of the trainer, I wanted something a little different.

I applied Fabric Mod Podge and carefully added gold leaf paper. This was definitely the trickiest part of the project! The gold leaf is incredibly delicate and tears very easily.

I ended up applying it in layers and then touching up any gaps with gold paint.

If I were doing this again, I might experiment with fine glitter instead, which could create a similar effect while being easier to work with.

7. Finish with Matt Mod Podge

Once everything was completely dry, I covered the trainers with two to three thin coats of Matt Mod Podge.

Personally, I found the Fabric Mod Podge alone looked a little shiny and plastic-like. The Matt Mod Podge softened the finish and gave the surface a much more textile appearance, which I preferred.

8. Add the Finishing Touch

Finally, I swapped the original laces for a bright pink pair and added a bead to the end of each lace.

It's amazing how much difference a simple change of laces can make!

Before

After

I absolutely loved doing this project.

There's something incredibly satisfying about transforming an item that has been sitting unused into something unique and full of personality. What started as a pair of trainers covered in smiling peas has become a colourful piece of wearable art that feels much more "me".

Of course, these aren't the shoes I'll be wearing for a muddy walk in the park! But they are perfect for Rainbow Jane sessions, creative workshops, and any occasion that calls for a splash of colour and imagination.

I think I may have caught the upcycling bug. I'm already looking around the house at fabric items and wondering what else could be transformed with a few beautiful napkins and a little Mod Podge.

The possibilities really are endless. With so many gorgeous napkin designs available, you could create trainers inspired by flowers, butterflies, abstract art, vintage maps, favourite books, or even your own artwork. If you fancy giving decoupage a go - the next Rainbow Jane Sessions on June 28th, are Decoupage and Decorate sessions... a perfect opportunity to give this a go!