The $3.50 activity that will keep your kids occupied throughout the school holidays
- Ally Poole was looking for something to entertain her children these holidays
- So she bought some plain white canvas shoes for $3.50 and some sharpies
- What followed was a cheap and effective exercise in tie dying material
- They only need 24 hours to dry and then a light spraying of waterproof liquid
Having your children home for the holidays can be both a joy and a very expensive curse.
To entertain them you’ll often be forking out notes at every turn; for shopping expeditions, movie tickets and even vacations if you manage to get some time off yourself.
But in a bid to cut back on the cost of entertaining her kids, Ally Poole purchased a pair of white canvas shoes for 3.50 from Kmart and set to work on a DIY project.
But in a bid to cut back on the cost of entertaining her kids, Ally Poole purchased a pair of white canvas shoes for 3.50 from Kmart and set to work on a DIY project
Posting about her efforts in the Kmart Mums Australia group, Ally said she used a packet of coloured Sharpies and some rubbing alcohol to create tie dye shoes for her daughter.
The mother-of-two posted some lovely images of the final product after they had dried and been sprayed with a waterproof liquid.
‘The shoes were plain white canvas ones from Kmart, the pack of Sharpie textas in the stationary section and rubbing alcohol is in a green bottle… the brand is Isocol with the band aids at Woolies,’ she explained in a caption.
The mother-of-two posted some lovely images of the final product after they had dried and been sprayed with a waterproof liquid
‘To make colour in the shoes in any design then drip the alcohol over the top to make the colours bleed. Leave to dry for 24 hours then spray with waterproof shoe spray available at shoe shops or maybe Woolies and Coles.’
Ally’s post was very well received by the other mothers in the group, who all praised her genius (and cost effective) activity.
‘Great idea for the kids! Miss fussy might actually wear them if she makes them herself! Lol. She could do one of her awesome anime drawings on them!’ One woman said, tagging her friend.
Ally’s post was very well received by the other mothers in the group, who all praised her genius (and cost effective) activity
‘Going to pinch this for my grandchildren thanks,’ another added.
The trick is to use rubbing alcohol, rather than water, to make the colours bleed together but don’t saturate the shoes.
Ally’s children went for a rainbow striped and spotted design but the decision is completely up to the kids.
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