If you have tile or wood floors, you know that kids can easily take a tumble when they're running in socks. Keep those little ones off the ground with my DIY Non-Slip Socks!
These socks were created as a craft activity at Boo's Un-Slumber Party, but you can make them anytime. They're a really fun project for kids. (They were quite a hit at the party.)
Here's what you need:
- Socks--My kids like to mismatch socks, so I chose a pack of socks with fun patterns on the bottom and let the guests choose any two socks. (If you are doing this for a party, be sure to get a couple of different sizes. Though the kids are relatively the same age, their feet sizes will vary a lot! If you want to go the inexpensive route, just buy any white socks and let the kids create their own designs on the bottom.)
- Cardboard feet cutouts to go inside the socks while painting (you can download a free pattern at the end of the post).
- Tulip Slick Paints--They come in lots of fun colors. I chose neon colors to match the socks. (You may see some non-neon colors in the pics, too. They're left over from my freezer paper art aprons.)
So, how do you do it?
DIY Non-Slip Socks
My instructions are as if you are doing this at a party. If you are doing it for your own family, you won't have to worry about some of the steps.
- Before the party, cut out several feet patterns from cardstock (or let your Silhouette cutting machine do all the work).
- When guests arrive, give them two feet patterns and have them choose two socks. Write their name on the feet patterns and slide them inside the socks.
- Before the kids begin painting, give them the following tips:
- Be sure to paint on the bottom of the sock--not on the side with the hole in it.
- To keep your hand from dragging through the paint and smearing it, start painting at the top of the sock and then move toward the bottom.
- This paint is permanent! If you get it on your clothes, it will not wash out. (I used paint smocks and placemats to protect the kids and the table.)
- Paint! The bottles are squeeze bottles, so it's really easy. Since the socks I bought were patterned, most kids just outlined the shapes or traced the lines and dots.
- Put the socks on a paper plate to dry. (I prepared the plates ahead of time by taping on a label with washing instructions so that the kids would know how to take care of the socks after they got home. The labels are included in the download.)
If you need the socks to dry quickly, you can dry them partially with a hair dryer. Don't use an embossing heat gun. It's too hot, and it will melt the sock. (The nail polish bottles are from the other game we played at the party--Spin the Nail Polish Bottle.)
You're done! Special thanks to Twiggle Box for the idea!
You can download the PDF or Silhouette files below.
Non-Slip Socks Care Instructions and Foot Templates (PDF)
Non-Slip Socks Care Instructions and Silhouette Cutting Files for Foot Templates
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you'll be back.
I've been known to link up at these parties.
Dee
This is such a cool idea, and my daughter wants to do these now--very cute! My girls wear mismatched socks too--when did that start? :)
Heidi Fowler
Thanks, Dee! I have no idea where the mismatched sock idea came from, either, but it's everywhere! At first it drove me crazy, but now I think it's kind of cute. I think my girls learned it from their teenage cousins! Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Angel
These are so cute. Great idea. Thanks for sharing at Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party.
Angel
Corey @ Tinysidekick
This is a great idea! I need to do this to all of my kid's socks. Genius! I'd love for you to come over and share at The Makers going on now at TinySidekick.com if you get a chance. Hope to see you there!
Heidi Fowler
Thanks, Corey! I'm all linked up.
Sabrina @ PLN
This is such a cute yet fantastic idea! Definitely got to give this a try with my niece. thanks for sharing :)
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
Thanks so much, Sabrina! Good luck with the basement!
becka
I LOVE THESE!! I want to make myself and my kids some! GREAT IDEA! Visiting from the Wake Up Wed Linky. Thanks for linking up!
Heidi
Thanks so much, Becka!
Brenna
I would have never thought it would be that easy! Thanks for the tutorial!
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
Yep. It's super simple--and fun. Bonus! Thanks, Brenna. I'm off to check out your giveaway!
Jelli
Heidi, this is genius! I always look for toddler socks with the grippy rubber bottoms so my kids don't slide around on our 100% ceramic tile floors. This is so much fun. Pinned!
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
Thanks so much, Jelli. The kids really had a good time, and they definitely need these socks on Grandma's hardwood floors!
Tanetra
Such a great idea. My 3 year old is always falling from running on our hardwood floors. I was searching for no slip socks, and came across your do it yourself idea. This is really awesome because it was hard finding socks with grips for children past 24 months, and the ones I did find were $9.99 a pair! I will be doing this for all of my kids....I have 3 under the age of 10, so we will make a family project out of this.
Deb
You just planned my party!
Our Family Inspired Home
These socks are so cute! What a great idea and fun to make!
zorab
wow,,, superb idea to make charming our socks by making beautiful designs on it. I have almost 5 pairs of white colored socks of school time which I don't wear because I don't like white colored plain socks. now I will design them as you have said and make them useful. thanks for giving me this wonderful idea.
embroiderydigitizings
Thank you for a great explanation. I was looking online for a similar idea and really appreciate it
geet
I am gonna show that to my kids and i really hope they will like it enough to give it a try