I’m sure many of you have come across the simply fabulous Rhinestoned Nike Free Runs on multiple occasions. I am a total Nike girl, but a glitter fanatic at the same time. So I thought, why not add a little bling to a simple pair of running shoes? I personally was not excited about forking up $170+ for the customized shoes (pictured below) even though they’re totally adorable.
Then it dawned on me- why not just recreate my own? A few days ago while I was in Jo-Ann, I stumbled across these Swarovski crystals that were marked 50% off! I picked up two packs and some glue- ringing up to a total of $13, what a steal! I went to the Nike Outlet store and found the perfect pair of basic black Nike 5.0 Free Runs on sale for $70 (they’ll match everything), then headed home to start the process. Here’s how I recreated these beauts….
First, for the crystals- I highly recommend using Swarovski crystals for this project. They will last so much longer on the shoe and don’t give that “plasticky” look that some cheaper gems can have. Though I found mine at Jo-Anns, they were the last few packs and may not be in stock anymore. Fire Mountain Gems carries these flat-back Swarovski crystals as well- for a great price! I recommend getting a variety of sizes, including lots of tiny crystals to fill in the gaps. About 100 crystals were used on each shoe, but don’t let that scare you- this project only took me 30 minutes to complete!
I started off by cleaning off the Nike “swoosh” on these basic black Nike Free Runs with a bit of rubbing alcohol. This will get rid of any oils, debris, dirt, etc. that will prevent the crystals from sticking to the surface. Notice, I am only adding the crystals to the outside of the shoe- the inner “swoosh” is not being blinged out. Remember, simplicity is key when it comes to rhinestones.
Apply glue to the first part of the “swoosh” you would like to work on. I lined the bottom portion of the area with the larger stones- to add some texture and also to minimize the amount of tiny crystals you would need to use. Begin to glue the crystals in place by working in small sections working down the “swoosh”- this will prevent having to fill in gaps later on. I used the glue specifically made for these types of crystals, it came in a small tube with a “picker-upper” tool on the opposite side.
Update (as of 7/29/14) : Many of you have asked how long the rhinestones have lasted- a few of mine fell off, I ended up switching over to using E6000 craft adhesive instead. Its a much stronger formula and works better for this project. I run in these almost everyday, so I was quite impressed how only a few of the stones had lost their grip. Your level of wear and tear will determine which glue is best for you.
Here’s the finished shoe! I am in love with how they turned out- it looks just as good as my inspiration above! The pictures don’t even do it justice, it is literally so sparkly! The glue set up very nicely and dried clear, it isn’t visible at all. I think it would be fun to get a bunch of different colored laces that match whatever outfit you’re wearing, for a pop of color considering they’re all black. Here are a few more pics…
Have a fantastic week!
xoxo- Megan
I absolutely LOVE those! I was thinking about ordering them online, but I agree that $170 is a bit pricey considering how cheap you can find Nikes on sale. How long have you been wearing yours and have any of the rhinestones fallen off?
These look GREAT! I was wondering though if you could add a comment about how long the gems have lasted for you so far or if any have fallen off?
I did mine the same way. The glue did not last. The crystals fell off the glue itself and the glue came off the shoe so easily. It lasted maybe 2 days. I used the same glue and crystals. I want to try a different glue.
what kind of glue is recommend you had mentioned the e6000 craft adhesive that worked better? im not trying to wear the shoes as much as you do so you think that glue will work better? when you apply it does it have like a fine tip to be precise when applying ?
Yes- the e6000 glue works best- especially for just normal wear. It does not has a fine tip to apply, but I am sure you can find a bottle type of the e6000 that has a precision tip applicator. Otherwise, a toothpick works just as well.
How long did the crystals stay on with the E6000 glue?
I’ve had a very minimal amount of crystals fall off with the E6000 glue. There was a dramatic difference in quality between the two types of glue, I highly recommend the E6000 for the shoes.
Going to do this for my kids shoes do u think they will stay with the e6000
How many packages of the crystals did you need?
I used two-three packages of crystals! Each package had 100 crystals in it.
Yes! I have had very good luck with e6000.
Have you tried washing them in the washer? I do that with my shoes once in awhile and wondered if they will stay on after something like that….
I have not tried that! If you do, I recommend washing with gentle detergent and cool water and then letting the shoes air dry!
Best of luck!
I just bought swavorski hot fix tool it was 19.99 but the crystals never fall off and has good reviews I bought it at Michaels craft store and you get the same flat back swavorski crystals just get the hot fix kind
I have used that too! Both methods work- I’m so glad that worked for you!
Thank you sooooo much for sharing this tutorial! I wanted some Nike bling shoes really bad, but didn’t want to pay $100+ for them, and was wondering if the bling thing could be done at home. Lo and behold, I stumble upon your post and find the answer – again, thank you so much!