DIY: TOMS Sandals

Dress: JC Penney

Belt: Vintage (My Grandma's)

Shoes: DIY TOMS Sandals

Hello everyone!  It's been a while since my last blog post.  My time between now and Mother's Day has been jam-packed - I've transitioned to a new house for the summer, spent some quality time at my family's lake cottage, and soaked up the sun in Nick's family's new pool!  I officially start my internship tomorrow (I am SO excited and nervous!) and it will be my first time working a 9 to 5 job.  I've packed my lunch and set my alarm, but I expect it will take me a while to get used to my new schedule.  

I wanted to relax as much as I could before my internship started, so I passed the time reading the Dexter book series by Jeff Lindsay (I'm on the 3rd one; they're addicting), rollerblading, and perusing the internet.  When I stumbled across these TOMS on Pinterest, I knew I had to do it myself.  Scroll down to see my step-by-step process! 

I started with this pair of TOMS.  My toe had poked a hole through the right foot so they were the perfect candidates for this project.

I put my scissors in the hole my toe had created and followed the seam.  If you are trying this yourself, make sure you cut through both layers of fabric!

Next, I trimmed off the excess and cut the canvas around the sole of the shoe.

Next, I began cutting between the two seams.  Because I did not already have a pre-made hole from my toe, I held the scissors like so and made a small incision.  I could then stick my scissors into the hole and make a larger cut.

I did this on both sides of the shoe, still following the general pattern of the stitching.

Next, I used the same scissor technique to cut two holes in the side panel of the shoe.  I repeated this process on the inside panel, and when I was finished, the whole process on the left shoe.

Voila! My TOMS had transformed into sandals!

One thing I noticed after cutting out so much fabric was that the shoes became pretty loose on my feet.  Nonetheless, they're great for the summer and it's a fun DIY project that doesn't take much time or skill.  Try it out!

For My Mama

My Outfit:

Tank: Target

Jacket: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's

Shorts: GAP

Belt: Vintage, Mom's

Sandals: Vera Wang for Kohl's

Bracelets: Aldo (small gold bangles), Fort Wayne Art Fair (flowered cuff), GAP (snake chain)

Mom's Outfit:

Blouse: Old Navy

Jacket: GAP

Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's

Sandals: T.J. MAXX, BCBGeneration

Bracelets: Ulta (fragrance gift)

My Mom and I had a fantastic time taking these photos around Fort Wayne earlier today!  I love being able to share my passion with her and knowing I always have her support.  She is truly an incredible woman and I am proud to share her with all of you.

To the best Mom in the world, Happy Mother's Day.

Guess Who's Back?

Top: H.I.P., Von Maur

Jacket: Thrifted, Goodwill

Shorts: Old Navy

Sandals: Blowfish

Necklaces: Tiffany & Co, Falling Whistles

Ring: Local Artist in Durango, CO

Back to the blog - what a great feeling!  I've been lounging around, sunning, reading, and enjoying time at home for the past week or so, and tonight was the first chance I had to snap some outfit pictures.

Speaking of, I absolutely love these pictures and I'm so excited to share them with you!  They were taken with my dad's Nikon D40 (instead of my regular Cannon Powershot) at the old jail in Fort Wayne.  This sandstone building is huge and it's got some really intricate and interesting architecture.  It was fun to have my parents contribute to the blog and I'm looking forward to a Mother's Day shoot my mom and I have planned for Sunday.

Have a happy Friday, everyone!