You can't see me.

* DISCLAIMER * 

I want to apologize to anyone who is weirded out by feet.

I'm sorry you have to look and my goofy ones.

I don't mean to offend.

Feel free to run away screaming.

:)

I wanted to share my solution to a small problem I have.

I have 2 different sized feet.

Like a size and a half difference!

As you can imagine, it makes for interesting shoe shopping.

Some of my shoe problems:

• Going broke buying 2 sets of sizes for every pair of shoes I'd want to wear.
• Always having one tight shoe and one loose shoe.
• Always having to wear shoes with straps; Mary Janes, T-Strap, Ankle Strap, blah blah.
• Longingly gazing upon Peep Toes, Wedges and slip on Sandals.

Then I had an A HA moment one night while watching Dancing with the Stars.

No, it wasn't how those fringe pants would look awesomely fantastic on me.

I noticed that the female dancers had something on their shoes 

to make sure they didn't fall off.

Invisible Straps!

Immediately, I googled and found you could purchase one pair of "Dance Shoe Straps"

for approximately $10.

Dude, I have a lot of shoes.

So, considering the straps were made of clear elastic, I got to googling again.

I found you can buy clear elastic for pretty cheap.

I got 3 packets of 3/8" Lightweight Clear Elastic (each 5 yards long)

for $10 shipped!

I could make makes lots o' straps and buy more shoes!

When my shipment arrived I got to messing around with the elastic.

Glue didn't work.

I didn't want to sew it.

So I came up with the below process that has worked beautifully.

Supplies:

Sandals or Shoes 

Clear Elastic

Measuring Tape

Scissors

Wax Paper

Iron

Pen

Slip on your sandal.

Measure how long your end overlap will be. 

For me, a 2 inch overlap works.

Measure from the edge of one side of your sandal, 

mid instep, around to the other.

My foot measured 7 inches edge of strap to edge of strap.

I added in my 2 inch overlap, and cut 9 inches of clear elastic.

Take your pen and measure in 2 inches on either end

of the elastic and mark.

This make sure you get a snug fit.

Cut a square of wax paper and turn on your iron to a medium setting.

A high setting will melt the elastic too quickly.

Excuse my icky ironing board cover.  Sewing a new one is on the to do list.

Take your elastic and loop it around the front of the strap. 

Make sure the mark you made lines up with the edge of the sandal.

Match up your ends and pinch.

Now lay the sandal on it's side.  

Make sure the elastic is on the wax paper and our pen mark is still lined up.

A few quick taps of the iron and you will see the elastic bond to itself.

Sorry for the blurry pic. It's hard to juggle a camera and an iron.

Keep tapping until you see the two sides are completely bonded.

Be sure not to pull on the elastic until it has cooled, as it will stretch.

Make sure your elastic is straight and repeat on the other side.

Once the second side has cooled, you are all set to go.

Your strap should look like this: 

Enjoy your secured sandals!

The best part is that most people never notice I have a strap on one shoe.

I love that it just disappears.

Here is a side by side.

But wait, that's not all!

What do I do for slip on shoes, you ask?

I make a loop!

Just slip on your shoe,

decide where you want the loop to sit,

measure both the shoe and foot around,

Add 1 inch to the measurement,

overlap the ends 2 inches and heat bond.

I could never wear a pair of shoes like this.

EVER!

But with my invisible strap,

Now you see it 

Now you don't!

Granted, I normally use the loop on shoes when I'm wearing pants,

but you'd never know.

Hope you find this as life changing as I did. 

Thank you Dancing with the Stars!

XOXO,

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