DIY Shoe Clips

Collecting vintage costume jewelry is a weakness of mine. By looking at my collection of vintage rhinestone ear clips, however, you would never guess that my ears actually don’t take well to clip ons. Naturally, my justification for hoarding these unnecessary gems is the ability to transform them into more befitting accessories . . . like shoe clips! They are the perfect way to transform a pair of simple flats or pumps. If the ear clip hinges are strong enough, they can simply clamp on the shoes as they are. And if they aren’t, I’ll show you a super easy method for turning them into a sturdy pair of shoe clips.

You’ll need:

Start using the pliers to wiggle the ear clip hinge back and forth from the base. It will eventually snap off entirely. Open the blank shoe clip and apply a good amount of glue on the outer flat surface.

Press it against the backside of the earring. Make sure the area the shoe clip is being adhered to is larger than the shoe clip. Repeat on the other earring and allow to dry for at least a few hours.

Shoe clips have 2 small metal prongs, which attach to the underside of the shoes, that keep the clip fastened securely. The top is smooth so that it doesn’t do any damage to the shoes.

If smaller earrings aren’t sizable enough, they can be combined into one. Apply E6000 along the side of a earring. Press another earrings against it and reinforce the area with more glue from the backside. Allow to dry for at least a few hours.

Apply a good amount of glue to the blank area of the shoe clip and press it against the backside of the earring. Repeat and allow to dry.

Clip them onto your favorite pair of flats!

Interchange the clips if you wish . . .

and step on out!

(flats by Madewell available here and here; all images by HonestlyWTF)

Leave a Comment

126 Comments

  1. Mira wrote:

    I really love this Diy. I will diy my flats too. Easy and super lovely. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG

    xx

    glamdevils

    3.19.13
    Reply
  2. Jennifer wrote:

    These are perfect! Great tutorial – so simple – I’m definitely going to try this 🙂

    Much love,
    Jennifer x

    Artstylelove.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  3. Definitely going to try this!

    3.19.13
    Reply
  4. Definitely going to try this!

    http://lovelaughliveme.wordpress.com/

    3.19.13
    Reply
  5. Rachelle wrote:

    Love this.

    xo
    http://pinksole.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  6. What an amazing and easy DIY! Love it!
    My daily outfits in http://cravingforbarneys.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  7. Wow, what a great idea. This is a perfect project for any of those clip-on earrings that got passed down to you from your grandmother or mother, but you just wouldn’t wear them now, only if they are costume jewelry. Such a fun way to repurpose family jewels. I have a whole box of brooches and clips on that I could use for this project!

    Quinn Cooper Style

    3.19.13
    Reply
  8. I LOVE YOUR DIYS!
    SIMPLE BUT SO STYLISH!
    http://whatkrissydidnext.wordpress.com/

    3.19.13
    Reply
  9. Denisa wrote:

    That looks great. Nice inspiration.

    http://www.fashiondenis.com/

    3.19.13
    Reply
  10. it’s such a good idea!!!!! It’s so easy to do and looks gorgeous!!!

    http://www.thestelstyle.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  11. I love your post. Shoe clips were my favorite accessory years ago…

    See you in my blog, maybe.
    xxx
    Nina
    http://trendsurvivor.com/

    3.19.13
    Reply
  12. This is genius! So pretty too.

    http://www.rhiannoneyre.blogspot.co.uk

    3.19.13
    Reply
  13. Amazing DIY!!
    xxx
    Naomi
    http://www.bonnieclydemarni.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  14. I love this DIY!!! gorgeous! xo, Alma
    http://www.soulofashopper.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  15. I like the fact that you can add them on the shoes and easyly remove them when you want to wear the flats without any decor.

    3.19.13
    Reply
  16. Carrie wrote:

    Looks Fantastic – time to raid Granny’s jewelry box…and the shoe shops for some new flats!!

    http://www.time-to-be-an-adult.blogspot.co.uk

    3.19.13
    Reply
  17. Sandy wrote:

    Love this, brings an old accessory which is now how to find to a new audience. Do you ship to Australia? Haven’t seen the shoe blanks here.
    x Sandy

    3.19.13
    Reply
  18. Andrea wrote:
    3.19.13
    Reply
  19. brooke wrote:

    such a simple and easy idea! i love that some of the clip ons can just be added to the shoes without any extra work!

    http://www.insparisian.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  20. LaLa wrote:

    Oh wow love these!! I’m definitely going to look out for brooches and earrings in charity shops to make some of these!

    http://o0ohlalaa.blogspot.co.uk/

    xo0x LaLa x0ox

    3.19.13
    Reply
  21. What a perfect way to dress up a pair of old standbys!

    <3becky
    http://www.loosefromthezoo.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  22. Super cute and totally do-able! What a great way to dress up your flats. ~ ashleigh

    My jewelry blog: http://www.joliejouel.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  23. Oh these are so cute and chic! Perfect flapper vibe!

    xoxo
    Juliette Laura
    juliettelaura.blogspot.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  24. love this… next time you are here we should go vintage jewelry shopping!

    3.19.13
    Reply
  25. Tibs wrote:

    Wonderful idea!
    It would be a little bit too much with these…. http://shoptravelfood.blogspot.com/2013/02/caroline.html
    but with some other shoes i will definitely try some DIY trick!

    3.19.13
    Reply
  26. Reptilia wrote:

    Love how they look! I really like the pink ones!

    http://www.justreptilia.com

    xx

    3.19.13
    Reply
  27. Ambyr wrote:

    I love these clips on the purple flats- so chic. Great DIY idea.

    xoxo
    http://www.thewrittenrunway.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  28. Laura wrote:

    great idea !
    New post: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
    Love from Paris

    3.19.13
    Reply
  29. Jolleen wrote:

    Love this simple diy! So chic! Definitely trying this

    xoxo

    Jolleen
    http://simplyjolleen.com/

    3.19.13
    Reply
  30. jennifer wrote:

    Loved it!!!!

    3.19.13
    Reply
  31. Chris wrote:

    I love this tutorial! So creative and a perfect way to dress up plain shoes.

    3.19.13
    Reply
  32. i.s. wrote:

    seriously brilliant idea xx
    http://www.vicariousLA.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  33. Alyx wrote:

    I love the idea of these, I think on the back of a neutral heel would be over the top and awesome!

    http://alyxtheprincess.blogspot.com

    3.19.13
    Reply
  34. Paula wrote:

    I Love this idea! I was hugely into clip on earings when I was 10 😉 Think I may have to revisit this.

    ♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
    http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.uk/

    3.19.13
    Reply
  35. Laliv wrote:

    What a great idea! Now I just have to pay a visit to the flee market to find some of those earings….

    3.19.13
    Reply
  36. Lovely idea!
    So easy, so lovely the result 😉
    http://9lla.it/
    A Fashion & DIY Blog…

    3.19.13
    Reply
  37. Lauren wrote:

    These look amazing, brilliant way of jazzing up so plain flats.
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

    3.19.13
    Reply
  38. rachael wrote:

    this is awesome! i love diamonds with leopard print

    3.19.13
    Reply
  39. Juicy wrote:

    Easy to do and absolutely perfect!
    Giu&Si

    3.19.13
    Reply
  40. Apple wrote:

    I love shoe clips. Love your post!

    3.19.13
    Reply
  41. ShoeDiva wrote:

    So fab!

    3.20.13
    Reply
  42. T wrote:

    so cute! I remember my mom had these and I thought they were earrings …. putting them in my ears was a bad idea

    3.20.13
    Reply
  43. Anne wrote:

    Great DIY idea!
    Erica, I’d love to make you one of my rings. Email me!
    X

    @frothandcloth http://Frothandcloth.com

    3.20.13
    Reply
  44. Chelsea! wrote:

    WHY have i never done this??? genius!

    3.21.13
    Reply
  45. These are gorgeous! It reminds me of the movie ‘P.S., I Love You’ when the main character starts creating her own shoes. 🙂

    http://thatbackpacker.com/

    3.21.13
    Reply
  46. Valentin Holmes wrote:

    Check out these awesome classy shoes! Nothing beats that! http://bit.ly/14iPdVD

    3.22.13
    Reply
  47. SASmith (@web_shopaholic) wrote:

    I am so in love with these jewel shoe clip-ons! I felt like I’m looking at a Miu Miu Jeweled Flats creation when in fact, this is DIY! I am a jewelry designer and I can’t find anything wrong or anything to improve on this bejeweled pieces! I learned how to make jewelry by attending classes by Dragonfly Designs (http://www.jewelrybydfly.com)in South San Francisco. They taught me everything I need to learn in jewelry making like copper etching, enameling, stamping and dapping, bead stringing, wire work, resin pendants, finger knitting and hair jewelry!

    3.23.13
    Reply
  48. ABI wrote:

    Such a great idea!! 😀

    3.23.13
    Reply
  49. Tra Mi wrote:

    awesome pieces but I couldn’t let them be on my shoes instead of somewhere up, a more visible place

    http://thevulgariangirl.blogspot.com/

    3.23.13
    Reply
  50. Sanne S wrote:

    Great ideaa!!

    3.24.13
    Reply
  51. Minal Agarwal wrote:

    Doesn’t the clip thing hurts your feet? Just wondering.

    3.26.13
    Reply
  52. crisa wrote:

    How darling! I love shoe clips as well! I have been designing them for the past 10 years and it’s addictive!

    3.26.13
    Reply
  53. michelle wrote:

    Delicate Raymond Jewelry Bar in the LES, NYC on Orchard Street has amazing vintage clip on earrings! They are only $5 each and a shipment of 500-1000 pieces comes once a month!

    3.30.13
    Reply
  54. Cássia wrote:

    otima idéia, adorei!

    3.31.13
    Reply
  55. Donna wrote:

    LOVE!

    4.7.13
    Reply
  56. debdeb wrote:

    Girrrlll!! Sorry to say, but I’ve been doing this trick for YEARS.. Clip-ons are so versatile it’s a sin not to buy some if the price is right…they also hurt my ears after about 2 hrs, that’s why I had to think of something to do w/them. & one of the perks is that they don’t leave any pin-holes in fabrics should u use them as brooches or deco on boots, shirts, purses, etc. Ur imagination is endless…..werk it girl!!!
    xoxoxo

    4.10.13
    Reply
  57. Amazing D.I.Y.
    Love your ideal. ^^

    4.18.13
    Reply
  58. Roma wrote:

    Where can you buy the clips? I found some online at Joann’s, but no picture to know if I’ll be getting the right product.

    4.21.13
    Reply
  59. levinia wrote:

    Divine Diva…. Thankyou

    5.3.13
    Reply
  60. levinia wrote:

    Help!! can I buy these grips on line ?? in south africa

    5.3.13
    Reply
  61. Kristine wrote:

    Gorgeous and such a fabulous idea. Must share with all my friends x

    7.1.13
    Reply
  62. It is really nice!!!

    8.13.13
    Reply
  63. “Hello ,
    this is shirley from Huilaimei company.our company mainly produce rhinestone pearl shoe clips and we have announced some new shoe clips,i want to send you our pricelist for your reference .Ifyou are interested in our product ,pls email to get our catalouge .
    Best regards
    Shirley tang “

    10.8.13
    Reply
  64. Kerry wrote:

    Pretty cute~!

    We are shoe clips factory, offer dropshiping. Blank DIY metal shoe clips available also.

    Just search for elite shoe clips. you will see our fashion designs.

    Jody

    3.10.14
    Reply
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    read posts, but this web site presents feature based articles.

    My homepage; e cig side effects

    4.19.14
    Reply
  66. Jody wrote:

    We can offer the metal DIY clips for making your own shoe clips. Just contact me for price and QTY. We can arrange shipping to your door.

    5.20.14
    Reply
  67. Fantastic idea! Love shoe clips…such an effective way to transform your favourite flats or heels into a whole new look! Some of our favourite shoes clip looks are here: http://www.secretdor.com/blog/shoe-clips

    5.21.14
    Reply
  68. First time I’ve seen shoe clip components! 🙂 Shoe clips are a great way to jazz up an old belt too 🙂

    10.20.14
    Reply
  69. Mariemarcelle wrote:

    Bonsoir,
    Merci, désolée je suis française,
    Dommage,
    je ne peux traduire la réponse que vous m’avez faite en retour à l’e-mail que je vous avais adressé,
    bonne soirée. Jeanine

    11.23.14
    Reply
  70. Cait wrote:

    Just ordered the shoe clips off Etsy! Thanks!!

    4.19.15
    Reply
  71. Crystal wrote:

    Wouldn’t hurt to have a small soldering tool also. And I have seen another tutorial that suggesting putting it straight onto the shoe… for me I have had some issue with shoe clips in the past.

    9.25.15
    Reply
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    11.27.17
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  73. Sabie wrote:

    what kind of glue for shoes clips ? Can you tell me about glue brand name ? thanks

    12.30.17
    Reply
  74. Hello! I shared this AMAZING project on my blog! I hope you don’t mind! https://www.quirkybohemianmama.com/2019/08/how-to-upcycle-broken-jewelry.html

    8.28.19
    Reply