By Heather Mann

Shoe Planter How-To

Repurposing shoes into planters isn't just for a quirky garden! You can create unique and memorable keepsake gifts for events like baby showers, birthdays and Mother's Day, depending on the shoes and plants you select. Here are some great ideas for transforming old shoes into great new planters.

MATERIALS
An old shoe
A drill (or hammer and nail)
Potting soil
Potted plant or seeds
Water

Tip: For indoor planters, glue felt to the bottom of the shoe if it will be used on a table or shelf.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. If necessary, wash the shoe with soap and water before you start.
2. Add drainage holes on the bottom of the shoe with a drill.
3. Fill shoe with potting soil, leaving an indentation large enough for your plant.
4. Insert plant into hole and cover root ball with additional potting soil.
5. Water thoroughly according to plant care instructions.

Tip: For a quick version, place a pre-potted plant with its plastic pot directly into a shoe. Or, wrap the root ball in a piece of burlap, tie with twine and insert into shoe.

Embellishing Tip: Don't see anything in your closet that would look at home in your garden? Don't be afraid to make your shoes over to complement your garden décor. Spray paint shoes with a pop of color or line them with a pretty printed fabric and let it peek out of the holes. Attach ribbons as laces or add beads or buttons to give your old shoes some flair.

3 More Repurposed Shoe Planter Ideas

1. Stilettos: So what if those bright red stilettos hurt your feet? Put them to work as a cheeky planter for succulents. A pair will make a striking accent in your flower garden or great table decorations for bridal showers and birthday parties.

2. Rubber Boots: Those colorful rubber rain boots sure are cute—until they get holes in them! In this case, the holes are a good thing for drainage. Group several boots together along a fence or at the edge of your patio. Don't forget to add brightly colored flowers like geraniums or marigolds.

Tip: Substitute cowboy boots, hiking boots, sneakers or old work boots to create a look and feel that blends in with your garden's aesthetics.

3. Flip-Flops: Although they don't have much substance, flip-flops make great holders for pre-potted plants. Simply hang them on a patio wall, then set the pot in the straps of the sandals.

Quick Tip

After indoor or outdoor gardening, quickly clean up spills and tracked-in messes with Swiffer® WetJet. The solution breaks up messes, and the pads trap and lock dirt to clean better than a mop and bucket in half the time. And now: Swiffer refills with the scent of Gain®!

Gift Ideas

• Baby Shower: Reuse a pair of baby booties as a cute container for a baby shower gift. Place a small flower in the bootie, such as an African violet.
• Wedding Shower: Ask attendees to give you their bridesmaid shoes and recycle them into planters for the party. Frame a photo of the original owner in her bridesmaid dress, and group the frame with the shoe planters.
• Grandparents' Gift: When your child grows out of her shoes, save a pair and send a shoe planter to grandparents.

Heather Mann is chief editor of Dollar Store Crafts, and specializes in transforming inexpensive materials into stylish and simple craft projects. She has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show and been featured in Reader’s Digest and the New York Times, and her work has appeared on the cover of Family Fun Magazine.