A visit to a boutique will quickly enlighten those not bitten by the crafting bug how adorable utilitarian items can become with just a little creative embellishment. The humble, unofficial footwear of summer, the flip flop, is no exception. Only there's no need to pay boutique prices for funked-up flip flops, your children and their friends can create an impressive inventory of footwear at home all on their own!

Materials Needed:

• Flip flops
• Glue (the most important material this craft! We used Flip Flop glue and had good results, ordinary white glue or craft glue might not have the holding power on the slippery, soft surface of the flip flop straps. Gorilla Glue was recommended by several crafting sites, but that particular adhesive should only be used by adults.)
• Embellishments

The most fantastic thing about this activity is that the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to items to be attached the flip flop straps. Of course, the safety of the feet wearing the flip flops needs to be taken into consideration, so items with sharp edges, anything that might be a tripping hazard, and flammable/combustible items (no matter how cool a row of wooden matches would look for camping footwear!) should be avoided.

That being said, here are some ideas to help get started creating the most fantastic flip flops in town:

• Use fabric scraps to sew yo-yo's. Use just one or dozens!
• Attach a length of ribbon, pom-pom fringe, or ric rac to the straps and/or side of the flip flops
• Do a simple crochet stitch over the straps
• Glue on an assortment of buttons
• Tie on (un-inflated!) balloons
• Attach strips of fabric
• Create a bow or flower out of ribbon and tie it on for a fantastic flip flop focal point
• Tie on an assortment of ribbons
• Bead those babies!
• Wrap the straps in novelty yarn
• Who needs a pedicure when you have flowers at your feet?
• Sequins!

For boys who don't want their feet to be as fancy, how about:

• Googly eyes
• Attaching small plastic animals (like snakes, or fish, or bats, oh my!)
• Embellishing with old games pieces (dice, dominoes, checkers, or even Legos and K'Nex would work well)
• Since matches are out, how about lining up a row of wee sticks side-by-side along the straps
• Small toy cars would make flip flops that stand out from the others poolside!

It doesn't take much more than imagination and the ability to look a things in a different way to come up with a pair (or two! or three!) of flip flops as fun and unique as the person wearing them.