Baby Shoe Bronzing

All the firsts in the first year of a baby is more memorable to the parents that it is to the child. What is more exciting than seeing your baby stand up unsupported for the first time, or take her first step. Many parents, especially mothers, would always want to treasure their baby's first belongings, such as shoes, hats, socks, and even hair. But despite all efforts to turn them into a keepsake, time wears away them away. Fortunately, there is a method of preserving your baby's first shoes – baby shoe bronzing.

By bronzing baby shoes, you are preserving your baby's first pair of shoes and treasure them together with other family heirlooms. Numerous companies today can bronze baby shoes for a price. You will also be made to choose between baby shoe bronzing styles such as Antique or Bright bronze finish, while others can coat in gold finishes. Baby shoe bronzing prices vary, from more than $30 to almost $80. If you desire so, you can bronze baby shoe collections of your children. It can be delightful to see them arranged in one corner of the house.

On the other hand, did you know that you, too, could bronze your baby's shoes? If you want to avoid sending the shoes to a manufacturer that does bronzing (and risk losing the shoes in the process) you can do it yourself at home.

How To Bronze Baby Shoes

Bronzing baby shoes yourself can be a fulfilling task of treasuring your little baby's first footwear. By doing it yourself, you're putting in a personal touch to the task, and it is relatively inexpensive and easy.

The first step is to clean the shoes thoroughly using a damp polishing cloth to remove all the polish and dirt on the surface and inside the shoes. It is best to clean shoes completely by rubbing a rug soaked in denatured alcohol on the surface. This should remove all polish and wax, and then allow the shoes to air dry.

The next step is to arrange the shoe collection as you would want them coated. Make sure each piece of the shoe is neatly arranged such as the shoelaces, tongues, etc. The tongue might need to be adjusted in order for it to touch the sides of the shoe. Both laces and tongue can be secured in place using a little amount of rubber cement (and wait till it dries). Carefully make a hole through the sole of each shoe and loop a wire or string around it. The shoes are now ready for bronzing.

Prepare your coating solution by mixing copper, bronze, or gold powder with a quick-dry spar varnish. Stir well until you come up with a liquid with similar viscous consistency of enamel paint. Stir occasionally to keep the powder from setting on the bottom while applying the coating on the shoes. For best results, you may have to use fresh mixtures for every batch.

Use a durable camelhair brush to coat the surface and inside of shoes, and apply several coatings. This will ensure that the shoes are well coated and can sustain the test of time. Wait for the bronze coating to dry to check whether there are no dull spots (which means the polish has soaked into the material). Simply apply more coating if necessary to achieve a glossy and even finish. Hang the shoes to dry with the strings. You can also accentuate the polish by mixing a small amount of burnt umber or black oil into the bronze liquid, then paint it onto the creases only.

If you would like the shoes to have some weight, it is also a great idea to pour plaster of paris to a level that is half an inch from the top, and allow them to thoroughly dry for several days before applying paint.

You don't have to spend much on baby shoe bronzing because what is important is treasuring your child's baby memories forever.