Bronzing Baby Shoes

Parents maintain beautiful memories of their little ones, in several different ways, such as photographs, their first hand prints, first footprints, etc. One unique yet traditional way of retaining such memories, is to get your baby's first pair of shoes bronzed. Not only are they a great idea to preserve those wonderful memories and experiences, they also make great gifts for grown ups. What is more precious than receiving your first pair of baby shoes, bronzed to last forever, on your 18th, 21st or 30th birthday? You can have your baby's shoes bronzed professionally or you can do it by yourself. Let's take a look at the different processes of doing it yourself.

How to Bronze Your Baby's Shoes

Bronzing baby shoes yourself gives the entire memory a personal touch, a unique feeling, and enables you to relive all those beautiful memories, in the process of bronzing. Here are the steps involved.

1. Firstly, choose the pair of shoes you would like to bronze. Clean it thoroughly to eliminate all collected dust and dirt. You can do this by washing it with soap, or just using a damp cloth to wipe it clean, depending on how dirty they may be. Also, to rid the shoes of any polish or wax, wipe the shoes with a cloth dipped in denatured alcohol. This will allow the bronze to properly settle on the shoes.
2. If the shoes have laces and a tongue, arrange them to your preference in a manner that is appealing. Once the shoes are bronzed, this arrangement cannot be changed. If you wish to harden the shoes, you may apply a coat of plaster of Paris on the shoes and allow it to set, perhaps for a day or two.
3. Make a tiny hole in any convenient place in the shoe, through which a string can be passed. This is to be able to hang the shoes and allow them to try. Also, it eases the process of bronzing of baby shoes.
4. You can use a liquid bronze solution available in the market, or mix bronze powder with quick-dry varnish to create a bronzing liquid. Mix it thoroughly to get an even color.
5. Now proceed to bronze the shoes. Use a good quality paint brush to complete the process. Apply the solution on the inside as well as the outside of the shoes. It may require several coats, as some shoes may absorb the bronzing liquid, and make the appearance patchy. Continue the procedure until you are convinced that the appearance is even, smooth and glossy. Avoid painting in a place that is too windy or open, as this will allow dust particles to settle on the shoes, thereby disturbing the process.
6. After the shoes have dried, to give them an authentic antique look, you can use a little black oil paint, mixed with a small amount of bronzing liquid to highlight the creases of the shoes, using a fine brush. Allow the shoes to dry.
7. Give the bronzed baby shoes a final touch, by fixing them to an antique wooden base, or encasing them in a glass box, to be presented, or just preserved.

Several kits are available in the market to bronze baby shoes, that can also enable you to complete the entire procedure yourself. The steps to use the kit are similar to the ones mentioned above.

When you get baby shoes bronzed professionally, companies that do so use high quality chemicals to harden the shoes, and they undergo a process of electroplating. The shoes are then polished to a shine, and coated with a solution that will protect the shoes.

Bronzed baby shoes can also be used as book ends, can be mounted on picture frames, or just kept as a beautiful show piece at home. As such, it also becomes a great gift idea. It can also be used to announce the arrival of a baby, using any pair of baby shoes, and makes for a great baby shower gift too. In short, bronzing baby shoes is the most creative way of making precious memories eternal.