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How To Make Eco-Friendly Emergency Flip Flops

Posted on August 14, 2009
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The life-saving, high style, eco-friendly emergency flip flops!

Step 1: Get your materials together

You'll need

  1. A piece (or pieces) of stiff cardboard about 4 square feet in size.
  2. A box cutter or razor blade
  3. a pair of scissors
  4. a pencil
  5. Some Gorilla Glue
  6. two plastic shopping bags
  7. Paint or markers for decoration (optional)

Step 2: Make the layers

Draw out the foot shape on the cardboard. You can use your own foot or another (less eco-friendly) plastic flip flop.
Cut out this first shape and use it to stencil 12 shapes, 6 left and 6 right. Flip the shape to get the other foot.
Using the box cutter and scissors, cut out the remaining 11 shapes.

Step 3: Glue the Layers together

For each foot -
Glue 4 layers together
Glue the other 2 layers together

Set the four parts aside to dry for about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Add the holes for the straps

The 4 layer piece will be the top of each shoe:

Mark with a pencil where you want the straps to go through the shoe
Use a pencil or other sharp object of similar size to push 3 holes through the cardboard layers.

Step 5: Begin making the straps

Get your two plastic bags and cut each one as shown in the picture.

Step 6: Tie knots in the straps

starting about 2.5 inches from the bottom of the bag, make 4 knots spread about 1.5 inches apart.

You should have a tail on the other end of about 2 inches.

The first knot to the last should measure about 6 inches.

Step 7: Join the strap

Tie the bag pieces together on one end.

Step 8: Attach the straps

Using a sharp object, push the tied end of the bag into the toe opening.

Push the other ends into the back openings.

Pull through each end until the knot is flush with the top of the layer.

Test the shoe on your foot to make sure it fits, pull out the straps a little if needed.

Step 9: Glue the layers together

Apply a LOT of glue to both sides of each shoe layer and press together firmly.

Step 10: Let it all dry

Place something heavy on both shoes to ensure a good bond.

Leave for at least 6 hours; preferably overnight.

Step 11: Show off your new shoes

After drying completely your shoes are ready to wear.

Place them in the trunk of your car for emergencies or maybe next to your back door for the next time you need to run outside.

Step 12: Flip Flops even a Gorilla could love!

Posted to Instructables by nothinglikeit

Instructables is a web-based documentation platform where passionate people share what they do and how they do it, and learn from and collaborate with others.

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