A crafty idea!

[Libby]

I thought I'd pass on this discovery in case anyone else might be interested.

Packing a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower is a pain and I'm always looking for an alternative. Today I found "salon shoes" at a local dollar store for 50c a piece. These "shoes" are made from thin craft foam and are held on like a flip flop. They would be very easy to make. All you would need is two sheets of craft foam (pictured below)

www.sunmore.com.tw/images/product-craft-sheet-colour-031j.jpg

Trace your foot, run a string or elastic through a hole for a toe to grip and WHAM! Cheap and extra light flip flops that can be rolled up.

;D

[jennifer]

Hey that's a smart idea, light and cheap! Perfect.

I'm interested though in how solid they would be once filled with water, they'd probably be so heavy the string would break, no?

Curious...
xoxo

Jen

[Libby]

They don't absorb water ;D

It just beaded off the ones I made. This stuff isn't like normal foam, it's more like pliable plastic.

[jennifer]

Funky then!

[Jazz]

That's really sounds like a great idea. I'll have to try that someday.

I'd like to share a crafty idea myself although I don't think it worked out 100% but good enough for what we needed. I recently helped my niece (13 years old) pack for her trip last month (Spain, Italy and France). She traveled w/ a student ambassador program for the entire month. That poor girl had practically NOTHING worth bringing so we had to shop for almost everything. Money was running out fast! We were desperately hoping to find some really good water sandals that don't look too sporty, too bulky and too colorful. You know, something that looks OK w/ skirts. capris, slacks, khakis. I was hitting stores (online to) on a regular basis, nothing. One day I was at a discount store and saw Tevas for US$ 5.99! It was only one pair and in her size. Design was good but it was too colorful. We were running out of time so I got them.

I thought the straps felt like fabric so may be black non dimensional fabric paint will cover it up. The paint went on fine and after a couple of coats it did cover the colors 100%. I even submerged it in water and pounced on it a few times just to make sure it didn't bleed, it was fine. Well, she sure loved her Tevas. She took long walks, ran, hiked, mountain climbed, rock climbed (using hooks and pulleys), road bikes, jumped in lakes and swam in the ocean in them. She took a permeant maker for touch ups. But even with a marker the fabric paint flaked in the heavily worn areas. It was wasn't too bad. You really had to put your face close to those sandals to see they weren't 100% black. Because of the heat I think she definitely used them more than her walking shoes.

What I might have done differently was to wash the sandals w/ water and soap first, let them dry and then paint. The paint bottle said to wash clothing to remove sizing. The sandal might have had sizing. Anyway, we thought it all worked out well in the end.

[megamay]

while we are on the topic of being crafty. I haven't actually tried this yet, but I plan to.

A friend of mine who backpacked around the world used a slightly different take on a money belt. She used a tank top undershirt thing with pockets sewn in it. So take a white tank top and fold the bottom up around your belly to make like a half shirt, then sew zippers to hold the bottom part of the shirt attached to sort of right under your breasts. She said she had three little pockets in front and one big one in back.

Megan

[jennifer]

funky idea for the tanktop, I really hated sweating because of my moneybelt.

I will keep this idea into consideration! I imagine thought that it shows through your shirt that you have stuff in the pockets!

[Kim]

Another idea I like is sewing a velcro pocket into your pillow case to keep everything safe while you are sleeping.

I always bring my own pillowcase as you can wash it and after getting pink eye from a dirty pillow case once at a hostel in California, I'm not a big fan of sharing!

Kim

[Libby]

These are great ideas!

I'm taking a hostel sheet with a built in pillowcase. Should I take another?

Velcro is a great idea. It is much louder and difficult to open when compared to a zippered or buttoned compartment.

I still don't know what to do with my money belt while I sleep. Wear it?

[me]

i always do when in hostels. but, what i use isn't a money belt, exactly:

about 15 years ago my uncle took three nylon cloth rectangles, one a few inches longer than the others, sewed them together to form a two compartment pouch with a velcro secured flap which is just the right size for a US passport & a few important things, and sewed a leather loop onto it to hook it over his belt. it fits inside one's pants and is easy to get to.

i inherited it, and have really gotten a lot of use from it.

- d

Libby said:

I still don't know what to do with my money belt while I sleep. Wear it?