The problem: I needed to replace my dark brown boots, but I couldn't find anything to fit my calves. One pair came close, but the leather was so soft, the shafts puddled around my ankles.

The solution: I found a damaged pair of Sam Edelman boots at the swap meet. Wrong color, wrong style, but the calf fit like a second skin, and the price was right. Cheap boots + brown dye = experiment time!

(I stupidly did not take a photo of the boots before alteration. They were these, but damaged on the OTK part:
http://piperlime.gap.com/brows.....tid=plfr1r

I used Tarrago's self shine leather dye kit in dark brown.

Step one: Scrub with preparer fluid (provided) to make sure the leather will accept the dye.

Step two: Use paint brush (provided) to paint dye into seams, crevices, and anywhere else hard to reach with a sponge.

Step three: Use sponge (provided) to apply dye to boots. Use a circular motion, and don't let the dye glob up - spread it out nice and thin so that the leather can absorb it. Let coats dry.

Step four: Check out your dye job in various types of light to see if there is a nice, even color. Repeat step three as needed.

You can also use masking tape to protect hardware or other elements that you don't want dyed, but I am pretty steady with a brush (and impatient), so I skipped that part. Didn't matter in the least for me. It seriously was THAT easy. I didn't make a mess, didn't run into any problems. I will definitely use this dye again to dye more leather!