Instructions for my gumpaste shoe.

How to make my gumpaste shoe!

You will need…….

· Modelling paste
· Non stick baking paper
· Pencil and scissors
· Modelling tools
- small rolling pin
- cutting wheel or sharp non-serrated knife
- quilting wheel
· Non stick board (a smooth surface)
· Paint brushes (small)
· Sugar glue (water works just as well)
· Letter cutters
· Food colouring of your choice
· Gold lustre dust
· Clear alcohol
· Royal Icing
· Piping tip “0” (very small round tip)
· Piping bag
· Wooden skewer
· And last of all.. Some kids play dough.


Step one ………...Making the templates.

Shape A is the main frame of the shoe and shape B is the inner sole.

Shape C is the top of the shoe.

Shapes D, E, F and G are the
decorations on the top of the shoe. (Shape D should look like shape F in reverse, my drawing skills on the computer need some work!!!)

Shape H is the tip of the heel.

These templates are only a guide and should look like this when layed on top of each other. My shoe was actual size but you can make it any size you would like!
Draw all of these shapes onto paper and cut them out. (Feel free to skip a bit if you’re an advanced decorator and just make your shapes free hand when you need them!!)


Step 2 ….Use the Kids play dough to make a drying platform.

Take a block of kids play dough and mould it to the shape of the shoe so you have a place to put your modelling paste sole to dry.

Lay a piece of non stick baking paper over the play dough so that the modelling paste and the play dough NEVER TOUCH. The moisture in the play dough will make the modelling paste go soggy if it touches.

Step 3….Making the sole

Depending on the size shoe you are making, roll out enough modelling paste to fit your template. Roll the modelling paste thick (about 4mm) for the heel and thin it out down to about 2mm for the front of the shoe. Place your template (Shape A) on the modelling paste and cut around the template using a sharp knife or a cutting wheel.

Place the sole you cut onto the drying platform you made in step 2.
Leave to dry over night.


Step 4…. The inner sole

Colour some modelling paste to make the inner sole of your shoe. Roll your modelling paste to an even thickness of 2mm. Using shape B cut out your inner sole.

Carefully stick this to the sole starting at the heel and work your way down to the toe. The shape may stretch a bit while attaching so any excess would be at the toe which can be trimmed away with a sharp knife. (Any imperfections will be covered later by the top).

Leave to dry.

Step 5…. The heel

Using modelling paste, mould the shape of the heel . Start by rolling a tear drop shape, flatten the base onto your work surface. Place the flattened base onto the template for the sole (Shape A) and shape to the same size as the heel area.

Cut the wooden skewer to the hight of your shoe by measuring it against the height of your drying platform. Place the skewer into the centre of the heel and work the paste up to the hight of the skewer getting thinner as you go up. The end should finish being the same size as the template shape H. Flatten the inner side of the heel as seen in the picture. Make shape H out of brown modelling paste and attach with glue.

Stick the heel to the base of the sole with sugar glue.
Stand up in a safe place making sure the heel is straight.

Leave to dry overnight.

Step 6….The front of the shoe.

Colour some modelling paste for the front of the shoe. Thinly roll out your paste and using template shape C, cut the front piece out. Brush some sugar glue along the back of the two shortest edges and stick them to the edge on the bottom of the sole. Make a cone shaped roll of baking paper and push it under the front to help keep its shape. Leave to dry.

Step 7….Gold trim across the top of the shoe

Roll out your modelling past thinly and cut out shape E using your template. Use your quilting wheel to indent the stitching around the edges. Stick in place with sugar glue. Do the same with shapes D and F tucking the edge under the side of the sole.

Cut two of shape G, indent stitching and glue in place tucking the edges into the holes of the other shapes.

Leave to dry.


Step 8…. The texture on the front of the shoe.

Using piping tube size 0 or 1, pipe the paten on the top of the shoe starting at the top and working down to the tip of the shoe. Leave to dry.

Step 9…. Finishing touches.

Mix your gold lustre dust with a small amount of clear alcohol to make it like a paint. Paint the gold highlights as seen in the photo.

Using letter cutters and a contrasting colour paste make a “brand” to personalise your shoe and attach it to the inner sole.

With any luck you should now have an edible shoe in front of you!