Wednesday, January 12, 2011

How to Make a Gum Paste Stiletto, 2011 Version :)


Step 1:  Get snowed in for 3 days.  Seriously, I haven't left my home since Sunday afternoon.  Might leave tomorrow but I'm not totally convinced...

Step 2:  Get inspired.  My birthday's coming up in a couple weeks so I thought I might need a fabulous stiletto for a fabulous cake.

Here we go...


Start with tip 2A circles.  Cut these out from 1/8" thick gum paste.

Carefully thread them onto 18 gauge wire and start letting them set up.

While you're waiting for those to set up, check out your adorable dog:
This is Lola.  She's a real dog... not made of gum paste. :) 

I digress.  Must be cabin fever... Anyway, mold the rest of your heel:

And shape your sole and let that set up a bit:

I form my soles using some combination of tape, cardboard, foam, and a little shaper I made out of some useless fondant a while back.  It's held up well.  I've also done it using parchment paper taped to a book and a countertop-- just make sure the slope is nice and gradual.  Sorry, I'm an engineer... I look at things like slope. ;) 

Next step, attach the heel carefully once its set up enough, and add the sole lining.  On this shoe I also added a platform under the toe.

Next steps, I wrapped the side of the shoe (around the platform) and added the back.  For pieces like the back, I like to use two different colors of gum paste layered together, and you can either roll it out by hand or put it through a pasta roller.

Next, I added the toe piece and supported it with some paper towel while it set up.

Next I added the loop on the back of the heel and painted the lining gold before adding any more straps.

Then comes the really fun part.
Precariously balance the next straps to let them set up.  These are also two toned (red on the bottom and ivory on top).   Right now the shoe kinda looks like it came out of surgery... but she'll be okay.


Once those straps were set, I added the center (vertical) strap and let it set a bit.  This strap has 3 pieces-- a center red piece with the zipper on it, and then the outside red piece with the stitching.


Finally I added the zipper pull and the ankle strap.

That completes the structure, and the rest was just dusting and painting! Oh, and a lot of gold dragees...


One by one... one little dragee at a time...


Ahh, victory!  Then to the photoshoot table... such as it is.


This shoe is based on a pair that I actually own.  I don't find too many occasions to wear them, but I love the design.  


Don't forget to paint the bottom of the heel black... I almost did. ;) 
So there you have my snow day(s) project.  Hope you like it as much as I do!  :)

You might see it again on a cake in a couple weeks...

66 comments:

  1. SOOOO gorgeous!! Looks like a pair i would love to own! It's flawless!! I love it! If only i can get real pair!

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  2. I just found you on Cake Central, and you are awesome! I'm following you here and on facebook, now, for sure! I'm close to Birmingham, AL and have started making cakes in the past few years. I had hoped to go to Culinard, but money being what it is, I can't. Anyway, I have a facebook page, Any Way Cakes, and would love it if you hopped over and critiqued some of my work. Thanks!

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  3. O M G wow wow wow
    Way to go Roxanne

    xx mom

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  4. What an awesome creation and well engineered. See how all the CAD and structural engineering paid off. Dad

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  5. Marion www.kakefatet.mono.netJanuary 14, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    i love it :-)))))))))))))))))))

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  6. Uh....amazing work. Simply amazing. I think your dad is right about all that engineering training paying off!!!

    I am currently working on my PhD in Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences (just passed my dissertation proposal defense on Friday and so now I am ABD!!!) All things related to baking and cooking have been such a wonderful diversion and way for me to balance the sometimes overly pointy-headed world of academics.

    If this is any indicator of future efforts, I can't wait to see what other wonderful things you come up with on the way to your degree!!!!

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  7. Beautiful! Great job!

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  8. Absolutely amazing! You have a gift!

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  9. I found a serious stiletto shoe made of gumpaste that I would love your imput on. How can I get it to you?

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  10. Perfect tuto
    thank you very mutch

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  11. I been doing a wilton course and a lady in our class did this very nice i must say

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  12. Hi. this is absolutely amazing. I am trying my best to make a stiletto with platform and I'm wondering if you can offer ay tips
    Thanks

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  13. Great, Thanks for the Inpiration, Juana. Perth amboy, nj

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  14. This is amazing. I love it!

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  15. Great gob!!!! This is truly amazing. I love all the detail.

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  16. Dam Sam! ( misspelled on purpose). That's a serious shoe. The first thing that popped into my mind was Beyonce, for some reason :-). Great job!

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  17. thank you thank you thank you!!! you are awesome !!!

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  18. How can I get the template so that I can try this shoe?

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    1. How can I get this mold how long does it take to dry

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    2. How can I get this mold how long does it take to dry

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  19. Your story inspires me. I love how well made all your work is. Thank you for sharing your talent, I am glad to see you are having fun with it. Kim in NM

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  20. Just started sugar work and this is wonderful! I hope to be half this good one day. Keep up the great work!

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  21. Hi Roxanne! I am amazed at your awesome creativity! This is one of the sexiest edible shoes I've ever seen!! I used your tutorial and made a stiletto heel cake topper for an upcoming cake that I'm making. Thank you SO much for this awesome tutorial! I added a link for it on my blog so that my followers can see where my inspiration came from! Again, thanks so much for sharing your amazing talent with us!! =D
    Here is the link to my blogpost... http://cakesbydusty.blogspot.com/2012/01/gumpaste-stiletto-heel.html

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  22. You do beautiful work the shoe looks so real great job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  23. beautiful. I will try to make one. you really inspired me :)

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  24. Oauuuu!!! I know that this is old work for you , but i have just discoveder you ! Very helpfull all you post ! A huge thanks all away from Romania. Congratulations !!!
    Best regards,
    Mihaela

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  25. Absolutely loved your demonstration, your shoe is devine, you have a truely wonderful gift, continue to inspire those of us who are just beginning, you are showing us how it could be if we just kept trying and following our dreams.

    Many thanks, and looking forward so much for futher inspirations.

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  26. this is fantastic,I am going to attempt a shoe today. If it turns out half as good as yours I will be happy.

    Keep up the good work

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  27. your awsome the shoe looks totaly real? I want a pair just like that!

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  28. wow!! truely amazing !!! Thank you so much for sharing the your tutorial .

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  29. This is incrEDIBLE!!!!! And I <3 that your blog is funny!!!!! Thankyou for your awesomeness! Luv Perth, Western Australia

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  30. Fabulous job. Is the zipper made of sugarpaste too? It looks so real. Love your dog too, btw. Mor Mor Sydney Australia

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  31. OMGEEEEE.... gorgeous. Best shoe I have seen and I love the step by step instructions.

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  32. we better start thinking about wearing it,not eating it its just so fabulous

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  33. any pattern for the shoes and the shoe form

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  34. do you have a template??? That is an awsome stiletto!!!

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  35. Hi Lorie & Anonymous-- I sell my 2-day stiletto class (this one and the navy blue one) instructions including patterns and sole formers, if you're interested. Contact me roxanne.a.moore at gmail.com.

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  36. Hi, i really love your shoe !
    I wanna try to make it, do you have like a template to cute the sole and straps out?
    Thank-you

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  37. Hi there! I have complete instructions with templates and a foam former for the sole available for this stiletto and the navy blue one with the brooch that I teach in my 2-day class. All instructions and the former and a free gemstone mold are $50 + s/h (usually $5.50 domestic) and I accept paypal payments. I also answer questions via email when you run into trouble. You can email me roxanne@cakesbyroxanne.com if you are interested! :)

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    Replies
    1. Hello my name is vanessa i live here in marietta, georgia i am interested in getting the instruction or taking a class email me some info nuyouniquenails@yahoo.com Thanks

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  38. thanks so much for a great tutorial- very helpful

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  39. This shoe is amazing, can tou post your Gumpaste recepie

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  40. hi Roxanne
    Awesome project!
    Can you explain how you made the platform part of the shoe please?

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  41. QUE BELLO TRABAJO!!!!!PARECE REAL!!!!

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  42. Thanks for such a wonderful tutorial. Amazing craftsmanship. Love love love.

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  43. Wow, that is really a fantastic sugar shoe, x. I've just seen this via another cake site I visited. You're a very talented lady. I'm in Leeds in the UK, so you're getting views from far and wide x.

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  44. Hi. Not really a shoe person but I love your tutorial! Thanks for sharing!!!!

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  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  46. Hi, I have a shoe cake coming up on April 13th and I would like permission to "try" and duplicate your shoe to put on the cake. Best tutorial I have found and I've been looking for about a month. Thank you :)

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  47. So fun!! I want to try! you are very talented! Thanks for showing the steps

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  48. Really nice. found you on Cake Central. Will def be checking out your work from now. Just so you know, this new fan is writing all the way from Lagos, Nigeria!!

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  49. Your stiletto is really amazing - looks real. Thanks for sharing your tutorial

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  50. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  51. How do picture on sugar paste?

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  52. I saw this shared by Peggy Does Cake on her FB page and have instantly become your fan (I'm on your blog for the first time). You are amazingly talented. This looks like a REAL shoe, gosh!!!!!!

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  53. You did an amazing job!! If you dont mind me asking, how did you get the platform part done (the thick part of the sole)?

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  54. Nice very beautiful, am so impressed. U jus got a new fan frm nigeria

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