Jem Lady Shoe

Jem gumpaste shoe

Materials/equipment

Jem shoe cutter/mold Rolling out board

Gum paste Small rolling pin

Vegetable shortening Artist Pallet knife

Edible glue plus brush 1/8^th space bars

A small amount of cornstarch in a dusting bag

Optional – gold petal dust/alcohol

Lightly dust both parts of the shoe heel mold with cornstarch.

Soften (knead) the gum paste. Roll a piece of gum paste into a ball (to remove the cracks). Shape this piece of paste into a cone, pinch down the sides of the cone. Place the pinched surface of the gum paste in one half of the mold. Place the other part of the mold on top and click together.

Press the gum paste into the mold. Carefully cut away the surplus gum paste.

Remove one half of the mold. Carefully remove the molded piece of gum paste. Place (broad end down) on a work surface and leave to dry (24 hours).

Carefully smooth/trim away the surplus dried gum paste from the heel.

Lightly grease the rolling out board and rolling pin with vegetable shortening.

Soften (knead) the gum paste. Use the space bars and rollout a piece of gum paste to 1/8^th of an inch in thickness. Cut out one shoe sole.

Paint a thin smear of edible glue on the broad end of the heel

Attach the sole. Place over the former to dry (24 hours)

Once the sole/heel are dry.

Soften (knead) the gum paste. Rollout a piece of gum paste to 1/16^th of an inch in thickness. Cut out the shoe straps.

Place over the former for 5 minutes (to help hold the shape)

Attach the thick strap (using a small amount of edible glue) to the heel of the shoe. If necessary use a small piece of sponge to hold the strap at the right angle/position.

Attach/secure the two thin straps to the front of the shoe. If necessary use a small piece of sponge to hold the straps at the right angle/position. Leave to firm up (2 hours).

Roll a thin sausage of gum paste and secure to the outer adhere of the shoe sole.

Optional – texture this sausage of gum paste with a knife.

Cut out a further thin strap of gum paste and secure to the heel strap (small amount of edible glue). Trim the strap. Add a tiny ball of gum paste to the strap to create the illusion of a button fastening. Leave to dry (24 hours)

Lightly grease the rolling out board and rolling pin with vegetable shortening.

Soften (knead) a piece of black gum paste. Use the space bars and rollout a piece of gum paste to 1/8^th of an inch in thickness. Cut out one shoe sole.

Paint a small amount of edible glue on the sole of the shoe. Attach the black gum paste sole.

Trim the black gum paste level with the heel.

Paint a spot of edible gum paste on the heel of the shoe. Place on a piece of black gum paste (1/8^th inch in thickness)

Trim/remove surplus gum paste.

Optional – mix the gold petal dust with a small amount of alcohol (to create a paint) and paint the shoe.

Alternative design