We still can't figure out how to get the instructions back to those of you who saved them, so we're trying this route in the meantime. Thanks to Jan H for her help on this.


Instructions for Mary Janes

I use a 50:50 mix of Wilton fondant and gumpaste and use Tylo glue for attaching the pieces (see recipe below).

Materials:

- Fondant and gumpaste in equal portions  
- Template, sized to your preference
- Mat for rolling out fondant/gumpaste
- Cutting mat (I use the self-healing kind used in sewing)
- Ruler (for cutting and stitching straight pieces)
- Stitching tool (tracing wheel, or PME or Wilton stitching tool)
- X-acto knife
- Tylo glue
- Wilton flower former, largest former
- Tweezers
- Wilton small circle cutter
- Pixie "Disco" dust, luster dust, etc.
- Tip #9 for polka dots, if desired (or other decorations)
- Parchment paper
- Cornstarch

Steps:

1. Cut out both soles and let dry on parchment paper lightly dusted w/cornstarch.

2. Cut out the front piece for one of the shoes. Stitch the upper neck of this piece. I hold the stitching tool in my right hand, while guiding the tool with my left (Im right handed). This seems to help steady my hand, particularly while stitching around the circular portion.

3. Attach the stitched front piece to one of the shoes with Tylo glue. Use two fingers to lightly push the piece out and slightly stretch it to get the rounded, snubbed toe look. (You may have to cut a little bit of the paste off at the sides to get just the right look.) Take some plastic wrap and crumple it up, and place it underneath the formed toe and let dry.

4. Repeat the above, and glue the front piece on the second shoe. (This allows sufficient time for the first shoe to dry, so when youve finished attaching the second toe/front piece, you can start on the back section of the first shoe.)

5. Cut out one back section and attach it to the first shoe w/Tylo glue. Wrap this piece on the outside of the front section at the join.

6. Now cut out the back section for your second shoe and attach it.

7. For the banding around the base of the shoes, roll the fondant/gumpaste mixture fairly thin (about 1/8 inch), cut out two strips for each shoe (place one strip under a practice board or plastic wrap to keep it from drying out), and then stitch both the upper and lower edges of the strip.

Attach the front strip first, going from one edge of the front section to the other. Use an X-acto knife to make clean cuts where it will match up with the back strip. Now, stitch and glue the back strip bringing it just to the edge of the front strip, and again use an X-acto knife to make clean edges. (You will probably have some excess banding to cut away, both front and back, but this allows you to use the best sections of stitching.)

8. Cut another two strips for the banding on your second shoe and attach them.

9. Cut two straps and stitch both on the upper and lower edges. Lightly dust the backside of a large Wilton flower former with cornstarch and place the straps on to dry (the formers are upside down to get the curve).

10. When the straps are dry, attach one to each shoe with Tylo glue.

11. Cut out a button for each shoe, using the smallest of the Wilton circle cutters (or something with a similar diameter). Indent with the flat backside of an X-acto knife. This gives it the button look. Let the buttons dry, and then attach w/Tylo glue.

12. Now the fun part: You can decorate your little shoes w/just about anything you choose: small flowers along the straps or toe of the shoe, polka dots, snowflakes, etc. For polka dots, I used tip no. 9 to cut out the dots and then let them dry. Then I brushed them w/Tylo glue and sprinkled Pixie Dust Disco Dust on top for a sparkly effect. (Note: Be sure to leave the Pixie dust on for at least an hour before using tweezers to gently shake off the excess dust; otherwise, the glue will be very gummy and distort the polka dots when you try to pick them up.) After the polka dots have dried, attach them w/Tylo glue.


Tylo Glue: (Reprinted with permission from Louise at www.cakejournal.com)

-  1 Tsp. tylose powder
-  30 Tsp. boiled, cooled water

Mix the water and tylose powder in a container. Place the lid on the container and shake well. Itll look lumpy at first, but leave it out overnight and the tylose will dissolve into a clear, thick gel. It should then be kept in the refrigerator and away from direct sunlight when not in use. The tylo glue is good for approximately two weeks.

Whew! That's it. If anything is unclear, just PM me and I'll try to help. Sorry this happened, but hopefully this helps.

Have a great weekend! Diana

P.S. Here's a link to the Mary Janes template:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1688585

Soooo cool...thanks

Awesome!!! Thanks lots

Thank you..truely appreciated.

How far in advance should these be made? it seems like there may be time necessary for the pieces to dry?

I'm making a baby shower cake this weekend and I'm so thankful for your instructions! The only problem I'm having is I don't have the flower formers.

Could you share approx. how big they are or something else I can substitute for the same effect?!

Thanks so much!