Weddingbee boards

I've been doing a ton of research on strassed shoes ever since I saw a thread about them here on the Bee. I scoured the internet for the best crystals, glue, tools and technique and got ready to get glueing. I went to DSW and picked up a pair of size 9 white and black pinstriped Jessica Simpson Oscar pumps. I chose them because of their canvas-y material, no need to scuff up leather so that the glue will stick.

I found a great website to order crystals, tools and glue from after I struck out on all three counts at my local Michael's. I found a website called Dreamtime Creations. I ordered GemTack Glue, a Jewel Setter Kit and various Cobalt Swarovski Crystals in sizes varying from 5ss all of the way to 20ss. Because I spent over $100 they included a kit of glue syringes for free. Score! I recieved my order yesterday and immediately got to work when I got home.

My Oscar's started out white with black pinstripes:

I wanted to use a dark colour of crystal (Cobalt, for my something blue) so I decided to darken the fabric with Sharpies. It took a lot longer than I'd expected, but I didn't want to go through the hassle of dying them.

I then started making a 5ss crystal border that was 3 deep around the opening of the shoe. and discovered I'd grossly underestimated the amount of 5ss crystals I'd need. I'd finished about half of one shoe's border with 3 gross (about 432 crystals) so I moved on to adding 20ss crystals, the biggest I ordered all over both shoes.

The glue is still wet in those pictures, but it dries completely clear. Going to order more tiny crystals so I can finish the border before I start filling them in. I probably have about 6 hours invested in them at this point.

Progress has been made! I am officially out of crystals and almost 12 hours into the project, but now I have a good idea of how many more to order. I've almost finished the heels and the toe of the right shoe. I'm waiting on an order of 5ss crystals (tiny ones) to fill in the gaps left by the 20ss, 16ss, 12ss, 9ss and 7ss that are currently blinging out the heels and toe of my pumps.

Here's a side view of what I've completed so far.

And a view of the heels.

And last but not least a close of of the toe.

I wish I had better lighting, the pictures do not do the sparkle of these shoes justice!

Aww, thank you! I can't wait to see how yours turn out!

@paytonkm: I've used approximately 3700 crystals so far (I did a bit more work than is shown in the pics) and am anticipating needing around 7000 total.

Thanks everyone, I'll try to remember to take more pictures. I haven't made much progress lately, June is a big birthday month in my family so my play money has had to go towards presents this month. Hopefully I'll be able to order some more gems soon!

@FutureMrsMoore: 20ss, 16ss, 12ss, 9ss, 7ss and 5ss. The 3 deep 5ss border took quite a few, but I'm really filling in the gaps as tightly as possible. If I stuck to the larger sizes and wasn't a nutcase about filling everything in I could probably get away with half of what I'll need.

Here is an update. I finished the border, completely filling in both heels and the right toe.

I was able to get the pictures in natural light so the colour of the blue comes through better.

@ellabee: Thanks! It is a TON of crystals, haha. I will be bejeweling for years it seems! I've estimated it will take me a total of 40 hours and I'm just under 18 hours in so far.

@YSQueen: Thank you! :)

Thanks guys! I don't have any updates, I still haven't ordered any more crystals... I guess I should get cracking on that! :)

Edit: You guys made me feel so guilty for slacking, I just put in another order of crystals! So hopefully I'll have an update for you soon!

I finally finished the right shoe! The left one... well, I have a ton of work to do on that one, heh. They're so sparkly!!

Thanks for the motivation Bees! Hopefully I'll have the left shoe done soon!

@msrdsx82: I don't have the time either, lol. Notice how it's taken me a month to get one done!

@FutureMrsMoore: Thanks! :)

@heather25: I'm not sure I catch what you're asking? The DIY ones are glued (I used GemTac, though I hear E600 works too). If you wanted custom strassed Loubies and don't have the time to do it yourself, Redo My Shoe is FAB. He'll strass any designer shoe. I actually modelled mine of of a pair of Catwomans that he strassed cobalt.

Thanks ladies! :) I've been putting off finishing them because I forgot to order 7ss crystals so I need to order some before I can finish the left shoe with the 5ss.

@jhilly: I'll have spent about $400, shoes included, when I'm completely done.You can cut costs by using more of the larger sized crystals, spacing them further apart and by using non-Swarovski crystals. I also wear a size 9, so someone with smaller feet would have less crystals to purchase as well.

Finished them! Full update here!