Custom Steampunk Ankle Boots

Get your boots ready. Mine were Steve Maddens that I got from a thrift store. I recommend using suede, canvas, or very soft leather if you feel like ruining something expensive. The paint will crack and flake off vinyl and shiny leather, so avoid those.
Cut out your stencil templates. I just traced some basic gear shapes off my computer screen onto regular white paper. Regular paper is good, as opposed to plastic stencils, because shoes are not flat and your stencil will need to bend when you trace your designs onto your shoes.
I used a thin Sharpie pen to outline the gears on the suede because I wanted them to be outlined in black. You could use a pencil or colored pencil, or a washable marker, depending on your base material.
I only did the gears on the toes and heels- the places where the suede would be the least flexible.
Next, I took my silver paint (just regular craft paint) and carefully painted inside the lines. I kind of smooshed the paint with the paintbrush to rub it into suede.
I did two coats, letting them dry between each coat.
I used a strong tacky glue to adhere the metal button onto the brass gear-looking thing, and then more glue to tack that onto the boot (the the feathers stuck behind them to keep them securely on). Make sure to lie the boots on their side during the drying. I recommend Liquid Fusion clear urethane adhesive, because it's a strong glue but it's flexible, which means the glue won't crack when my foot moves inside the boot.