Did you use anything special to help you remove the faux leathery stuff, or just your fingernails?

would it make it easier if you cut out the pieces and then glued them together, or would it turn out differently?

This makes me want to reconstruct some of my mom's old schoolteacher Laura Ashley-esque dresses. 

I would love to wear this dress with peeptoe  heels or my big black combat boots!

Professionally done! wowee!