I'm having a problem...

When I have made a flat shape on my work surface, how do I get it to my baking surface without distortion?  My work surface is a large square of glass with grid lines on paper that I have taped underneath to aid in even cuts, etc.  I find that no matter how carefully I lift it with my tissue blade, I'm still correcting by eye once I've moved it.  Right now it is especially challenging because I'm trying to make uniform "tiles".

It is probably something very simple which I have just missed.   Any help from anyone? 

Hi Marji, and welcome to the board.

If I understand you correctly, after you cut your tiles on the glass (with grid paper underneath--clever idea), you're having a hard time keeping them from distorting when moving them to your baking surface.

How about baking them right on your glass? I don't know if all glass will be okay in an oven, but there's always Pyrex.

Or, stick 'em in the freezer so they get good and hard and less likely to distort when going from glass to baking surface?

What kind of tiles are you making? 

Thanks for your response, Linelle.

As for what kind of tiles I'm making...I've accumulated so many pieces of clay from past projects as well as canes that I need to just use stuff.  The very first polymer clay book I bought when I got started was the one by Irene Semanchuk Dean.  It looks to me like she makes tiles of many or most of her clay designs and that they may work their way into larger works.  That is my inspiration.  I hope to get my many pieces of clay stuff into a form that I might be able to use them.

I'm also looking for different ways to use interesting clay designs without it necessarily being jewelry.  That way I can concentrate on the clay itself and give a rest to wirework, clasps, etc. (all the additional components that go into jewelry).

As far as baking on the work surface, the one I'm working on now is too big for my oven.  But it is an idea if I can modify something else.   

Too big for your oven?!!!

I have "Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay" by Irene Semanchuk Dean. I'm a sucker for faux.

I recently tried a technique that would be great for tiles: Bake plain white clay with stamped surface. Then spread ink-tinted liquid clay for a glazed effect. It really looks like tile.

I'm also more interested in things that aren't jewelry, or that at least don't need to be strung. I guess I'm trying techniques to see where they lead. Often the journey's more rewarding than the destination.

So, about that project too big for your oven... 

I'm assuming you are slipping your blade under the pieces to lift them and they are still sticking and distorting?   If you are doing it that way and still having trouble, some thoughts: 

It sounds to me like you've got very soft clay.  If it's Premo, there will be firmer clay coming along and the problem you are having will virtually disappear.

You can try leaching the clay a bit to remove some of the plasticiser. That will firm it up, but also makes it a little more brittle which might not be what you want. And leaching is a pain.  It works, but it is imprecise and will slow you down.

I would suggest that you get some ceramic tiles small enough to fit into your oven.  Use a Sharpie to draw the grid onto your tile so you can see cutting lines.  Then leave the polymer clay tiles right on the ceramic working tile for baking.

If you don't want to use a Sharpie to mark your ceramic working surface, you can place the sheet of clay on the surface and just use a ruler and needle tool or something like that to score it.  Then when it comes out of the oven use your blade to cut it on the score lines while it is still hot.  If it cools before you get them all cut, pop it back into the oven for a few minutes to reheat, and then continue cutting. 

 (Too big for my oven, oh my!)

Sorry I misled you...I meant that the glass work surface was too big for my oven, not the project.  My work surface is a piece of glass 14" x 14"; the tile that I use to bake on is about 8"x 10" and just fits the shelf.  

 Thanks, jilla,

I think I'll be visiting Home Depot looking for some additional tiles to bake on.  The ones I have are good and would do the job, but if I will be working on them as well, I'll tie more up.

I've also been reading with interest the posts about the new firmer Premo.  I use both Premo and Fimo without necessarily noticing which is going into a project, perhaps both.  (Can this cause other problems?  Mixing them, I mean.)

Hahaha, it's the work surface is too big, not the project. I had visions of you making something bigger than a large Thanksgiving turkey.

It's good to have a number of various size tiles on hand. They make good work or baking surfaces and tend to clean up really well. Plus they're cheap. 

There are different opinions about mixing the two kinds of clay so it sort of depends on what you are doing and what the percentages are.  Note that they do bake at different temperatures, so that could have an affect on how they end up in terms of being completely cured.  They also finish different in terms of how they take the sanding, buffing, etc. and how shiny they will get.

I try not to mix brands BUT I will do it sometimes.  Usually I'll use a smidge of a Sculpey III color I really like to tint some Premo pearl or translucent.  But I'm only using it as a tint so it's at most 10% of the total amount of clay.