I, too do pretty well with baking as I follow Cindy’s recommendations almost to the letter. I did recently have one of those “necessity is the mother of invention” moments, though.  A few months back I transported my baking oven to Albuquerque to attend a workshop. I guess travel damaged the thermostat because my first baking attempt when I got home resulted in a total bead burn, and nothing I did could prevent the problem. Now to preface the rest of my story I need to tell you that  long ago I made a promise to my husband that I would not bake clay in the oven that cooks our food, a promise that I have kept (sort of). Wanting to finish the current project I decided to try baking in my Nesco roaster oven (you know those small table top roasters you can buy for $30 or so that are big enough to roast a turkey). It worked beautifully and has become my oven of choice. Like Anna, I like to bake way longer that the recommendations and maybe because there is no direct element I can do that without any risk of burning. I still follow all of Cindy’s  recommendations but lower the temp a bit. Maybe it’s not for everyone but since you asked for stories I thought I would throw mine in. ~Elizabeth-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay

I was not disappointed, this is a great tute! Love, love, love the idea of baking the entire portion of cane and then slicing when hot, as I always have problems with “mushed” slices for beads (too impatient to let the cane cool down after manipulating it!).  This will be a very lovely bead and next week’s parrot tulip looks marvelous as well! Very happy with this tute; thanks, Cindy and Doug! ~Becky-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Cane Making Tutorials

Well, I burned my beads for the first time. Didn’t keep an eye on the thermometer. They were fuchsia and I used a texture sheet and African Bronze Guilder’s paste. First time I really played with various techniques. So, I’ll be making a new batch tomorrow. And watching the thermometer like a hawk. Thank you Cindy and fellow clayers for all the good advice. Now, I’ve just got to follow that advice! ~Trudy-M >> This comment was originally posted here: When Baking Beads, It’s OK to Sometimes Break the Rules

Thank you for sharing all these results with us! Getting the Kato clay out and firing up the oven this weekend, and you just saved me a ton of work and time! ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Cornstarch and Baking Polymer Clay Beads

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Baking for an hour at 265 degrees is perfection. I haven’t burned anything yet! I did however, sandpaper my finger in my enthusiasm in my first project (a faux rock :). I’m feeling a little more confidence as I go along and am having fun instead of worrying about perfection. Thank you Cindy for your wonderful tutorials and easy style. ~Trudy-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Inclusions

Joyce, hang in there girl! Sure sounds a lot like one of my early days at this, lol. The best thing about polymer clay is that it waits for you, so you can take your time and refine each step.  Suggest you get the type of oven thermometer that registers temperature in a marked tube filled with red liquid. They hang from the top shelf of most ovens, and are reasonably priced. You can watch how quickly your temps spike and fall, which helps you to bake it longer for more strength and durability. I burned plenty. Learned to like the look of it too, it can be a lot like raku if there’s some sparkle or mica in it already. ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: How To Make Polymer Clay Beads

Using ceramic tiles to help avoid problems with baking flat pieces of polymer clay is something I have not yet encountered (told you I was new to this!!). And know I can fix it before it happens!! YAY!!! ~Kam-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay

Grace: As long as you monitor the temperature of your oven with a separate oven thermometer (step 4 above,) you shouldn’t have problems with burning your beads. If you are watching them carefully, you will notice if your beads start to burn. Polymer clay has a distinctively bad smell when it burns, so you can tell quickly, and then turn the oven off and remove the beads. You do not have to be afraid of it. It just smells bad (probably the most it would do is irritate your throat if you breathed a LOT of the smoke from burned clay.) You would have to breathe the fumes for a very long time or burn beads on a regular basis to have a toxicity problem. Just follow the baking directions here at the website, watch your beads while baking, monitor the temperature with a thermometer, and you’ll be fine! There’s lots of baking information here at the website, just type “baking tips” or “how to bake” into the search box at the top of the page and you’ll get a list of great articles on the topic. Be sure to read the comments under the articles, as there’s often even more info, tips and tricks than in the original post itself. If you fall in love with polymer clay like I have, you might want to get the Polymer Clay Basics Course. It has 39 short-and-to-the-point videos that teach you how to work with polymer clay. Cindy’s videos are wonderful, she has a fantastic teaching style and the videos themselves make it easy to see the details of what she’s doing. They’re really well-done. I hope you can join us here, you’ll love it! ~Phaedrakat >> This comment was originally posted here: How to Bake Polymer Clay

Hi Cindy, Well about two weeks ago I baked some yellow and pink what I called lentils (slightly flattened bicone beads) and 3 pendants in a toaster oven that I got on free cycle… tented it with aluminum foil (that was my first mistake) and then let bake for too long (walked away). Well, you can imagine what I had when I came back. Pendants looked like burned marshmallows and my beads were now brown and darker yellow. I almost threw everything in the garbage but decided to read your article about burnt beads. Guess what… I made a beautiful bracelet… the beads look like wood.. (my 4 year old granddaughter helped me shine then with future shine). Everyone who sees it just loves it. My daughter said she would even wear it. But I  know for the future what to do. Keep my eyes on my work and tent with parchment! Thinking of burning more to get the wood effect but the smell is not worth it. ~Natalie-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tutorials

Thanks to those who posted their experiences about the NuWave oven on earlier threads here. I saved and purchased it, and am extremely happy I listened to their advice. ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Library

I reiterate what so many people have said – use a thermometer when baking. It is astonishing how many ovens ‘spike’ – and I check every 15 minutes because the temperature changes. I read somewhere that to use one of the thermometers that has a liquid gauge rather than a dial – the better your thermometer is the more reliable will be the bake. Oh, and I learned on a Donna Kato workshop that she always puts anything she bakes into a bed of baking powder – we are talking about an inch thick bed! ~Penny-V >> This comment was originally posted here: How to Bake Polymer Clay Properly

This is a very good forum you have going here. It’s always good to see the exchange of information in polymer. I love reading these articles and the comments. Someone will always have an idea I never thought of and that I can incorporate. I found the ramp baking technique purely by chance. I think that sculpting gives a slightly different perspective than with beading. ~Shawn-G >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Beads

Cindy your advice on baking is A-1. No problems at all and I followed the instructions to the letter. And I must say, Amaco makes a great polymer clay oven. Not one spike throughout the hour. ~Trudy-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Jewelry Making

Laurel, thanks so much for the suggestion. Think the seed beads must be part of the centers for these beach roses to really make them pop. Being a former beader, I have tons of different sizes, finishes, and colors to choose from, and thanks to Cindy’s videos, I now can figure out how to keep them in place after baking. ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Sculpted Flower Beads

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That was a very well done explanation of your theory. You made me an instant believer and I’m changing my baking approach immediately. Thank you so much for taking the time to – not only answer my question – but to answer it so completely and with the scientific bent. That truly helped me. Again thanks. ~Jim-P >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay

WOW! Thank you ALL so much! Thank You for your kind words about my hearts and Thank You for your WONDERFUL ideas and suggestions!! I had no idea that Ultra Light Sculpey expands as it bakes but that makes so much sense as to why the hearts are cracking. This is the best family ever! I can’t wait to be able to show you what they are really supposed to look like when I follow your wonderful suggestions. God Bless You All! Thank you so much Cindy! I sure am glad I found your site! ~Cheryl-V >> This comment was originally posted here: Cracking Heart Beads

Thank you SO much for the reply!! This has been honestly, the most helpful (and awesome!) polymer clay website I’ve found thus far! I’ll be sure to pick up an oven thermometer this weekend. I’m just very happy for this cornstarch method. ~Cordy-F >> This comment was originally posted here: How to Bake Polymer Clay

Thankfully I have not had problems with baking because I follow your Cindy’s methods. I think the my good results are due to using an oven thermometer and baking way longer than recommended. I bake everything at least an hour, longer if I am cooking thick beads. ~Anna-S >> This comment was originally posted here: How To Bake Polymer Clay Properly

I did make some Puffy beads . Tiny Butterflies for ear rings, they came out ok and I was fascinated by how they puffed. Not ready to show yet, but think that was a great Tut. P.S. I always bake everything now for 1 Hr, I find it is better. Bye love to all. ~Elizabeth-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tutorials

All the time my medallion was baking I was hoping I had gotten all the air bubbles out. I had wanted to turn it upside down but new that wasn’t the answer. I never thought of the cornstarch. I will have to keep that in mind. I certainly would have rested easier while it was cooking with your method. So much to learn and great fun trying. ~Joyce-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay Beads

Phaedrakat – Thanks so much for the response. I baked the project longer and it seems to have cured. This web site is fantastic. So much information. I was so worried about cooking the clay to long. I have learned a lot. Tomorrow is show. Hopefully the judge will be impressed. ~Carla-J >> This comment was originally posted here: Sculpey Clay Craft Projects

Hi! Stumbled onto your site when surfing about pasta machine motors. Wow, what a find! I’ve been into PC off and on for quite a few years and I’m currently on a bender, if you know what I mean. This particular topic had me thinking about my situation. I bought a toaster oven many years ago and tried to use it to bake PC. My problem was I could never get the temperature to stabilize enough to get consistent results and ended up with lots of failures (weak pieces, burnt, fuming…) so, I still own it but I haven’t used it in years, for anything. I currently bake my PC stuff in an enameled covered roasting pan in my kitchen oven. I realized that I never removed the pizza stone I keep in there and this may be why I’ve had such consistent results. You see, I keep the stone in there to keep the oven temp from fluctuating wildly whenever the door is opened. This works very well for baking food. I would like to try using a stoneware tile or something similar in my toaster oven (something that would fit in the bottom of the oven) to achieve the same effect. ~Clarissa-G >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Beads

Thanks! Now I won’t ruin any flat pieces I make. ~Lani-R >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Flat Polymer Clay

Making faux opals is what first got me interested in polymer clay. Haven’t made any yet, but have been playing with clay for a few days now and I’m hooked. Now, if I could only figure out how long to bake my pieces for them to be properly cured, I’d be happy! If a piece is 1/8″ thick, fifteen minutes doesn’t seem to be long enough. I’ve only done three bakings. The first time, the beads (white/pearl mixture) darkened from too much heat. The second and third times, the pieces weren’t baked long enough, I think, as they were still flexible after they cooled. My toaster oven temp really varies a lot, and takes forever (nearly 20 minutes) to preheat, although putting a couple of ceramic tiles in the bottom seems to help it to hold the temperature better. I guess I should really subscribe to your lessons, Cindy.  Your blog is excellent. ~Sue-W >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Jewellery from Polymer Clay

I’ve had the clay breakdown around the holes of some of my beads and the problem always was that they were not cured enough. Sometimes I bake things twice just to be sure. Thank you Bette for your questions and sharing your problem and thank you Cindy for caring enough to answer. ~Melinda-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Bracelet Project

Thanks cindy for the lower temp. longer bake advice. tried it, nervously, and it worked! Have tried jade before and wasn’t too impressed but this method is different, use of alcohol ink etc. so will have a go. Many thanks. ~Christine-L >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Video Tutorials

Long ago I started looking at burnt clay as an opportunity, LOL! When thrown in the Lortone and glossed with Future, you’d be surprised at the color variations and texture. Darkening in the oven is my biggest obstacle right now, think it might be because I am using old supplies of transparent clay. Always try to throw a dab of white in most stuff because it makes colors pop. Cindy posted a comment about soaking pieces in bleach. Tried it, and was thrilled with the results… even the darkened transparent ghost canes came out just as I intended in the first place. Love tips like that, saves me money. ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Videos

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Electric Blue ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): China Cup > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Using Finishing Wax as a Quick & Easy Way to Get Shiny Beads

When I was searching the Internet for a new adventure Cindy’s website was coming up again and again. I believe it was Cindy who inspired me to open my ETSY store. I have learned so much from this website… The cornstarch was a beautiful thing. ~Susan-L >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads

Hi Cindy, The Baking Tips you offer are completely priceless! I have had the same issues as others… soft clay, cracking, and scorching… and you have covered all kinds of ways to prevent that. I made these totally great “fat sunbathers” that would float in water, but when I put them in the oven… needless to say they burned. The irony was not lost… but I was so disappointed after taking all the time to make them, that I haven’t gone back to try them again. Now that I have had all your tips and tricks, I am re-motivated to give it another shot! Thanks so much for making these tutorials… they are definitely worth the money! ~Kim-E >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tutorials

I had one lentil bead from that same jellyroll cane that I hadn’t baked yet. As you told me, baking it buried in cornstarch made a huge difference. So from now on, that’s what I’ll be doing. If I didn’t have you and this group, there’s a good chance that I would have given up on clay after burning those beads. Thanks! ~Linda-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay

Thanks so much for all the information about how to bake polymer clay properly. Its good to have guidelines which we can trust. Trouble is I spend far too much time reading all this fascinating stuff, must really get on with the practical! ~Christine-L >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Fundamentals

I look forward to your weekly members video. I am so glad to be a member – my beads have become so much better and I have the confidence to experiment now, which is important in skill development. Speaking of which, I tried boiling the beads for 15 minutes before baking for 30-40 minutes. The Premo beads looked beautiful and were hard. With sanding, buffing and future floor polish they looked amazing. The fimo soft were a disaster – they cracked and were brittle – they do much better baking in cornflour for an hour. I now bake all my beads in cornflour and double the recommended time. This method is very successful and the beads are enhanced by using the cornflour and no way degraded. When boiling the beads I put them on pins and then place on the bead rack. I then place the rack in the pot. That way the beads are not flying everywhere.  Again thank you for the great teaching – the courses are a great investment and I am anxiously waiting to purchase the cane tutorial when it comes out. All the best ~Cara-L >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay Beads Properly

Hey Cindy, I have a cane that I made quite some time ago that I really like. I used Kato clay, which is ridiculously hard to begin with, and made a geometric design. Unfortunately, I left it in the car during the summer and now it’s impossible to slice without crumbling into bits. All I really want to do is take some big slices from it for disc beads. Is there any way to soften it a bit from its half baked state? Some kind of plasticizer I could soak it in perhaps? Thanks for your help! ~Ashlyn-N >>> ANSWER: Hi Ashlyn, great question! Once a cane is partially cured, you can not really ‘re-hydrate’ it. But what you could do is bake the cane before cutting it. While it is still warm you can slice it into beads, then drill the holes into them. A lot of people actually make cane slice beads this way. Let me know how it works out. ~Cindy-L <<< oooh, that is a fabulous idea, I had forgotten how squishy stuff gets when it’s still hot from the oven. Thanks! ~Ashlyn-N >> This comment was originally posted here: Soften Polymer Clay

Hi, Cindy! Thanks so much for getting back to me! I appreciate that you are a busy woman. I also asked for help straight from Polyform, and their advice was to bake at a higher temperature than was listed on the package (which is frustrating, ’cause why not just print that on the package, you know?) So I baked at 145C for an hour, and lo and behold – strong clay! No breaking, no cracking, I can bend it, it stays strong! I am so happy! Now I can go on the try more of the techniques featured on your blog, knowing that the results will not break. … I’ve been reading your blog for the last couple of months and have found it to be a great resource for ideas and techniques. Thanks again for your reply. ~Lana-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Clamation

Thanks so much for your help with my question about baking polymer clay safely. I also really appreciate your promptness! Have a good day! ~Sam-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay Safety Tips

I just love this site and am going to be just full of questions today. I recently baked beads covered in cornstarch and rinsed them off in the kitchen sink. Later in the day I was cleaning and turned on the garbage disposal and there was just a loud pinging noise that did not go away. When I reached down in there I found one of my beads that must have swam away.  There was not a nick on it. Now THAT is strong. ~Anna-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay Beads

I got a bubble on my first batch of jewelry pieces, one piece. I will be more careful to follow these instructions next time… wonderful!  Thank you so much! ~Peggie-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Conditioning Polymer Clay

Great article Cindy! Personally I love card stock and tile method to keep things flat and to avoid shiny spots or sometimes I’ll use printer paper if weighting it down with another tile. I’ve had mishaps with Parchment as it tends to wrinkle with heat, at least the stuff I’ve used. This treasure hunt is fun, but I don’t really need to win a treasure, you’ve got all sorts of treasures on every page! :) ~Tina-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Flat Polymer Clay

Burnt clay has happened to most of us Tiffany, so don’t let it get to you. Part of the initiation rites, lol. Save the remains, in a couple of years, you’ll be laughing about what came out of the oven the first time. Best of luck next time out. ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Translucent Polymer Clay

These beads are just beautiful. Thanks for the video. I am definitely going to bake my beads on cornstarch. You can really tell the difference in the colors. And it works perfectly for the those particular flowers. Thanks! ~Lupe-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Trumpet Flower Beads

FROM UPSET TO SUCCESS – LEARNING FROM MISTAKES: To say I am a little upset is a little bit of an understatement… they burnt like hotdogs on the BBQ… ~Doug-K >> To read this whole story about how to bake Sculpey properly, here is the link: Polymer Clay Canes, Color Blends

I finally discovered the real reason – I mean, not only suppositions. My roses cracked because of the temperature. It took me a lot of time because I searched the reason everywhere else but not here. I baked on the recommended t-max130 C. I didn’t dare to go over as I was afraid of burning the beads and poisoning the living creatures around:)  But finally I did increased it to 150 C which is about 300 F and the roses forgot about cracking:) ~Nevena >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Videos

Cindy – In regard to Carol’s above comment, something you said this time made me understand why my things were coming out so powdery. Now I know that you don’t want to let your pieces stay in the cornstarch too long before baking. I was just leaving them in before for extended periods of time. My mom has Calla Lily wallpaper in her bathroom and I’ve been trying to make her something as an accent. Now I’ll be able to. Thanks again, Cindy! ~Maria-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Calla Lily Beads

On the aluminum foil – after learning the hard way – NOTHING goes in my convection oven without a piece of foil over it. Especially when you are baking something tall – like the light bulbs. Since I started doing that I have not had anything scorch. It’s all a learning experience! And this is a great place to share what we’ve learned. Thanks Cindy! ~Arlene-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay

Thank you for the Cornstarch tips, Cindy – I learned that the hard way having made some beads and sat them in the bed of cornstarch for a couple of days whilst making more (being pragmatic – get as much in the oven as I can) – what a disaster! brittle bits all over the place. ~Penny-V >> This comment was originally posted here: How to Bake Polymer Clay

I agree with you all about Carol Duvall. I taped all her shows so I could watch them when I got home from work. I thought some of the people on there did some weird things but Carol always made me laugh. I could never figure out why someone would want Sock Monkeys. I taught glass engraving for 6 years and after watching some of the polymer people on there I thought I could incorporate the glass engraving and the polymer. The first few things I made turned out to look like cow pies because my toaster oven’s heater was on the top so I burned everything. Now my glass engraving stuff is in the back of the closet and my polymer clay stuff has taken over my entire studio. Wish Carol would come back on tv, not much else worth watching out there anymore. Thanks Carol, we still love you, and you too Cindy. It’s like having a young Carol Duval every Friday morning. ~Bonnie-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Possibilities

Wow, fantastic work ladies! I really get inspired seeing beads/jewelry made by artists in our clay community. I love the idea of purse charms and soon I will atempt my own. I’ve made some neat beads with the Tribal Cane and I plan to use them to make my purse charm. Now I’ve just got to get busy piercing and baking…  *grin* Thanks for posting these pictures Cindy, it’s great to see what people have done with your lessons! ~Lisa-W >> This comment was originally posted here: Purse Charms, Spliced Flower Cane, Lentil Beads, Kaleidoscope

Jeri, I am still closer to the “newbie” stage than the experienced and one of my biggest challenges was getting to know my oven. I burned my first piece I think because I was too impatient with the temperature and set the thermostat a little too high. I wasn’t watching when it spiked and so the burn. I found the correct setting and it stays there but I probably do more checking than is necessary. I love this clay world and Cindy is the greatest. Welcome to our world. Let success be at the end of each of your adventures. ~Joyce-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Inlay Techniques

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Hi Cindy, I think I figured it out. I read all your info and tried again. I used a much lower setting and longer time. The piece came out fine. You were right about those knobs. They are very inaccurate! Thanks again! ~Tommye >> This comment was originally posted here: How to Make Beads

Hi Cindy, My second experience is a much better one. My beads are not perfect yet (will they really ever be? no matter) but they baked to nice and hard in the baking rack, 1 hr at 265′. I used a different oven thermometer and it registered just like the oven. So your previous thoughts on my first experience that the thermometer might have been faulty was right on. The time and temperature you suggest really works when the equipment is right. Thanks for your help Cindy. I am still practicing and looking forward to my next venture. ~Joyce >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Beads

This is a very timely article for me because I have just began using a toaster oven.  Even though it is a new oven the first beads got over cooked pretty quickly.  A little voice reminded me  about tenting and now I use that technique, keeping it way from the heating elements. I also place my baking tile inside the broiler tray and this makes tenting much easier. Your article Baking Sculpey, Premo and Fimo Polymer Clay Toaster Oven is a very good resource. I also bought an oven thermometer and found this brand new Black and Decker Toaster oven runs 75 degrees higher than set. ~Anna >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Polymer Clay Beads

Hi Cindy. I told ya I’d be lurking didnt I? LOL! Anyhoo, have I ever burned any clay? Oh boy, you betcha!! A loooong long time ago, I was making some faux ivory/bone beads and I worked for hours texturing and getting them all just right. Then I popped them in my nice “new” oven, set my timer, and went off to do other things. Well to make a long story short, my timer never got a chance to go off because the cloud of smoke in my kitchen called me first. Whooo what a stink! I pulled the tray out quick and dashed them outside and spent 2 hours airing out my house. That taught me to never trust an oven you haven’t tested first. Then I inspected the beads and found a strange result. Only one side had really burned badly. All rough and charred looking and very dark brown. But the side facing down to the tray had only turned a darker ivory color with no bubbling. And the pattern of texturing could be seen all around the bead still, even on the burned side. To me they looked very much like carved bone that had been in a fire. Really old and kind of mysterious. So I kept them and made a bracelet that still gets me comments on what they are and where I got them. Not a technique I would recommend repeating though. I too have COPD and asthma, and it was not a good thing to experience at all. Now I have a countertop convection oven dedicated to clay only, and the temp stays right where I set it. Plus I always use an oven thermometer since that day. XOXO ~Jaime >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Sculpey Clay

Hi Cindy… Your Rose is just perfect… I love making roses but they are not as nice as yours… and one big problem I run into is burning them… of course they are supper thin petals most of the time thinner then pasta machine setting #6… can you help me with the baking time please? How long should they be baked? My biggest worry is if they are not baked at the right temp or right time they can crack? Please help me… Thanks :) ~Tannumoni >> This comment was originally posted here: Rose Pendant Necklace

I had been getting air bubble until I watched this tutorial.  THANK YOU!  It worked wonderfully. ~Cynister >> This comment was originally posted here: Conditioning Polymer Clay

Hi Cindy,  I want to thank you for the videos. You asked me how I found you and to tell you honestly, I’m not quite sure. I googled “how to make polymer clay beads” and naturally came up with zillions. Now I either found you thru one of the links or I found your name at one of the sites I visited. Those are the only 2 ways I could have found you. I’m glad I did though as I have been playing around with polymer for a little over a year and have actually made and sold some jewelry. I want to continue with my art and that is why I was exploring different types of beads and how they are made. You have helped me with the air bubble problem, etc.. I put you in my address book and hope I can contact you from time to time. Sincerely.  ~Christine >> This comment was received via email.

This one was a BIG help :) My “bubble” art work I turn and make it look as if I meant to do it…not always easy! Look…it is underwater…can you tell? Not any more, this article will come in very handy. THANKS! ~Angela >> This comment as well as the next 2 comments below, were originally posted at this blog article: Baking Flat Polymer Clay Sheets

I just recently made a clay mosaic and it was starting to bubble up because the clay I embedded previously was very thin and started to bubble so I quickly placed a piece of parchment paper and a ceramic tile on it to flatten it back down and it worked. So next time I cook a thin piece I’ll put the tile on before I bake it and not at the point where it was almost to late. Thanks to your advice. ~Abby >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Angela’s  comment above.

The “tile sandwich” is a good idea (more “food” for including in the Recipe Box, ha) …was reading on craftygoat’s blog where she used cornstarch smoothed onto tile. Said it helped eliminate air bubbles..? But I like this idea of using tiles…no messy cleanup :) ~Garnie >> This comment was originally posted in the same blog article as for Angela’s  comment above.

I love the flowers they’re beautiful! I’ve just started to “play clay”. I’m amazed at all the possibilities. When baking your beads in the cornstarch do you bake them for the same amount of time? and does the cornstarch stick to the beads? I’m so glad I found your website. ~Jeanne >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Trumpet Flower Beads

AHA!! THIS is the article I have been searching for–something to tell me whether the toaster oven is really worth all the fuss. I have posted comments to some of your other blog entries with questions that you have answered here! Take care and thanks! ~Kimberlee >> This comment was originally posted here: How to Bake Polymer Clay in a Toaster Oven

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Betta Red ** BONUS COLOR RECIPE (B): Curiosity > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Faux Pebble Beads – Better than Real Rocks for Jewelry Making

Wow Cindy, I feel like such a Daaaaaa, never thought about putting another tile on top and let it cook a little longer. Great no more curled edges. Think I will invest in a few more tiles of different sizes that way I won’t tie up my main working tile. So much info in your articles. Thanks once more. ~Yvonne @ Baking Flat Polymer Clay Sheets

My primary interest in using polymer clay is to create beads for jewelry, but this article has sparked an interest in flat pendants, as well. I never would have thought of putting cardstock in the oven! Home Depot here I come, for drywall sandpaper and ceramic tiles – I can’t wait to experiment with this new idea! Thanks! Thanks also to the readers who posted some additional tips here! ~Sue @ Common Polymer Clay Baking Problems

Hi Cindy. Thanks for the video on burnt clay! I had experienced that, that is, before I viewed your new video. Where were you!!! Ha! Ha! I had made some really neat colored cabochons, in special shapes, and placed them on a metal tray, within my toaster oven — no thermometer/no parchment. Had timed this with my microwave, but never did check on it during baking. Must say, the obvious way (for me) to know that this clay was burning was the pungent odor. It affected me terribly with my Asthma and COPD. Anyway, the coloration changed from a gorgeous Fall colored pallette, toooo rusttt. After it cooled, (in exasperation) I tossed it. Anyway, after it was tossed I was angry at myself, because my right-brain had kicked in — Raku tap the rust with metallic, acryllic paints of Fall colors. Too bad, so sad, goneeee!!!! Just think Cindy, I could have had some gorgeous Raku beads, from those burnt beads. Ah well! Decided after that time to — 1. To precisely follow directions, until I was accustomed to working with new techniques. 2. To keep an eye on my clay, so that it had less chance of burning; and 3. To keep smiling, because we always learn from our mistakes, because they often come gift-wrapped. Ahem! My words of wisdom: None of us have the capacity to change what has happened, however, we can learn and build on it. So, I go with all three (3), and say, “Smile, and have Fun!” ~Diana @ Baking Sculpey Clay Without Burning

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The tip about baking face down makes all kinds of sense but I never thought about it. As Yakov says “you will now”. ~MJ @ Polymer Clay Pendants

Great tip!! Thanks for this one! It is very hard to know if it is “done”….so I will bake longer and be safe!! ~Kam @ Baking Beads

Thank you for this article. I was trying to make my son in law a pendant celebrating the upcoming birth of his and my daughter’s first child (a girl). I had trouble getting it off my tile and it would stick. After using card stock to put it on I created a pendant for him that has his name on one side and then used liquid clay to write my granddaughter’s name (Aubrey) on the other side and baked it without any problems. ~Annie @ Flat Polymer Clay

That was great. I’m new to polymer clay and need all the help I can get. I will be trying that. Thanks. ~Cheryl @ Baking Polymer Clay

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