How to bake polymer clay

Baking polymer clay is easy (and safe), as long as you follow some basic rules.

1)Oven 
You can use your regular oven or one that you will use specifically for polymer clay. Either way, you have to be careful not to use the grill function, if your oven has one, as this will scorch the clay and will release hazardous fumes. At least once every month (depending on use) you'll have to clean the inside of your oven to remove residuals that are released during the baking of polymer clay.

2)Temperature
This depends on the brand but usually it is between 110 to 130 degrees celcius. If you use a lower temperature your clay will not be properly baked and it will crack if pressure is applied or even distorted ,and if you use higher temperature you are risking scorching your projects, which will turn brown and possibly release hazardous fumes. So stick to the recommended temperature range!

3)Time/duration
If you bake something that is thin, 1 or 2 cm or less, 10 to 15 minutes is enough, thicker clay pieces require longer, around 30 minutes ,at a maximum of 40 to 45 minutes. I bake my doll parts for about 30 minutes and they are just fine.

4)Use an oven thermometer. 
Even if your oven has a temperature display it may not be accurate, so a dedicated oven thermometer will help you a lot to know when the right temp has been reached. They are cheap and effective so don't hassle and get one!

5)Use polyester fiberfill
to place your polymer clay pieces on, otherwise if you place them on a hard surface (e.g a ceramic tile) their bottom surface will become flat and shiny (unless you don't mind and that's your intended purpose).

6)Removing the project from the oven.
If you remove your polymer clay piece quickly out of the oven it will most certainly crack, break or fall apart, due to the movement and sudden change in temperature.Hot polymer clay is very fragile and does not achieve full strength until completely cool. What I like to do is when the time comes I switch off the oven and open the oven door. I wait for about 10 to 15 minutes and THEN I carefully remove the clay and place it somewhere safe ,where it can cool down completely. Open the windows so tat fresh air can come in and any fumes will be dispersed. Some polymer clay brands tend to smell a bit when baked, this is normal ,so don't worry.

Follow these steps and you'll have no trouble with baking polymer clay! Have fun creating!