Stamping Unglazed Bisque Tiles
 

I've read all the previous threads on stamping coasters but I don't find what I need. I have purchased unglazed bisque tiles to stamp on and turn in to coasters. I've worked with the tumbled tiles in the past but wasn't sure about the unglazed bisque. Once I stamp it with Staz on ink, can I heat set it in my oven or will I need to fire it in my kiln to make the ink permanent. The tumble tiles that I've stamped with Staz on inks and didn't seal have begun to fade after 2 years. I want these new coasters to have a longer life and I don't want to seal them and lose the absorbancy. Has anyone stamped unglazed bisque ornaments, plates, coasters... If so, how did you set the ink?

Thank you,
Kim Upton

Kim, I have these tiles. I can't remember exactly how I did it..I think I heated some, but not all, but they are still beautiful and really do soak up the moisture! Here is the place where I learned about them, and how to stamp on them. The gal's name is Darya Smith. I hope this helps you.

Go to www.scrapbooking.com and on left side, click on Archives, then click on:'by designer' and then to 'Darya Smith', and then 'coasters'. There is probably another way to get to this article, but I know this works.

good luck,
Donna

I haven't worked with the unglazed bisque tiles but a friend of mine owns a ceramic/pottery store and from what she had told me none of the traditional stamping inks (including StazOn) can hold up to the heat of being fired in a kiln. She said that she does have people come in and use their stamps to decorate bisque but they use the traditional ceramic paints which are then fired in the kiln and turn out quite beautifully and permanent.

That being said, I think that if you were just going to stamp on the highly absorbent unglazed bisque coasters (is this what they call "greenware"?) and not fire them in a kiln, you would be fine to use the craft inks and then heatset them in the oven. Because the craft inks are a pigment ink, they are more archivally color fast so shouldn't fade. I would probably seal them with a mist of clear acrylic matte spray sealer just to protect them from absorbing coffee spills, etc. Not sure how durable these would be without firing in the kiln and the glazing process but who knows, they might do fine.

I have been doing the tumbled tile coasters for quite some time (3 or 4 years, maybe?) without any problems with fading but again, since I gave most of them away it's hard to say how they are doing. The ones I have done for samples (which haven't really been used as coasters) are still looking good. I did them for coworkers Christmas gifts one year...at least 3 years ago and those are still good as most of my coworkers leave them on their desks and use them year round which pleases me no end, as any stamper can understand! ;-) Jan