Acrylic blocks are transparent, sturdy blocks made of acrylic plastic that are incredibly useful in various clay art techniques. Here’s how they are used:

1. Smoothing and Flattening Clay:

• Even Pressure: They provide a smooth, flat surface to press down on clay, ensuring even thickness and preventing fingerprints. This is especially useful when working with polymer clay slabs for jewelry or other flat pieces.
• Removing Air Bubbles: By pressing down firmly with an acrylic block, you can help remove trapped air bubbles in the clay.

2. Using with Stamps and Texture Sheets:

• Mounting Stamps: Clear acrylic stamps (also known as photopolymer stamps) adhere temporarily to the smooth surface of an acrylic block. This allows you to see exactly where you are placing the stamp on your clay, ensuring precise impressions.
• Applying Texture: Acrylic blocks can be used to evenly press texture sheets or mats onto the clay surface to create patterns and designs. The transparency helps in aligning the texture.

3. Creating Lentil Beads and Snakes:

• Some acrylic block sets come with specific shapes or wavy edges that can be used as templates for creating consistent lentil-shaped beads or uniform “snakes” of clay.

4. Softening and Conditioning Clay:

• While not their primary use, the flat surface of an acrylic block can help in initially flattening and working clay to soften it for conditioning.

5. Embedding Charms and Inclusions:

• Acrylic blocks can help press small charms, beads, or other inclusions evenly into the surface of the clay.