How to Make Relief Tiles

Relief tiles, sculptural tiles with a raised design, add a strikingly textural element to a wall and can be used for backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms. It is not difficult to create your own handmade relief tiles, which rely on a hand-cast mold process that produces a series of identical ceramic tiles that are combined to fill a wall area. Relief tiles are also used with great success in decorating fireplaces and window cornice boards.

1 pound air dry clay
Rolling pin
Ruler
Knife
Latex mold medium
Large plastic square take-out container
20 pounds ceramic clay
Ceramic glaze
Kiln

Instructions

- 1
  Roll the air-dry clay flat with the rolling pin to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Measure and cut out an 8-inch clay square, using the ruler and knife.
- 2
  Roll the leftover clay into snakes the thickness of a pencil. Use the clay snakes to decorate the top of the clay square in a random relief design. Press the snakes gently into the clay square with your fingers.
- 3
  Place the clay relief tile in the take-out container with the decorated side of the tile facing up. Mix the latex mold medium according to the manufacturer’s directions. Cover the tile with the latex mold medium and let it set, according to the manufacturer’s specified amount of time. Pull the entire mold and clay tile from the take-out container. Remove the clay from the mold.
- 4
  Press the ceramic clay into the latex mold with your fingers, filling the mold. Gently pull the mold from the clay. Repeat this step to make as many relief tiles as desired.
- 5
  Let the ceramic relief tiles dry on a flat surface for 24 hours. Paint the tiles with the ceramic glaze. Fire the relief tiles in the kiln.

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