Are you peeling off the paper cover from both sides of the WU at this point? The side you iron should still have "paper" on it which you peel off before fusing it to the background.

Good luck!!

Exactly....trace the shape onto the fusible web, then roughly cut around it. Fuse the piece to the back of your fabric, then do the final cutting of the shape. You won't get any fusible onto the ironing board, and it's a whole lot easier to do it this way.

ah yes, the sticky part of wu- well i love parchment paper!!
you can use it and throw it away. and if it sticks, its no biggie!!
best of luck,
katz

thanks so much for you input. I knew you all would solve my problem. When I am making my own I'll fuse fabric then cut shapes. When I'm using precuts I'll use the cookie sheet stuff. THANKS TO ALL !

In the baking section of the grocery store there is 'parchment paper'. It is cheap and great for all my applique pieces.

draw the applique shape on the paper side of the wonder-under- press the fusable to the back side of the fabric---cut out the shape= no fusable should get on anything except the fabric you are adhereing it to.
after cutting out your shape- fuse it to the back ground- no muss-no fuss-no mess

they sell applique teflon sheets to protect your iron and board....wont do applique without it....

Yes I use parchment paper as well.

I read a trick the other day about protecting your ironing board. If you're going to be working with anything sticky, or doing a lot of starching, iron down a piece of freezer paper on your ironing board, do your work, and then pull the freezer paper up and your board is still nice and clean. I've been doing that. Works great.

I cut the pieces out after I press it to wonder under but you might try using parchment paper if you prefer the other way. I love parchment paper for so many things.