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I needed a craft mat primarily for distress techniques, cutting, heat gun, and heat knife use. I've found the absolute best solution is a glass mat. It handles all of those purposes beautifully without having to worry about changing out mats. It is better than Tim Holtz's craft mat in my opinion. I think you'd be very happy with a glass mat.
I would like a craft mat that doesn't slide around on me...anyone know how to accomplish that one? LOL That can be so irritating, least to me! (Although I will admit, now and then it's been handy...but not as often as it's irritating.)
I needed a craft mat primarily for distress techniques, cutting, heat gun, and heat knife use. I've found the absolute best solution is a glass mat. It handles all of those purposes beautifully without having to worry about changing out mats. It is better than Tim Holtz's craft mat in my opinion. I think you'd be very happy with a glass mat.
That's super interesting.
I have a little of everything - the black oven mats, the tan oven mats which are just like the Ranger mats, and a few Ranger mats.
At my retreat, I brought freezer paper for the people who didn't have Ranger/oven mats.
I can tell you that some of the ink techniques we did didn't perform at all the same way on freezer paper. The oven / Ranger mats do give unique results.
Tomorrow I will try them on my glass mat.
I have the oven mats on my desk at all times to protect my work surface from heat and my messiness.
I would like a craft mat that doesn't slide around on me...anyone know how to accomplish that one? LOL That can be so irritating, least to me! (Although I will admit, now and then it's been handy...but not as often as it's irritating.)
In an art class I took - the instructor had wrapped one of the mats around one of those thin fiber boards like a clipboard, stapled it on the back, and backed it with felt - it was an amazing work surface and didn't slip around.
Good old aluminium foil. Cheap as chips and works brilliantly for my smack & squirt technique. It is also good when using heat gun, glue and messy stuff - just chuck it out.
__________________ Susie
Please don't take your organs to heaven - heaven knows we need them here.
I have oven mats I get at Christmas Tree shop for $4.99 as my ancillary surfaces. I wasn't aware that they would leak - I'll have to test that tonight. I do wonder how people can keep their Ranger mats so clean - mine is scratched and permanently colored - a complete mess! Guess that means I've gotten a lot of use from it? I'm going to assume that instead of that I am a messy stamper...
I also use the owenmats and have no problems with anything getting through them, and beside that, I made my own glassplate from an old refrigiratorshelve, when we had to replace our old fridge, and it works like a dream.
If you need a non slip surface I found the McGill Surface Saver Mat System in clearance at Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby also had the Lino Grip by Jack Richeson - another nonslip surface. You can't cut on them but they are great for holding things in place and you can layer a teflon or oven mat on top.
I found chopping mats at the Dollar Store that are about the same size as place mats. They protect the table surface from messes, and allow you to cut on them. There were 2 in the package for $1. Check the 2nd photo down on this page:
I don't do a lot of messy techniques, but needed something for watercoloring. I have a plastic insert that goes with my ScorePal that works perfectly. I would not do any heat embossing; instead I have a fiberboard clipboard for that.
What type of techniques are you using craft mats for? watercoloring, heat embossing, embossing paste, others?
I, too, use a large silicone oven mat I purchased at Walmart of under $6. It is black & much large than the largest TH sheet.
I also have an 18" x 24" cutting mat (sewing/quilting) that I keep on my work surface at all times. It is double sided so when I want to use a blade for cutting anything large (like cutting thick chipboard with a utility knife), I flip it over to avoid cut lines on the side I use for stamping, etc. I have a small cutting mat I use for small jobs.
If you use a sewing/quilting cutting mat, keep in mind it is not heat resistant and will warp with a heat gun or hot glue gun!
I like my cutting mat as a permanent surface because it already has a grid on it with 1/8" marks on both sides. My crafting table is an old, very large oak-topped dining table that is very sturdy as well.
I would like a craft mat that doesn't slide around on me...anyone know how to accomplish that one? LOL That can be so irritating, least to me! (Although I will admit, now and then it's been handy...but not as often as it's irritating.)
Close to My Heart makes a craft mat that is slip resistant. It's called the All Purpose Mat Item number: Z2045 for $19.95. It measures 15 x 20 inches. HTH.
Try cutting a piece of shelf liner to the size of your crafting mat and place it underneath the mat. It should work really well to keep the mat from moving. The shelf liner looks like this - the second photo down:
I usually buy the TH/Ranger mats when they are either on sale, or I have a coupon. I also put them in my guillotine paper cutter to resize them. Whenever I'm adding Glossy Accents to an item, or glitter glue that needs to dry, I'll place the items on a cut mat, on top of a piece of thick cardstock, to work on it one place, and move to another place to dry.
I cut one piece to 12.5 x 9.25" and it wraps around the long edge of my Martha small scoreboard, keeping it attached with a rubber band. I keep those 2 items (mat and scoreboard) in my 'to go' bag for paper therapy classes (as I call the card/paper craft classes I attend!)
I had wondered about trying shelf liner, cause I use it under my cutting board when I don't want it shifting...just hadn't gotten around to trying it, and didn't know if it would add to much spongy layer under the mat. Glad to know its been used that way before! ;-))
Try cutting a piece of shelf liner to the size of your crafting mat and place it underneath the mat. It should work really well to keep the mat from moving. The shelf liner looks like this - the second photo down:
I just found this shelf liner stuff. I use it for masking also. It's cheap, they make it clear, and it comes in rolls and can be found any where. Great crafting stuff.
I have to tell you I have used the oven mats and the Ranger mat but the one I have now is AMAZING it is the Best Ever Craft Mat by Ken Oliver. This thing does everything he says it does. Took a little getting used to the non skid surface. But it works great, clean up is a snap, even if you don't do it right away. Blitsy has a You Tube video on it and you can get deals on it all the time over there.
I have to tell you I have used the oven mats and the Ranger mat but the one I have now is AMAZING it is the Best Ever Craft Mat by Ken Oliver. This thing does everything he says it does. Took a little getting used to the non skid surface. But it works great, clean up is a snap, even if you don't do it right away. Blitsy has a You Tube video on it and you can get deals on it all the time over there.
I still love my glass mat the best. My glass mat is heat resistant, perfect for distress ink techniques, hot glue, lining up elements using the grid, a cutting mat, and I'm sure there's other uses. Still the one I have just like Kens' is there in case there's something I can't do on my glass mat.
what do you use for a craft mat?
