what size & type of cutting mat do you use for your work space?

Oct '07 Love 2 Learn

HI, I need to buy a self-healing cutting mat for my new desk. Does anyone have any suggestions? What is the best type of material? What size do you recommend? Are any brands better than others? Thanks in Advance!!!
Oct '07 Scrappin Kitty

RE: Love 2 Learn: HI, I need to buy a self-healing cutting mat for my new desk. Does anyone have any suggestions? What is the best type of material? What size do you recommend? Are any brands better than others? Thanks in Advance!!!

I like the ones that are bigger than a 12x12 that way I have room on the side of my LOs to cut things as well.
Oct '07 Puppydog Jammies

RE: Scrappin Kitty: I like the ones that are bigger than a 12x12 that way I have room on the side of my LOs to cut things as well.

i have the 9ish x 11ish creative memories one. sometimes i wish it were bigger, but it gets the job done!
Oct '07 Outsidechic

RE: Puppydog Jammies: i have the 9ish x 11ish creative memories one. sometimes i wish it were bigger, but it gets the job done!

if you go to an art store they have cutting mats that are the size of your desk top. i have a few that float around my space my favorite one measures something like 11 x 17 with about an inch around that, it seems to have enough room to cut anything.
Oct '07 DawnInAZ

RE: Outsidechic: if you go to an art store they have cutting mats that are the size of your desk top. i have a few that float around my space my favorite one measures something like 11 x 17 with about an inch around that, it seems to have enough room to cut anything.

I have a ginormous Making Memories mat. I think it is like 14x16 maybe...possibly bigger. I got it at a LSS for about $20.
Oct '07 ShirleyJB

RE: DawnInAZ: I have a ginormous Making Memories mat. I think it is like 14x16 maybe...possibly bigger. I got it at a LSS for about $20.

I believe mine is about 12x18..but, I use a quilter's cutting mat (the kind you use with a rotary cutter?). I was a quilter before I was a scrapper.
Its a Duraheal. Works just fine with an exacto.
Oct '07 Iluminot

RE: ShirleyJB: I believe mine is about 12x18..but, I use a quilter's cutting mat (the kind you use with a rotary cutter?). I was a quilter before I was a scrapper. Its a Duraheal. Works just fine with an exacto.

I don't have one, but I would want a desk sized one.

I have a very small scrap space, so I have no where to store a mat and no desire to have to lift it on and off. I'd be perfectly happy doing ALL of my work on it.
Oct '07 Scrappincoyote

RE: ShirleyJB: I believe mine is about 12x18..but, I use a quilter's cutting mat (the kind you use with a rotary cutter?). I was a quilter before I was a scrapper. Its a Duraheal. Works just fine with an exacto.

I have three, but currently use two on the table itself: an Olfa mat (in the quilting section of large fabric stores) about 16x20 or so off to my left and the Basic Grey magnetic 12x12, that I love, is positioned in front of me .

Then I also use a Fiskars 8.5 x 11 (or similar) as a floater to do smaller projects, use the shape cutter and craft knife.

The Olfa mat I have had for years (used during my quilting/sewing stage) and is holding up well cut after cut.

Good luck!

M...
Oct '07 ScrapHappyStArLIGhT

RE: Scrappincoyote: I have three, but currently use two on the table itself: an Olfa mat (in the quilting section of large fabric stores) about 16x20 or so off to my left and the Basic Grey magnetic 12x12, that I love, is positioned in front of me . Then I also use a Fiskars 8.5 x 11 (or similar) as a floater to do smaller projects, use the shape cutter and craft knife. The Olfa mat I have had for years (used...

I have the one from CM for their cutting system. I have used an exacto-knife on it before and it works well. It is a little small though and a little pricey. I want to get another one, a bigger one, just to have permanently positioned in front of me and use the CM one as a floater.
Oct '07 Siameseplease

RE: Scrappincoyote: I have three, but currently use two on the table itself: an Olfa mat (in the quilting section of large fabric stores) about 16x20 or so off to my left and the Basic Grey magnetic 12x12, that I love, is positioned in front of me . Then I also use a Fiskars 8.5 x 11 (or similar) as a floater to do smaller projects, use the shape cutter and craft knife. The Olfa mat I have had for years (used...

I don't have a designated scrapping space at home, but I am wishing for one. I appreciate that you asked this question, because I'd also like to know for when I finally get a scrapping space! I have heard that the MM one is pretty good.

I use the CM one for crops. Like Natasha said, it can sometimes be a little small, but it is good for portability.
Oct '07 Juliescraps

RE: Siameseplease: I don't have a designated scrapping space at home, but I am wishing for one. I appreciate that you asked this question, because I'd also like to know for when I finally get a scrapping space! I have heard that the MM one is pretty good. I use the CM one for crops. Like Natasha said, it can sometimes be a little small, but it is good for portability.

I have the Stampin Up one. I Love it! I had another one, but it didn't last very long, I am much happier with the SU one.
Oct '07 Cat_woman

RE: Juliescraps: I have the Stampin Up one. I Love it! I had another one, but it didn't last very long, I am much happier with the SU one.

I have a quilting cutting mat (I use to be a quilter). It measure 18x24 and it has grid marks on it so its good for lining things up and cutting with my rotary cutter (also from my quilting days).
Oct '07 Scrapali22

RE: Cat_woman: I have a quilting cutting mat (I use to be a quilter). It measure 18x24 and it has grid marks on it so its good for lining things up and cutting with my rotary cutter (also from my quilting days).

I also have the cm one and it is too small lucky it was givin to me, but I'd say the bigger the better!
Oct '07 Marine-wife

RE: Love 2 Learn: HI, I need to buy a self-healing cutting mat for my new desk. Does anyone have any suggestions? What is the best type of material? What size do you recommend? Are any brands better than others? Thanks in Advance!!!

I bought a huge Fiskars mat at Big Lots for $20.00 that I love. I am not sure of the size, but its much larger then a 12x12 and its a tri-fold. I also have a smaller glass mat. Actually, its a glass cutting board and I just peeled the design off.
Oct '07 BjH

RE: Marine-wife: I bought a huge Fiskars mat at Big Lots for $20.00 that I love. I am not sure of the size, but its much larger then a 12x12 and its a tri-fold. I also have a smaller glass mat. Actually, its a glass cutting board and I just peeled the design off.

I have a 24 x 36 on my table, but never actually cut on it, even though it is a self-healing mat. When I need to cut, I put my 8 1/2 x 11 on top and use that.
Oct '07 PokeyMom

RE: Love 2 Learn: HI, I need to buy a self-healing cutting mat for my new desk. Does anyone have any suggestions? What is the best type of material? What size do you recommend? Are any brands better than others? Thanks in Advance!!!

I have a Fiskars 17 x 23 inch mat. I am thinking about buying a piece of glass to go over it to anchor it and use the glass to cut on rather than the mat. It should be easier to clean.

I also have a tiny one that is 6 x 6 and portable.

I also have a quilters ruler and quilters square that are clear acrylic and come in handy also. I got them at WalMart for a very reasonable price.
Oct '07 Gg Loves Matthew

RE: PokeyMom: I have a Fiskars 17 x 23 inch mat. I am thinking about buying a piece of glass to go over it to anchor it and use the glass to cut on rather than the mat. It should be easier to clean. I also have a tiny one that is 6 x 6 and portable. I also have a quilters ruler and quilters square that are clear acrylic and come in handy also. I got them at WalMart for a very reasonable price.

For me bigger is definately better! I use the Fiskars Tropical (lime green one side pink on the other) 24" x 36" It was $50.00 at JoAnns however I used a 40% off coupon.

I do not do anything besides use an exacto knife on my mat so as not to abuse it. I use a smaller one for punching holes for brads eyelets etc. The best part is that is covers a large area and saves my table.

The problem I saw with the Fiskars tri fold (which was what I wanted first) was that the places where it folds, tears over time. Many that were in the store had already torn.
Oct '07 Katie Scarlett

RE: Gg Loves Matthew: For me bigger is definately better! I use the Fiskars Tropical (lime green one side pink on the other) 24" x 36" It was $50.00 at JoAnns however I used a 40% off coupon. I do not do anything besides use an exacto knife on my mat so as not to abuse it. I use a smaller one for punching holes for brads eyelets etc. The best part is that is covers a large area and saves my table. The problem...

Dumb question - what do you use a cutting mat for? I have a glass one that I use with the Fiskars cutting system. Love it. I also have a self-healing mat that I bought before learning I needed to use glass with the Fiskars . But, I have no idea what to do with it. TIA.