Since my work space here at the office is so limited, it helps keep me a bit more organized so that things are easy to find and easier to store. That is one of the reasons I started hanging my mats on my wall. This was a great way to make sure that they weren’t bent or ruined while I was crafting. If the mats are sitting on the table as you’re working on your project it seems like they’re a magnet for dust, hair, spilled glitter, glue, paper and ribbon fibers. I started noticing that once the mats were out of the way of my crafting space that they seemed to last longer for me. I also started dedicating mats to specific projects. Glitter paper and chipboard are used for one mat and the more fine delicate papers were used for another. Since mats tackiness subsides with prolonged use I liked using some of the older mats for more delicate papers so that my cuts were easier to lift and remove from the mat. I even have mats that I’ve used to a point that nothing will stick to them but since I have to tape down my chipboard anyway this was a great way to utilize some of my retired cardstock mats. I reach for a new mat when my cuts are delicate or small. This ensures that the paper won’t shift or lift up on the corners when cutting some of those small intricate details in my images. Also, always make sure that your mats stay covered when storing them. I either keep the clear protective sheet on mine or keep them covered with a piece of paper. This helps to keep pet dander and other particles floating around in the air from taking up residence on my cutting mat. Since I’ve found a way to use my mats regardless of the condition they’re in I don’t feel like I’m always spending money on new mats. It’s also nice to know that regardless of the condition of my mats I always have a use for them, and I like the feeling of being resourceful and saving money!
