Do any of your desks look like this? Make a card and before you know it…..you have 20 things piled up all over! I love my craft mat, but rarely pull it out because I lose it, or it gets folded, wrinkled, mangled…so there it sits…rolled up under my desk. I want to use it, so here’s to solving 2 problems at once!
I didn’t solve the entire pile…but here is a start! You will need 3M Spray Adhesive, a Self-Healing Mat (I have a 12×12 one, so the normal Ranger Craft Mat worked. If you have a larger self-healing mat, you will need the Jumbo Non-Stick Craft Mat), a craft knife and whatever washi-tape you have on hand.
Take your self-healing mat OUTSIDE (trust me lol) and give the BACKof it a good spray with adhesive. It doesn’t take a whole lot, just try to get an even coat. This stuff is plenty sticky….even for the craft mat. Then place the craft mat and smooth it out. You can use a credit card, but I didn’t find this step was needed….it laid down pretty smooth. As long as you just have a corner down, you can lift it up and reposition if needed.
Since my mat is 12×12, I had some hanging off one end, so I just took my craft knife and trimmed it up. Next take your washi tape and seal all the edges in. Note on the washi tape: the first washi I chose was not very sticky, so I had to change it out. If you had a decorative duct tape, it would probably work the best.
All done…that easy. My craft mat is safe from wrinkles and I can actually find it!! Win/Win!!!
Is the self healing mat heat stable? I use heat on my craft mat all the time, but would be concerned about the self healing mat warping underneath it. Maybe a layer of something in between the two would be a solution?
The mat will probably warp if you use your heat gun on it. I use my heat gun in the air, or on some pressboard. There is a cutting mat in the quilting world that is also heat safe I was thinking of trying out. It’s called a June Tailor Cut’n Press ll Cutting Mat . That might work better for you.