The Scrapbook.com Exclusive crafting mats will change the way you craft. From die-cutting to ink blending these mats will make a world of difference. Each of these mats is unique in its own way and we are here to tell you which ones will work perfectly in your craft space!
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The Scrapbook.com Non-Stick Silicone Craft Mat is big, beautiful, and bright white - and is ready to be your new best bud in the craft room (or the kitchen!). This 19.5" x 15.5" mat is made of food-grade silicone and has grip only on the bottom side, so it won't slip off of your workspace when you are crafting.
This mat is just right for ink blending, mixed media, stenciling, watercoloring, ink transferring, hot gluing, and so much more! Get out your heat tool and your glue gun because they're no match for your new Non-Stick Silicone Mat. No need to worry about your table or desk when you're using the mat as your work surface. The non-stick work surface also ensures that any dried glue or heated embossing powder wipes right off!
The silicone material also lets you make your own enamel dots! Just squirt some Pops of Color, Stickles, or Nuvo Drops onto the mat and allow it to dry. Then pop them right off and adhere them to your project - it's that easy!
Keep in mind, some inks and other mediums may stain your mat; test out a small area on the back of the mat if you're concerned about staining. To keep your mat clean use a damp lint-free cloth, microfiber towel, or baby wipe and apply gentle pressure over the surface of your mat!
If you have seen our Livestream parties you have seen this fabulous mat! The Scrapbook.com Exclusive Project Grip Mat will be your go-to crafting mat because it comes in so many sizes and colors to work perfectly in your craft space! This versatile mat has a double-sided grip to help keep projects in place as you ink blend, stencil, stamp and so much more while crafting! Keeping a grip on your ink pads and blending has never been easier!
The Project Grip Mat looks similar to the Non-Stick Silicone Craft Mat but the Project Grip Mat has grip on both sides of the mat, whereas the Non-Stick Silicone Craft Mat only has grip on the bottom side of the mat!
The Project Grip Mat is also made of food-grade silicone and is heat resistant up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit for all of your heat embossing needs! The Project Grip Mat is great for ink blending, watercoloring, stenciling, mixed media, acrylic painting, and more.
The Project Grip Mat now comes in three different sizes and in two colors! You can find the mat in Medium White (12 x 12), Large White (24 x 18), Medium Black (14 x 14), and Large Black (24 x 18). The new large white and black mats come with grid lines to help keep your projects centered on your craft surface.
Shop the newest Project Grip Mats here.If your Project Grip Mat starts to lose its grip, make sure that there is no lint clinging to the mat. If there is lint stuck to the mat, we have a solution for you! To clean your Project Grip Mat use a damp lint-free cloth, microfiber towel, or baby wipe and apply gentle pressure to wipe down the mat. When you aren't using your mat, just roll it up to save space!
Once you start using the Scrapbook.com Clearly Amazing Mat you will clearly see why it is amazing! This low-tack transparent mat is fabulous for holding down your base paper while you stamp, stencil, layer and so much more while you craft!
Pictured above is the Mini Clearly Amazing Mat.This low-tack mat features grid lines to ensure that your projects are perfectly centered and aligned before you start crafting. This mat comes in three different sizes to help you with any project you are starting on. You can get the Clearly Amazing Mat in Mini (4.75" x 6"), Standard (6.5" x 8.5"), or Extra Large (12.5" x 12.5"). Shop the entire collection here!
To get your Clearly Amazing Mat ready for crafting be sure to remove the protective film from the back for crystal clear crafting! This film is different from the reusable acetate sheet on top of the mat that will keep dust off of your mat. To clean any ink, water, or paints that are left on your mat take a damp paper towel or baby wipe and gently apply pressure. The low-tack grip side will lose its tackiness after time. Time frames vary depending on how much you use your Clearly Amazing Mat!
The Standard Clearly Amazing Mat placed inside the MISTI.One of our favorite ways to use the Standard Clearly Amazing Mat is to place it into the MISTI Stamping Tool. The mat fits perfectly inside the MISTI to hold down your project right where you want it while you are stamping and it won't move! The best news, if you have a Mini MISTI our Mini Clearly Amazing Mat also fits inside.
Spoiler alert, you can also use the Extra Large Clearly Amazing Mat in your Cricut machines as well!
Are you tired of constantly replacing your acrylic die cutting plates? This innovative cutting pad is made from a high-quality self-healing material that is designed to be long-lasting when used with blades and cutting tools - specifically in your card making machine or die cutting machine. The Original Magic Mat Cutting Pad by Scrapbook.com is designed to be a replacement for one of your standard plastic cutting plates - specifically the one that gets cut into.
Shop the Magic Mat Collection here.The Magic Mat is made of 5 layers of recycled PVC plastic which forms a self-healing, forgiving material. While ordinary cutting plates resist the blade of your metal dies, the Magic Mat absorbs the blade and allows for a smoother cut on its long-lasting surface. This means that you won't have to worry about replacing your warped or bowing acrylic plates!
The Magic Mat comes in four different sizes to fit a wide variety of die-cutting machines. You can find the Magic Mat Short (6" x 7.75"), Standard (6.125" x 8.75"), Extended (6" x 14.5"), and Plus (9 "x 15) for select die cutting machines! Say goodbye to warped acrylic cutting plates with the Magic Mat!
The Extended Magic Mat is used to cut longer, larger, or multiple dies. Ink blended project by Adrienne Boese.Refer to our Compatibility Chart to find out which Magic Mat works best for your machine!
It has never been easier to keep your Magic Mat in tip-top shape. If it looks like you have cut marks on your mat, they aren't really cuts - just impressions where cuts used to be. It's normal to see these impressions! If paper scraps get stuck in your mat run some water over mild soap and grab a bristled brush to scrub them off. Read some additional care tips for your Magic Mat here!
A little bit of warping is normal with the Magic Mat. But unlike your plastic cutting plates that are warped until you replace them, the Magic Mat's warping can be easily reversed. To unwarp your Magic Mat and return it to its original form, all you need is a little bit of heat. Get out your heat tool (or even your hair dryer!) and apply even heat throughout the mat. The heat will cause the mat fibers to loosen up just long enough to straighten out to its original form and you can continue crafting!
Become a Magic Mat expert by reading these additonal articles!
What Is The Magic Mat?
Magic Mat' Care & Cleaning Tips
The Magic Mat' For Die Cutting
Keep your workspace clean and protected with the new Self-Healing Workspace Mat from Scrapbook.com! With marked gridlines, your projects will come together in a snap! This double-sided mat has a 23" x 17" work surface with marked white grids, and the total mat size is 24" x 18".
This large self-healing mat is designed to help keep track of all your little crafting pieces that you might lose on your crafting surface. The Self-Healing Workspace Mat features a 1-inch white grid system across the surface. The center features a 12 x 12 square and a smaller square that perfectly fits an A2-sized card to keep all of your projects centered. This double-sided mat is made from recycled materials and is durable for those long crafting days so you don't have to worry about cutting up the surface!
Easily compare the Scrapbook.com Exclusive Crafting Mats with this comparison chart to find out which one works best for you!
For more can't-miss advice on craft tools check out these must-reads below:
The Magic Mat' For Die Cutting
Magic Mat' Care & Cleaning Tips
If you've ever been in a Japanese home, temple, or even some stores and offices, you will have come across the Japanese tatami mat. Soft underfoot and with a unique woody fragrance, it's no wonder tatami remain so popular in Japan. But what exactly are they, how are they made, and how can you use them? Read on to find out everything you need to know about tatami mats.
The word tatami comes from the verb tatamu ('', 'to fold', 'to pile'). Tatami mats first appeared in the oldest Japanese book, Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), as far back as 712. The name derives from the fact that tatami mats were originally thinner and could be folded or piled up.
Through most of Japanese history, the floor itself would be made of wood, and tatami mats would serve a particular purpose such as seating, in the houses of the well-to-do. Over the centuries their use widened. By the Edo period shoin-zukuri rooms, that we now call Japanese-style rooms, had become quite common, where nobles and samurai slept on tatami or woven mats named goza (''), while common people used straw mats or even loose straw for bedding.
Shoin-zukuri rooms were characterized by coffered ceilings, shoji screens, square pillars, and tatami floors. Tatami mats were installed on the entire floor of a room. These areas were called zashiki ('', 'spread out for sitting') and the arrangement of tatami mats in the room was determined by strict rules.
In the sixteenth century, Sen no Rikyu (-) established the Japanese tea ceremony in small tea rooms featuring natural materials, including tatami floorings. Rikyu's smallest tea room, Tai-an, built in Kyoto in , had a minimalistic surface of two tatami mats. Find out more with the Essential Tea Ceremony Utensils.
By the end of the 17th century, tatami floors had reached almost every home, which continues until today. Most Japanese houses have a few tatami matted rooms, including many modern city apartments. Even if Western-style bedding is popular, Japanese people often still sleep on a tatami mat with a futon, a thin mattress, on top. The rooms having tatami floorings and other traditional architectural characteristics are referred to as washitsu, "Japanese-style rooms". We highly recommend you experience Japanese hospitality and sleep on tatami mats when staying at a ryokan!
Tatami are typically differentiated by size and shape, quality of materials and applicability. Here are some of the most notable styles:
Size and shape: Most people think of tatami as rectangular, but square-shaped mats are also fairly common. Square tatami mats usually measure three feet by three (90cm by 90cm) and can accommodate the modular, symmetrical design of traditional Japanese rooms. Rectangular tatami tend to be favored, however, because of their streamlined, elongated appearance which creates a larger sense of space and works well in unconventionally shaped rooms. They also allow for interlocking designs and patterns that are deemed auspicious in traditional Japanese culture.
Materials: Igusa rush grass and rice straw are among the most common materials used for tatami construction. The former is the gold-standard, known for its elasticity, longevity and ability to maintain its natural color. Igusa rush tatami mats also have a natural wetland fragrance and vaunted antibacterial properties. This is not to say that rice straw tatami always pale in comparison. These mats have a slightly rougher texture and golden hue, but are often firm, durable and have good insulation.
Applicability: Traditional tatami mats were rigid, laid down on the floor where they would likely remain until the end of their days. Modern adaptations have appeared to allow tatami to be used in different and creative ways. Foldable tatami are a great example. Though they can be used for sleeping, they also double up as a kids play area, a yoga mat, or for lounging around on lazy Sundays. Tatami rugs are also becoming popular. These mats have similar malleability to a Western-style carpet and can be used underneath a coffee table or in the middle of a living room.
The traditional sizes of tatami mats differ between regions in Japan. In Kyoto kyoma tatami (''') measure 0.95m x 1.91m (3 feet 13 ½' x 6 feet 3 ¼').
Nagoya's in-between size or ainoma tatami ('''') measure 0.91m x 1.82m (2 feet 11 ¾' x 5 feet 11 ½')
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Base Mats.
In Tokyo edoma (''') or kantoma (''') tatami measure 0.88m x 1.76m (2 feet 10 ¾' x 5 feet 9 ¼')
Due to the widespread use of tatami mats as the preferred flooring throughout Japanese history, they came to be the standard unit for determining room size. Rather than meters or feet, jo (') is used to measure the size of a room by calculating how many tatami will fit in it. For example, a tea room of 4.5 jo is large enough to fit 4.5 tatami. Both full-size and half-size mats ('', hanjo) are common. If you go apartment hunting in Japan today, you'll come across this measurement
There are rules concerning the number of tatami mats and their arrangement in a room. In the Edo period, auspicious ('''', shugijiki) and inauspicious (''''', fushugijiki) tatami layouts were clearly distinguished. The tatami mats would be rearranged depending on the occasion.
Nowadays, an inauspicious arrangement, in which the tatami junctions form a cross, is said to bring bad fortune. Evenly patterned grids are inauspicious. The only exception to using a grid pattern is during times of mourning.
Consequently, an auspicious tatami arrangement is where no four corners of any full-size mats touch is the ideal. The aim is to have the junctions of the tatami form a T to ensure good fortune. An auspicious arrangement often requires the use of half-size mats.
Despite the modernization of Japanese houses, many Japanese people still enjoy a tatami floor and find it comfortable. Recently, tatami mats for placing on wooden floor have become more common. If you wish to add a Japanese touch to a Western room, you can enjoy the feel of tatami with mats such as these.
Tatami manufacturers now diversify their products and offer such items as tatami yoga mats, tatami play rugs for kids, miniature tatami mats, foldable tatami mats and even tatami shoe soles.
Sleeping on tatami mats can be an acquired taste. But given the range of benefits, it's definitely worth considering.
Comfort: Tatami mats provide a comfortable and soft surface to sit lie, or sleep on, particularly if you're accustomed to sleeping on your back.
Insulation: Tatami mats have insulating properties that help to regulate room temperature. They also adapt to the season, providing warmth in winter and a cool surface in summer.
Aesthetics: Tatami mats are distinctly Japanese and will feel at home in a washitsu (Japanese-style room) or any other room with an East Asian design theme.
Health Benefits: The natural materials in tatami, such as rush and rice straw, regulate a room's humidity and are therefore said to benefit the human respiratory system.
Versatility: Tatami mats are incredibly versatile. You can use them as soft flooring in the bedroom, for sitting around a coffee table in the living room, as private meditation or mindfulness spaces, or if you want to be extra refined, in a traditional tea room.
Environmentally Friendly: High-quality tatami mats are made from natural, biodegradable materials, making them easier to recycle or dispose of with minimum environmental impact.
Low Maintenance: Tatami mats are fairly easy to maintain. General guidelines suggest they need occasional sweeping or vacuuming, followed by sun drying to keep mold and dust mites at bay.
Tatami Mats are available at the Japan Objects store, including this Rush Grass Foldable Tatami Mat made in Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Pairing nicely with a Japanese futon, it enhances sleep comfort with its soft yet supportive underlay. Its portability also makes it particularly utilitarian, so feel free to reapply it to a meditation corner in your home or nestle it by a bay window and gaze out at nature on summer evenings.
The two major indicators of tatami quality are where it's made and the materials used. Many mats on the market are now made in China. Some of these have risen in quality in recent years, thanks to Japanese companies extoling knowledge to Chinese producers. But a tatami mat made in Japan is the official seal of quality.
The use of natural materials is equally important. Not only will they give you a better experience for longer, but the mats will also be more comfortable, environmentally friendly, and carry a pleasant natural scent. If a tatami mat is very cheap, it's likely been made with synthetic materials like polypropylene, PVC, or other synthetic fibers.
Tatami can be placed on hard floors, like stone or heated wood, or on top of carpets. As long as the floor isn't prone to damp or high in humidity, you shouldn't have any issues. If you're using tatami on top of a carpet, however, it's best to use a foldable type as these mats are easier to remove, air and clean. If in doubt, use our tatami care guidelines to help you decide which surface will mitigate moisture and maintenance issues.
If you're allergic to dust mites, you'll need to exercise extra observance when searching for a tatami mat to buy. Some are prone to dust and mold, others are treated in such a way to be dust mite-resistant.
The material composition of the mat is important. Mats made from natural materials like igusa rush grass or other plant fibers tend to have inherent properties that make them less attractive to dust mites. Some modern synthetic tatami mats are also designed to be resistant to dust mites, but be sure to check the product description before purchasing. One thing to look out for is antimicrobial treatments. Mats in this category are treated with agents during the manufacturing process that help prevent the growth of microorganisms.
The simple rule is not to use tatami outdoors in humid or rainy climes. Excessive moisture and damp is the death knell for any kind of tatami mat. In dry climates, you can use tatami outdoors, but be sure to bring in the mat immediately when the rain starts or be or dry it out fully when wet. Its best not to leave a tatami for too long on a surface prone to moisture like grass or wooden decking. Some waterproof tatami mats for outdoor picnics or sunbathing on the beach have landed on the market, but they tend to be of mixed quality.
The basic structure of a tatami is simple, comprising a base (doko), a cover (omote), and a border (heri) crafted into a rectangle.
The base (doko) is traditionally made of multilayered natural rice straw, tightly attached, and compressed. A natural base is the best choice, the most economical option in the long term and has been used for centuries. Its key characteristics are durability, fireproof properties, humidity control, resilience, and thermal insulation. The feeling barefoot is unique.
There are various grades of base; the more natural material used determines the cost and quality. As the grades of base differ, so does the straw (gomoku, crushed straw) included in the base. The best quality is used in shrines, tea rooms, and temples, while the multipurpose base is popular for apartments.
Nowadays, the base now also can be made of light materials like Styrofoam, inserted between compressed wood-chip board. The feeling is similar to the natural base but it is harder and less durable. It is nevertheless cheaper, lighter, with a better insulation and more resistant to moisture and bugs.
The cover (omote) is made of woven natural soft rush straw ('', igusa). As with the base, the highest grade of cover is generally employed in shrines, temples, and important spaces.
A high-quality cover has four hemp strings, two at each weave, binding the straw together. A stronger string makes the surface thicker and affects the feeling underfoot. The rush straw used in these mats is only harvested once a year.
High to mid grades are often used in Japanese and international homes. Lower grade cover is a good choice for areas of high use like apartments for rent, where mats will need to be resurfaced more regularly.
You may find cheaper tatami covers outside of Japan, but their quality tends to be questionable. We strongly recommend purchasing made-in-Japan tatami mats.
Brand new tatami flooring has a light green color and smells like fresh grass. The scent goes away in a few weeks. The cover gradually turns light brown with age, and its color comes to match nearby wooden interiors.
Tatami mats work well with the climate of Japan, humid and hot in summer and dry and cold in winter. Tatami flooring increases quality of life in terms of acoustics, air quality, and humidity. They act as sound and temperature insulation, and they filter the air in a room and absorb carbon dioxide. The rush weave cover regulates humidity: it absorbs or expels moisture when the seasons change.
Tatami borders (heri) used to be made of cotton or hemp. Nowadays, synthetic borders are cheaper and stronger, but in terms of quality, natural fiber is always better. High class borders are made of hemp. In the past, depending on the formality of the room and the wealth of the owner, this border might even be made of silk brocade.
Borders can feature a solid color or traditional Japanese patterns, especially used for temples and tokonoma (alcove). Since tatami borders are durable and beautiful, their fabric may be used in products like bags and pouches.
Like most craft forms in Japan, tatami production has various heartlands littered throughout the country. Kyoto, the nation's arts and craft capital, is, of course, a hub of tatami mat artisans. Workshops like Yokoyama, run by eponymous tatami maker Mitsuru Yokoyama, build on years of tradition to craft mats for traditional Japanese homes and design projects globally. Yokoyama's work has been featured at Ise Jingu, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, as well as at Kosei-in Temple, the G7 Summit, and in various exhibits throughout Europe, North America, Africa, and Aisa.
In Japan's southernmost main island, Kyushu, there is also a rich tatami tradition. Producers like Ikehiko, founded in Fukuoka in before expanding across the country, utilize high-caliber igusa rush grass, which is known for its durability, comfort, environmentally friendly properties, and natural aroma. Higashiizu is a smaller, but no less respected, haunt for tatami artisans. Multi-generational producers, like Tokiwa, in this small town on the Izu Peninsula supply the local ryokan and architectural projects elsewhere in the country with high-grade tatami mats.
Some Tatami producers also provide workshops to tourists. At Fujitami Guesthouse in Osaka you can make small tatami art with a local artisan. At Yamada Tatami in Kyoto you can watch a pair of expert craftsman ply their trade. Or head to Shizuoka City and make miniature tatami coasters and tatami photo frames with legendary tatami maker Tomoyuki Kameyama.
The easiest way to clean tatami mats is to use a vacuum cleaner. It is important to vacuum along the grain or one may damage the tatami cover. After vacuuming, it is possible to wipe the surface along the grain with a dry cotton cloth.
One should avoid cleaning tatami with a wet cloth. As tatami mats retain moisture, this may cause mold to grow. A wet cloth may also eliminate some of the natural surface oils which help protect the mat from aging too rapidly.
A well-ventilated room is important for tatami: open windows often or use a fan to circulate air. Furniture may be placed for long periods on the tatami floor, it will resume its shape once the furniture is moved, due to the air ventilation in the base.
Tatami mats can be renewed if the old rush flooring needs to be replaced. This process is named tatami no omotegae (change of tatami cover). People usually ask for this procedure at tatamiya san (tatami repair shops).
As you've likely guessed, this will depend on the quality of the materials. If you purchase high-grade, and look after the mat well, you can expect to get 50 years out of it. With cheaper man-made materials, this might be slashed to about 25 years ' still not a bad return. Just remember that durability is one of the chief selling points of tatami. The conventional wisdom suggests that even the cheaper options on the market will last longer than your average carpet.
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