Shel
Full Member
Posts: 408
Jul 16, 2014 0:32:12 GMT
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Post by Shel on Jul 14, 2016 20:24:54 GMT
So I'm not sure if what I have in my head is a real thing. I would like some kind of mat or board that I can put on my table so my kids can do homework or arts and crafts without damaging my table. It doesn't have to cover my whole table but I would like it to be big enough to provide a good workspace. I have a fabric/plastic table protector but that's too soft to actually work on. Does something like this exist? Any ideas as to where I can look?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 29, 2024 2:46:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2016 20:27:14 GMT
I use a self-healing cutting mat. You can get them at chain craft stores in many sizes with a coupon.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,696
Location: Houston, TX
Jun 25, 2014 22:47:49 GMT
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Post by smartypants71 on Jul 14, 2016 20:27:23 GMT
I use a cutting mat on my desk.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jul 14, 2016 20:27:55 GMT
there are cutting mats for quilting that are pretty sturdy (since they're meant to protect a surface from a cutting blade) but the larger ones can be kinda pricey.
Perhaps some Pea might have a different option for some kind of 'lap desk' type thing-- just without the lap rest part underneath it, or something like that. Or maybe some sort of a piece of smooth board / wood that has a felt backing so it won't damage your table?? I can picture it in my mind, but I have no idea if it's a 'real' thing or not!
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,824
Jun 26, 2014 12:56:40 GMT
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 14, 2016 20:28:21 GMT
Go to Joann's fabrics. They have flannel backed picnic table cloth fabric. Have them cut you a piece! It will last forever.
We did that with our dd and it was wonderful. I just wiped it off.
Oh, and I have another flannel backed table cloth that when our dd is sick it goes on the floor next to her bed with the trash can sitting on it. If she gets sick it all wipes up easily.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Jul 14, 2016 20:28:36 GMT
I saw some enormous self-healing craft mats at Tuesday Morning the other day, so if you have one near you it might be worth a look. They were in the craft section, way down on the bottom shelves.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Jul 14, 2016 20:30:58 GMT
I use a self-healing cutting mat. You can get them at chain craft stores in many sizes with a coupon. I do the same.
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Shel
Full Member
Posts: 408
Jul 16, 2014 0:32:12 GMT
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Post by Shel on Jul 14, 2016 20:32:11 GMT
Hadn't thought about the cutting mats. I have a good sized one. That is a good option!
Crimsoncat5.....that's what I have in my head. Some type of smooth surface with a felt backing!
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Post by bianca42 on Jul 14, 2016 20:39:27 GMT
The president and VP of my company have something like that on their desks because they have fancy wood desks. They are called desk pads. link
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Post by casswithsass on Jul 14, 2016 20:50:09 GMT
Probably thirty years ago my mother bought the cutout from a piece of laminate from where the sink would go. It's called "the board". Sometimes I suspect it will be the only thing my kids fight about when I die. It's been used for everything: coloring, painting, peanut brittle making, Lego building, tap dancing, you name it. The funny thing is that it's still a great surface. I have grandkids coming to visit and it will again make an appearance. It has saved tables, carpet, hardwood. I think she paid 25 cents for it, it will probably cost a little more now.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 14, 2016 20:55:01 GMT
Desk pad to provide some padding/give when writing and protect your desk surface. I use a calendar pad at work. I don't like writing on paper with no pad, I have less control and my writing look atrocious.
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Post by papersilly on Jul 14, 2016 20:55:21 GMT
I just use a x-large rotary mat. it's plastic, thin, cleans easily, and the ruler marks come in very handy sometimes.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 14, 2016 20:56:05 GMT
When in school and not wanting to damage the soft surface of the project tables we used a half sheet of hardboard. Pretty cheap does the job
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Post by twinks on Jul 14, 2016 21:13:06 GMT
I currently use a large cutting mat. There is a craft mat (Tim Holtz - Ranger) that I have used in the past and is cheaper ($15 or less) that I have also used. I love the flannel backed vinyl fabric - I just purchase cheap plastic table cloths from Target for when we are painting/crafting.
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,730
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
Aug 2, 2014 13:03:45 GMT
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jul 14, 2016 21:18:29 GMT
I have a mat that I got from Ikea, years ago, but I don't think they still make them. It is clear, 65cm x 45cm (2'1.5"x18.5"), textured on the under-side to grip the table so it doesn't slip. I would love to find another one the same. ETA: I just searched and they ARE available - but only in the US. Typical! But great for you. Try searching on the Staples site for Desk Pad or Desk Protector? Lorell and Artistic are the manufacturers that came up.
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Post by meridon on Jul 14, 2016 21:43:43 GMT
I get vinyl felt-backed tablecloths for 2.99 at Christmas Tree Shops or Old Time Pottery and I use those. A lot of YouTube scrappers/mixed media artists I follow use foam core board so that they have a nice white background for on camera and then replace it when they get dirty. Or, as others have suggested, there are the self healing mats at Tuesday Morning. They pretty much always have them, but they're probably on a bottom shelf, so can be hard to spot.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 29, 2024 2:46:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2016 22:04:00 GMT
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Post by bigbundt on Jul 14, 2016 22:12:33 GMT
These aren't big enough to cover a table but I use these plastic trays from ikea. www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40041131/ They are big enough for my daughter's projects, I can move them easily, and they stack to allow multiple projects to dry at one time. She uses them with playdoh and playing with water toys too. I have at least ten of them in the cabinet!
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Shel
Full Member
Posts: 408
Jul 16, 2014 0:32:12 GMT
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Post by Shel on Jul 15, 2016 0:12:37 GMT
Great ideas and info! I might get more than one option and use based on whatever activity they are doing!
Thanks!!
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Post by craftsbycarolyn on Jul 15, 2016 1:00:56 GMT
I saw some enormous self-healing craft mats at Tuesday Morning the other day, so if you have one near you it might be worth a look. They were in the craft section, way down on the bottom shelves. I bought a pink one there and I think it was $15. Save
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,866
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Jul 15, 2016 2:30:19 GMT
I use a self-healing cutting mat. You can get them at chain craft stores in many sizes with a coupon. Yep. This! ;-) Use a coupon a jo-Ann's to get a good deal on a big one.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 15, 2016 3:55:13 GMT
Yup, self healing mats. I bought five of them when I set up my studio so when my friends come over to scrap they won't muck up my new table tops. Then I got a pink one for my own desk when I saw it at Tuesday Morning for $15. I also bought a 6' long Teflon splat mat from there for the table where DD sits when she's working on craft stuff with me. Glue, paint, crayon, watercolor, ink--pretty much everything wipes off of that thing!
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Post by cmpeter on Jul 15, 2016 4:06:24 GMT
We got custom fit table mats. The top finish is the same color as our table and the bottom is some felty/velvet material. They are hard and fold in half to make them easy to store when you don't need them. We put them u Dee the tablecloth if we are using one. The kids pull them out all the time if they are crafting or doing puzzles.
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 15, 2016 5:30:40 GMT
I don't like the picnic table cover, I find it too soft.
I need multiple pages to write on or I use a desk pad calendar at work.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,866
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Jul 15, 2016 16:22:46 GMT
I use a self-healing cutting mat. You can get them at chain craft stores in many sizes with a coupon. Yep. This! ;-) Use a coupon a jo-Ann's to get a good deal on a big one.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,983
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
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Post by blue tulip on Jul 15, 2016 16:43:41 GMT
if you wanted a large self-healing type matt for your whole table, you could get a vinyl flooring remnant from a home depot/menards store and cut it to fit. then you could roll it up when you were done and store it away too. if you need a harder surface, I'd get some hardboard from the same place, it's thin and cheap and the harder surface might be nicer for coloring.
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Post by anonrefugee on Jul 15, 2016 16:53:48 GMT
if you wanted a large self-healing type matt for your whole table, you could get a vinyl flooring remnant from a home depot/menards store and cut it to fit. then you could roll it up when you were done and store it away too. if you need a harder surface, I'd get some hardboard from the same place, it's thin and cheap and the harder surface might be nicer for coloring. You can decorate and paint the hardboard too. Now that mine are older I use a large sewing vinyl/plastic mat. The kind discussed above, it's huge. I was planning on using a JoAnnes coupon when I stumbled on a bargain at Tuesday Morning.
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Post by tuva42 on Jul 15, 2016 17:01:46 GMT
I own a drop-in craft studio. We top our tables with thick, clear vinyl. I buy at by the yard at a fabric store. We hold it on the tables with picnic clips. Once it gets really painted up, we replace it and use the old vinyl to make patterns for other crafts.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jul 15, 2016 21:09:21 GMT
I own a drop-in craft studio. We top our tables with thick, clear vinyl. I buy at by the yard at a fabric store. We hold it on the tables with picnic clips. Once it gets really painted up, we replace it and use the old vinyl to make patterns for other crafts. tuva42: how is your craft studio going?? I hope you're doing well!! I remember you posting asking for ideas about it and posting some pictures, I think, of when it was first opening!
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Post by tuva42 on Jul 16, 2016 21:14:10 GMT
I own a drop-in craft studio. We top our tables with thick, clear vinyl. I buy at by the yard at a fabric store. We hold it on the tables with picnic clips. Once it gets really painted up, we replace it and use the old vinyl to make patterns for other crafts. tuva42 : how is your craft studio going?? I hope you're doing well!! I remember you posting asking for ideas about it and posting some pictures, I think, of when it was first opening! We are doing really well, thanks for asking! We just passed our 1st anniversary. We've done over 200 kids' birthday parties, dozens of classes for adults, and thousands of drop-in crafters. Our summer camps have done well, many have sold out. We're having a ball!
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