Desk tops/crafting surfaces

I have two of the old Making Memories black with white grid self-healing mats, and then I pull out the travel sized Tim Holtz glass mat for messy stuff

I have a roll of news print that I use to protect my desk top from paint, ink, spray and it lets me write quotes or notes to myself as well. I just roll out how much I need, cut it and place it over top (and tuck it under the hutch to it stays put). I then have the heidi swapp make it pretty silicon mat to work on over top.

I have the 18"x24" WRMK teal cutting mat (here on SB.com). I like a brighter work surface, so on top of that I have the bubblegum pink AC cutting mat that's just a smidge smaller than the WRMK one.

When the AC pink mats were at Tuesday Morning a few years ago, I bought a three of them because I assumed the ruler marks would wear off eventually. The AC one is still going strong! I keep the extras sitting under my heavy duty trimmer.

A glass top would be so nice, bummer they are expensive because I love that idea. I have the white Ikea desk stuff too in the Alex line. The laminate is starting to peel a bit at the corners which is bothering me. It's funny, when I bought it, I loved it all. Now, several years later, I'm not sure I'm loving the look as much. I can't tell if I'm just sick of it or board or what, but investing in nicer stuff seems silly when it's likely I'll just mess it up with ink and glue.

I have 3 main work stations; one is a 30"X40" glass top light table. As it wears and gets too many knife cuts, I simply swap it around, when that gets used too much, I flip it to the other side for 2 more uses.
The other 2 have cutting mats, one is for fixed blade the other is rolling blade only.

For a small work space, like crops, or expo's I just take my Scor-Pal and Scor-Mat. The mat has a gridded fixed blade side for cutting and the silicone side for painting, gluing, and other messy work, and easy clean-up.

I have an ugly green mat, and my tim holtz glass mat is on top of it because it slides less. I love my glass surface.
I would be tempted to purchase a bigger glass surface, but they get unaffordable very quickly with size.

You might laugh, but I use cheapo padded-vinyl placemats from the dollar store. I buy several at a time, so I can just throw them out when they get too worn out. For cutting, I just put my self-healing cutting mat on top of the placemat, but I move it for gluing/adhering little bits, painting, inking/stamping, etc.

I have an old farm table that I got at the thrift store for $50.00. I don't put anything on top of it unless I'm going to use my exacto knife or a glue stick. Otherwise I just use the surface as it. It's already old and scratched up. That's why I bought it! To be clear, however, I rarely blend inks or use paints or anything that makes a mess.

I have a vintage desk which I mostly use as is too. It's a bit beat up already but I try not to make it worse. I just use a non stick mat if I'm doing something messy, but I'm mostly a clean crafter.

I had a glass top on my dressing table/desk as a kid and I hated it. My parents got it to protect the surface but there was something about it that I just didn't like... maybe the coldness of it? It would be practical for crafting but I think I might still find it unnecessary and unpleasant.

Have you considered the peel off wallpaper, sort of like contact paper, that's popular lately? I have a partial roll that I used to make a photo backdrop and I've considered using it to cover a piece of thin board to create a desktop to sit on top of my desk. This crafter used it to make a photo backdrop: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWLEGuQXnHo Maybe something similar would work to protect your tabletop? Or maybe you could just apply the wallpaper stuff straight to the desk?

I use clear vinyl sheet on my table..It is the thick one from hobby lobby cut to size covers well have had it for 6 years...just add the self healing mat on top of it when needed...makes a slick flat surface//

I have a Mission Style antique desk that was refinished with a very gloppy application of varnish, so I don’t feel guilty using it for crafting. I would love to have a glass top. It’s on my wish list, but things like a new roof and a new boiler prevent it from moving up the list. I’m using the big green quilting mat for intense cutting with box cutters. I use the WRMK teal mat for all my other work. I laugh when I recall I first started scrapping & card making and could do all my work on a 12x12 mat!