With all the different materials out there, it's hard to know which mat to use for your project!
Spoiler alert: it's simple!
Cricut® makes four mats: LightGrip, StandardGrip, StrongGrip, and FabricGrip. Which mat you use is dependent on the material you will be cutting. Having each mat will come in handy when creating different projects.
LightGrip
The blue mat is perfect for all lightweight materials. This mat has just enough grip to hold your material in place, but will also allow it to be removed from the mat with ease.
Some materials to use with this mat: Construction, Paper, Light Cardstock, Printer Paper, Vellum, Vinyl, Washi Tape Sheets...
StandardGrip
The green mat is best for light-to-medium weight materials. I tend to grab this mat the most, especially for any project including vinyl.
Some materials to use with this mat: Embossed Cardstock, Heavy Cardstock, Iron-On Vinyl, Window Cling...
StrongGrip
The purple mat is best for heavyweight materials. It has a strong enough grip to hold your material in place while being cut. This is Cricut's longest-lasting mat, best for strong, stiff materials.
Some material to use with this mat: Balsa Wood, Chipboard, Corrugated Cardboard, Craft Foam, Faux Leather, Magnet Sheets...
FabricGrip
The pink mat is perfect for cutting fabric. It will hold your material in place while cutting, but will not cause damage when you remove.
Some fabrics to use with this mat: Cotton, Denim, Felt, Polyester, Tulle...
Tips for storing and caring for your mats
- Keep the plastic cover that comes with each mat to place over it after use (this keeps dust and lint from sticking to your mat).
- Remove excess material leftover from a cut.
- Only use the recommended materials on the corresponding mat.
Each of these tips will help lengthen the life span of your cutting mat. Think about getting the mats in different sizes as well; 6 x 12, 12 x 12, 12 x 24, etc. The different sizes may come in handy while doing different projects.
Happy creating! xo OLTAGS