Paper piercing mat question

[Rachelrose]

I just ordered a paper piercing tool but didn't order a mat. I figured I already had a couple of those thick foam Darice stamping mats and could cut one in half and use that. But now I'm looking at the piercing mats online and wondering if the foam stamping mat is the same material as a piercing mat. Or if it matters.

Advice? Suggestions?

Thanks!

[Gina K. Designs]

I use a piece of mouse pad.

[Rachelrose]

I've heard this elsewhere. I might an old one have one lying around.

Hey, I just ordered some paper from you after reading all the raves! Nice to meet you!

[staceylovespaper]

I bought a piece of very thick cork for piercing, but I have to say, a thick mouse pad will be your new best friend. It is wonderful cushion to stamp on, my tombo adhesive roll works 100 times better when I roll it on top of my mouse pad instead of my desk and you can use it to pierce your paper.

[Rachelrose]

I found an old mouse pad in my "office supplies" closet. Don't know whether it qualifies as "thick" but will give it a try. I should have my Tim Holtz retractable craft pick (part of my Gina K order) soon.

Where did you get your thick pad?

[Cook22]

I've used both a mouse mat, a "proper" piercing mat and a cork floor tile - my favourite of all is the cork tile . Actually, LOL, that works best for me as a mouse mat too!

[Rachelrose]

Maybe my mouse pad is too thin, but I wasn't too impressed with it for piercing. My foam stamping mat works better. And I have two, so I could use one of those.

Styrofoam is supposed to be good.

[muscrat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cook22

I've used both a mouse mat, a "proper" piercing mat and a cork floor tile - my favourite of all is the cork tile . Actually, LOL, that works best for me as a mouse mat too!

You know, I have a 12x12 square of cork that I had no clue what I could use it for. It was originally to hang on the wall so I could tack my projects up. Never thought to use it to paper pierce! Thanks for the idea.

[cat_woman]

You can also use the thick pieces of fun foam. I see them at Michaels and they're about 3/8" thick. I have a piece that I use sometimes. I can't for the life of me remember why I bought it - probably something for my niece. It reminds me of the foam flipflops are made out of.

[Rachelrose]

Well, that's what my stamping pads are made of, basically. They are those burgundy colored ones from Darice. They work fine for piercing but I can see they will get full of holes fast. What do you do about that?

I'm curious what the Stampin Up ones are made of. Probably something similar. I have to order some stuff from them anyway, maybe I'll throw one on the order and see.

[staceylovespaper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachelrose

I found an old mouse pad in my "office supplies" closet. Don't know whether it qualifies as "thick" but will give it a try. I should have my Tim Holtz retractable craft pick (part of my Gina K order) soon.

Where did you get your thick pad?

If you mean my thick mouse pad, it was my husbands. It is an old, specialty one. I think newer ones you find in a chain store might be thinner, to save money as most things go nowadays.

The thick cork I found at my local scrap/stamp store.

[fionna51]

Rachel...I compared my new SU piercing mat to my Darice burgundy stamping mat. Except for thickness, it seems that they are exactly the same. The Darice mat is thicker.

[Rachelrose]

I think my mouse pad is too thin.

So the mat just gets full of holes eventually? I worked on my Darice mat and there are little circles of holes.

But those Darice mats are so great. Inexpensive and I cut them in half so I can work on two cards at the same time and just keep all the pieces separate for each.

I also don't like the Tim Holtz piercing tool so much. Can't say exactly why. Maybe it's me. I have nothing to compare it to so I ordered the SU one and will play with them both. Then I'll give the one I like less to my sister!

[Gina K. Designs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachelrose

I've heard this elsewhere. I might an old one have one lying around.

Hey, I just ordered some paper from you after reading all the raves! Nice to meet you!

It's a pleasure to meet you too!

[Gina K. Designs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcdonough

If you mean my thick mouse pad, it was my husbands. It is an old, specialty one. I think newer ones you find in a chain store might be thinner, to save money as most things go nowadays.

The thick cork I found at my local scrap/stamp store.

Mine was super old too. They used to be much thicker. I would just cut one and layer them together with a little score tape to thicken it up. However, the Stampin' Up one is awesome!

[lylacfey]

I use the thick foam from Michael's. I paid $1.00 for it. I did recently see the Darice pad thickness is slightly bigger than Michael's foam. I can't remember the blog where I saw it. Apologies to the blogger. The blog author glued two pieces of the foam together to make her own Darice mat.

[uncbballfan]

I have the Darice stamp mat, and I love it. And you're right - it's gets "hole-ly" quickly.

I made piercing mats out of fun foam, layering several pieces together. For me, these work better than a mouse pad, because my piercing tool seems to get stuck in the mouse pad.

[sillyfilly]

I to love the one from Stampin Up.

[Rachelrose]

Well, I should have my Stampin Up one in a week or so and then I can compare it to my Darice, my mouse pad and maybe the other two things I have read people use - cardboard and styrofoam.