I tend to either just hold my stencils, use Pixie Spray, add some tape, or use the Brutus Monroe mat. It really just depends on the stencil. This is a helpful video!
Haha! I just watched a video where you held the stencil and never shifted it - that is definitely a skill I need to develop! Thanks so much for dropping by, Alison!
Lots of great info here. I also have grip mats, sticky mats, and the Make Art Station. I had a really hard time with the sticky mat grabbing my paper and it staying/tearing on the mat so I put a piece of copy paper smaller than the cardstock underneath the cardstock and that solved the problem. One thing I do regularly is use the grip mat to hold the other mat to my work surface. (I cannot tell you how many different things I use those grip mats for. They're so handy.) It helps keep the whole thing from moving around. Like you, I found that each mat has pros and cons and I actually use them all.
Oh that's a great tip with the copy paper! And I agree - getting the grey mat out was a great reminder that it can be used in many ways! Thanks so much for watching!
Great review. I've never understood the appeal of the Make Art stay-tion. Just watching crafters on you-tube shift those magnets around a million times--I knew it wasn't for me! ;) I have a glass board now (used to have a ranger craft sheet that I used for YEARS) and I either hold the stencil with my hand or if it's really finicky I use washi tape. I did buy some sticky spray but I really wasn't a fan of that either, and yes it does leave residue. Fortunately it can be erased off of my project, but I only use that stuff in desperation. Thanks for the review.
I do love the stay-tion for positioning die cut letters on a card front - the centering ruler and grid make it easy to know it's centered, and then the edge of the ruler helps me keep them staright, but it's not my favourite for stencilling. Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for your review. I have an old thick grippy silicone mat that does the job for me. I also have large cheap silicone mats I got on Amazon that are really grippy and hold my pads and cardstock in place. I also have used an old Nicapa cutting mat for my Silhouette which does the trick too. They all look like they can be helpful, but I'll just use what I have for now.
You can probably remove it with an adhesive eraser, but I prefer to avoid it in the first place. I really only use Pixie Spray with a stencil with very narrow/delicate lines. Thanks for watching!
I did the same to my Brutus Monroe sticky mat, and I’ve bought another. I have been pleased with the Misti sticky mats, and I share the magnet-moving annoyance with the Make Art Station. I choose from what I have based on nothing much other than my mood-too many pretty good options! Thanks for the great overview!
I’m not sure if this helps anyone, but I have a cricut and when my mats lose the good tacky feel, I use them to hold down my card panels, inks, and stencils. Works out okay and I can save the money!
Flipping the stencil was amazing. What a difference. I also like how you used the side area to show us what you were using rather than having to look it all up for reference be either stopping the video or checking items out after. Time saver!
Thanks for the reviews. I have all stencil mats mentioned, except for TM Grip Mat. I prefer the Waffle Flower Mat. I love that it has a corner and it's easy to clean off the excess ink (it does stain, but that doesn't other me.) I do like using the sticky grid mat for holding the paper in a stamping platform when using a background stamp.
Hi Ardyth, I know this is a bit old but I had been saving it to watch since you did it. You put out so many awesome vids that I can't watch them all the time on the launch day! I don't have a cricket but the cutting machine I have, I have always used their mats, you can buy stick and not sticky. They are clear with a grid on them...I like the clear. I never thought about chopping one of them up but great idea. I also have some giant silicone mats. I use them on my art table as I do acrylic pour art also and they clean up awesome. I took a smaller one I had and chopped it up for the same reason you did I think it was the Tim Holtz. I get my silicone mats on Amazon as they are available in many colors and sizes. I LOVE MY glass mat, mine is also magnetic and I have a variety of those super strong magnets for it. I tend to use that first. If I am having issues with whatever I am doing, then I grab the silicone mat. But I have been thinking for a long while of trying that Waffle Flower one, I like the corner. Currently I cut 2 thin strips off the silicone mat and glued them onto the larger silicone mat to make a corner Thanks for sharing once again and I wish you would stop making such beautiful cards.... they make me drool. My jaw is always hanging open when I watch your vids. God Bless you and your awesome creative mind and talent. ❤🙏
Haha! Well, I think you know I will not stop making cards and I do appreciate your very kind words. That idea of creating your own corner by stacking up the mat itself is genius! Let me know how it works! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for all the comparisons. I like the Brutus Monore sticky mat. I use his cleaner and a paper towel to get the ink off. Works great and stays sticky. I also use the TH mat under my Misti mouse pad to keep it from shifting in my MISTI.
I’m in love with the new Brutus Monroe mat with the stencil layering guide. It holds all my stencils and paper tight and is easy to clean with the spray. Love your video.
I use none of those 🤣 For my birthday, I asked for the new photopolymer mats that have been released recently. I'm sure they'll be great but I'll see when they arrive. Thanks for comparing all these.
I LOVE the new photopolymer mats - they weren't around when I made this video (I was just slightly ahead of my time! lol!) Let me know if you have any trouble, but I don't think you will. Thanks fo rwatching!
Thank you, Ardyth, for sharing your experience with these different options. I will refer to your chart again until I find which is best for me. I always learn something new from each of your videos. 🙂
Thanks for the comparison of all of these. I actually own them all as well and I agree with your assessment. They all serve a purpose and it depends on so many different variables. I enjoy them all as I like having options to fit the project or other tools that I need at the same time. I actually use a cut piece of the Tim Holtz grey mat with my make art station to hold my paper down. Love all the card projects that you featured during your review. Thanks again! 💗
Glad it was helpful! Since this video, Altenew and Waffleflower have come out with photopolymer grip mats which also work really well. Thanks for watching!
I have only used the Make Art Station for stencils. I own the MISTI Sticky Mats and finally removed enough stick to make them actually work for me, but I have not tried them with stencils. Someone gifted me the TH Grip Mat. I haven't taken it out of the package as it just arrived yesterday. I enjoyed your video. I like how you showed using the stencils on each of these type of mats. Thanks!!
Really useful video, Ardyth, thank you for this! Oh and amazing cards you created almost as an afterthought. Love ypu niece‘s birthday card in particular. Kind regards from Germany, Nicola
Beautiful cards 🥰 I love your card designs, the stencils and your color choices. I don't use stencils enough to say whats best for me 😉❤️ thanks for sharing your creativity Hugs xx
You're welcome. Of course the two newest sticky mats (Altenew and Waffle Flower) came out after this video - they're both excellent products as well! Thanks for watching!
I currently don't have a favorite mat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. Your video left me thinking I should ask for that seldom used gray mat back from my husband. Really liked the idea of putting ink pads on the the smaller piece of gray mat.
Love your comparisons - and your color schemesI I mostly use the Tim Holtz “hinge” method. Tape only across the top like a hinge in order to lift up the stencil from the bottom to check coverage. Pixie Spray hasn’t left sticky stuff on the cards - maybe I use less? Or maybe it’s the type of cardstock? And thanks for the Brutus Monroe sticky mat - have some but haven’t tried them.
TBH, the best part of this was the tip of flipping the stencil for an alternative pattern... that will be a game changer for me, something so easy and obvious but I never would have thought of it!😆 Re gripping stencils/paper - I bought a square of silicone mat for dirt cheap from a manufacturer off ebay and it does the same as any of the name brand ones except having a corner, but then I use my stamping platform for that. TFS 🙂
Great video. I own the Brutus Monroe, Misti, & DIY cricut sticky mats. I cut down a cricut mat to use before the sticky mats were produced. It worked fine & was inexpensive. I like the Brutus Monroe for the grids. I haven’t tried the Misti mats yet, but it appears a lot of RUclipsrs cut it down to use. TFS.
What a great video. So many good things to think about. I really love the stencil set you used with the green ink. If you have to pick one, keep that one. I’d love to see it again. I prefer the rounder shapes.
I don't use stencils enough to invest in a mat or anything. But if I do get into this is such a helpful video. I'm a tape it down type of crafter for now lol
Thank you for the review Ardyth. I've tried them all but the Tim Holtz is THE very best in my opinion. Make art magnets are not user friendly for arthritic hands, and the mat itself slips on the glass. The problem with the Misti is that the ink gets on the ruler sides and a mess to clean. The Stick and stamp gets so dirty I can't stand to use it. Again I thank you Ardyth for this fine video.
I'm enjoying reading everyone's opinions on the different mats - it just shows why there needs to be options available! Thanks for watching, Rose Anne!
I like the waffleflower, Tim holtz and tape on my glass mats. No special cleaning spray, no ink transfer or loss of stickiness and easy to clean. I too found sticky mat harder to clean and loss of stickiness.
Hi Ardyth, I have a few sticky mats also. I think when the stick is gone, I will either spray with the Pixie spray or use the Tombow multi medium glue to make them sticky again. Not sure if that will work but it's worth a try and may save my mats. Thanks for all the great tips.
Hi Ardyth , I use tonic studio mat along with pixie spray but I agree it’s hard to get the stickiness off of the stencil when you are done . I am going to try some of the ones you have suggested. Another amazing video.
Thanks for this Ardyth. You sure do cover everything in your research. I have both sizes of the Waffle Flower Water Media Mat and also both sizes of the Make Art Stay-tion so my stencilling (and ink blending etc) needs are covered. The only place I use "sticky" is in my stamping platform. For a while I used sticky grid (and still will if I need to line up dies precisely) but I found that not to be the best all purpose option as it leaves a sticky residue on the back of my card stock and can be expensive. I switched out to a 12 x 12" Universal Crafts Sticky Surface Cutting Mat. This is double sided and cuts down easily with a guillotine. I have one fitted in my large TH platform and the other in my Mini Misti. I also made the mistake of washing them and lost the stick... I rectified this with a light coating of Pixie Spray. This still works but the mat has become really grotty and I'm looking for a non-sticky option for my stamp platforms. Although, the Universal Mat lasts for ages and is very inexpensive I'm wondering about the TH grip mat. Would you (or any viewers) recommend this option for stamping platforms? (I don't need a grid because I use a grid transparency overlay to line up my stamps). Thanks. 🙂
What an interesting idea! I have not used the TH mat in my mistis because I have been using the WF Grip Mats and have been very happy with them (so nice to not need to use a magnet!). I think to use the TH mat, which is thin, I would need to put it on top of the black mat that comes with the misti to make sure that the stamping surface is high enough for clear stamps. I am going to put this on my list of things to try out! Thanks for sharing, and watching!
That first stencil -- the yellow makes me think Sunflower. If you had a pointy leaf shaped die, you could cut that background into sunflower leaf shapes. 😀 For the non Cricut sticky mats: trace around a card panel with a sharpie to get the center like the Brutus Monroe. Sharpies are alcohol based so water won't smear it. I guess it would if used alcohol inks on that mat. The 5th card reminds me of a quilt. Thanks for the comparison!
Most times when I use a stencil I just hold it, but that’s because I’m often only using a section of it to add texture. From your review, I think the Waffle Flower mat looks like a great tool. I’ll put it on my wish list!
Great info. Thanks for sharing! I am very weak at stenciling. I have the waffle flower mini. I have the white glass mat too and to keep my ink pads from moving around, I bought silicone craft mats from Dollar Tree. They are about… 8 x 10? (Maybe a bit smaller but definitely bigger than a card.) They are coloured but who cares! They hold the pads well! I have also used one instead of my WF one to stencil because it’s on my desk and the other is neatly put away. Kind of wish I didn’t buy the WF one now that I found these cheapies that I’m not afraid to get dirty or damage!
I think stenciling (like every skill) takes practice and I'm sure you're better than you think! Sounds like there are some less expensive options out there, too - thanks for sharing! And thanks for watching!
That was a great comparison video! I really need to try to come up with new ways to use my stencils, you come up with some fantastic ideas! I like using either a silicone mat or the TH media mat when coloring. When you use a sticky mat, does the back of the panel feel sticky or like something is on it, when you're done (like pixie spray)??
Hi Ardith! I enjoyed your comparison video. Well ALL your videos are awesome 🎉. I get so much information and inspiration from you😊. Thank you for sharing with us your talent, wisdom and experience. I’d like to know which white glass mat do you use? Is it the same as CZ? Not sure if you all use the same or each crafter has a preference 🤷🏻♀️ God Bless and thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it! My glass mat is from Glassboard Studio. I'm not sure there's a big difference in any of them, except that for me, white was important - the black TH glass mat (which I had first) showed a lot of camera reflection in my videos. Thanks so much for watching!
You know you can restick your sticky mats, just like you can clean and restick your Cricket mats. Plus you can make your own sticky mat. This is what I do. Enjoyed your reviews.
I have lots of options too, it’s interesting to see pros and and cons. Most often I use post-it tape on a vinyl covered board or on my TH stamping platform. I’ve looked into soldering mats which are like the Waffle Flower mats but cheaper. I would love a mat with a corner that’s big enough for TE Create in Quads stencils but storage is an use. I have some old ScanNCut mats I could try too. I’m glad I never bought the Stay-tion - it looks frustrating. Pixie Spray leaves too much stick on my cards so I rarely use it even though it helps so much to get crisp edges. I also just forget my options so sometimes I just use tape and a sheet of scrap paper.
I did the same to my Brutus Monroe sticky mat. I see they now have a cleaning spray so I might try that with a new one since I liked it so much. I’ve been interested in the TH media mat but it’s been sold out for so long. I’m wondering if I could cut it and use it in the Misti to have the edges for alignment. 🤔
I was thinking I might try that too with the Brutus mat. And what a great idea for the TH mat. YES you can cut it. I have cut mine, never thought to put it in my misti! Thanks for that! And thanks for watching!
I have also tried all those options, and I don't usually know what brand I end up using. I tend to prefer sticky mats of any brand and the waffle flower mat... whichever one I can find first. (ideally, they would all be organized and living in the same space ... but ....) Thanks for doing the comparison! I do think I probably don't have a favorite, but should be more mindful the next time I use different mats to see if any are a little better for me. I definitely don't need to own all the mats, but I should decide which one I would want to reorder in the future.
You raise a good point, maybe not even meaning to, lol! Storage - I find it hard to store the 'floppy' ones so that they're easy to pull out and that may influence my choice some days! Thanks so much for watching!
@@ardyth You are right. I didn't realize the implications of that. the floppy ones are harder to store because I can't really put them where I put the sticky mats. therefore my mats end up in different places. Especially those media mats are likely never going to be at my fingertips when I need them.
@@ardyth If you get a cheap small (what ever size you need) eraser board or blackboard..The silicone mats will hold on to it and I store it vertically in the same rack I store my misti.
This was very interesting to watch and of course I saw more stencils I just have too have🤭 I was wondering though when you did your ink blending in the Misty with no sticky mat did you end up with ink on the black underlay? Thank you for the share
Thank you for doing all the research for us. An observation: your chart is blocked by the link for stenciling with black ink video so it’s not possible to get the complete chart.
Thanks - I will fix that. Here's a link so you can download the pdf. Thanks for watching! drive.google.com/file/d/1IlcD6w4giv9YS56FG5X8Xxtbt-vjWTD0/view
@@ardyth Thank you! I really enjoyed your video! The chart was the cherry on top! It makes the decision making process much more easier watching you use each of them.
It works but I do find it difficult to get the exact right amount evenly across the stencil. I also find it leaves a residue on the card (which apparently can be 'erased' with an adhesive eraser). I save it for my most intricate stencils only. Thanks for watching, Sharyn!
I suspect that the Cricut forums are filled with tips for this. I have never tried, but I understand that there are methods for resticking sticky mats. Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks, will check that out. Another question, I am looking into all the mats you reviewed. I like the Waffle Flower one because of the corners, but don’t like the fact it won’t hold the paper and stencil in place. Do you find that to be a problem?
@@janandbud The Waffle Flower mat does have grip, although it's not sticky like a sticky mat. The corner will hold the paper and stencil right in the corner. You'll have a harder time if you want to centre your cardstock in the centre of the stencil (ie the stencil could go in the corner, but the cardstock wouldn't, but I would probably just use a 6x6 piece of cardstock and then cut it down). For layering stencils, having a corner is my favourite method for precise placement, and I definitely love the WF mat! Hope that helps!
I have a few of those mentioned, none is perfect! Bought the "Make Art Staytion"... because it looked cool with lots of possibilities. Turns out it's my least favorite, seldom used. Anyone want one?
LOL! I LOVE the staytion for when I'm lining up die cut letters on a card front. The magnetic ruler helps with centering and also the straightness. Thanks so much for watching!
The sticky mats come with acetate covers, so I store them standing up on their ends. The floppy ones are a little more challenging - right now they're sitting in a pile on the corner of my desk. I'll let you know if I come up with something better! Thanks for watching!
I love squares too! My square cards are 4.25x4.25" precisely so that they can fit into regular A2 sized envelopes and not require extra postage. I understand that in the US, square cards do require extra postage, but I don't know for sure. Thanks so much for watching!
Square cards don’t cost extra to mail in Canada, unless they are bulky or weigh more than 30 grams. You can get envelopes for them but you have to look around. Kristina Werner just did a whole video on postage and mailing cards in the US. It was very informative even for those of us who don’t live there.
I haven't had that with these ones, but I know what you're talking about. Maybe try putting the mat up against some fabric to reduce the sticky? Thanks for watching!
I didn't find it fast, but definitely they do lose it over time. I bet there's lots of tips about this somewhere in a Cricut forum! Thanks so much for watching!
Hi Ardyth! Amazing comparison video. I loved how you used the dazzling diamonds and sweater weather stencils. Such beautiful cards!!❤
Thanks for stopping by, Simon!
I'm so glad I found your Channel.. I love all of your techniques!
Welcome! Thanks so much!
I tend to either just hold my stencils, use Pixie Spray, add some tape, or use the Brutus Monroe mat. It really just depends on the stencil. This is a helpful video!
Haha! I just watched a video where you held the stencil and never shifted it - that is definitely a skill I need to develop! Thanks so much for dropping by, Alison!
Lots of great info here. I also have grip mats, sticky mats, and the Make Art Station. I had a really hard time with the sticky mat grabbing my paper and it staying/tearing on the mat so I put a piece of copy paper smaller than the cardstock underneath the cardstock and that solved the problem. One thing I do regularly is use the grip mat to hold the other mat to my work surface. (I cannot tell you how many different things I use those grip mats for. They're so handy.) It helps keep the whole thing from moving around. Like you, I found that each mat has pros and cons and I actually use them all.
Oh that's a great tip with the copy paper! And I agree - getting the grey mat out was a great reminder that it can be used in many ways! Thanks so much for watching!
Great review. I've never understood the appeal of the Make Art stay-tion. Just watching crafters on you-tube shift those magnets around a million times--I knew it wasn't for me! ;) I have a glass board now (used to have a ranger craft sheet that I used for YEARS) and I either hold the stencil with my hand or if it's really finicky I use washi tape. I did buy some sticky spray but I really wasn't a fan of that either, and yes it does leave residue. Fortunately it can be erased off of my project, but I only use that stuff in desperation. Thanks for the review.
I do love the stay-tion for positioning die cut letters on a card front - the centering ruler and grid make it easy to know it's centered, and then the edge of the ruler helps me keep them staright, but it's not my favourite for stencilling. Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for sharing such great information
Thanks for watching, Sheri!
Thanks for your review. I have an old thick grippy silicone mat that does the job for me. I also have large cheap silicone mats I got on Amazon that are really grippy and hold my pads and cardstock in place. I also have used an old Nicapa cutting mat for my Silhouette which does the trick too. They all look like they can be helpful, but I'll just use what I have for now.
I totally agree - if what you have is working, stick with it! Thanks for watching!
Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tip on the Pixy spray, I didn't know about the residue.
You can probably remove it with an adhesive eraser, but I prefer to avoid it in the first place. I really only use Pixie Spray with a stencil with very narrow/delicate lines. Thanks for watching!
I just use tape. I have so much stuff, I just don’t want to buy and store any more products! Great video!
I hear that! lol! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks so much for the info! I am cheap so I don’t have any except for tape and then I get very frustrated! I appreciate you doing this video!!
Haha! I think tape is sometimes the best option, although I admit I do like having a corner for positioning! Thanks so much for watching!
I did the same to my Brutus Monroe sticky mat, and I’ve bought another. I have been pleased with the Misti sticky mats, and I share the magnet-moving annoyance with the Make Art Station. I choose from what I have based on nothing much other than my mood-too many pretty good options! Thanks for the great overview!
Haha! Sounds like we've had very similar experiences! Thanks so much for watching!
Very helpful, thank you.
Thanks so much for watching!
I’m not sure if this helps anyone, but I have a cricut and when my mats lose the good tacky feel, I use them to hold down my card panels, inks, and stencils. Works out okay and I can save the money!
That's a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Love the tulip card!
I just tape it. Great video thank you xxx
Thanks for watching!
Forgot to say thank you for this great video comparison and chart!! Most interesting and helpful..
Flipping the stencil was amazing. What a difference. I also like how you used the side area to show us what you were using rather than having to look it all up for reference be either stopping the video or checking items out after. Time saver!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for the reviews. I have all stencil mats mentioned, except for TM Grip Mat. I prefer the Waffle Flower Mat. I love that it has a corner and it's easy to clean off the excess ink (it does stain, but that doesn't other me.) I do like using the sticky grid mat for holding the paper in a stamping platform when using a background stamp.
I am definitely partial to using a corner with my stencils, too! Thanks for watching!
Hi Ardyth. Thanks so much for the in-depth review of the stencilling mats. I loved seeing the cards you made as well. Thanks so much. 😊🇨🇦
Thanks so much for watching!
Hi Ardyth, I know this is a bit old but I had been saving it to watch since you did it. You put out so many awesome vids that I can't watch them all the time on the launch day!
I don't have a cricket but the cutting machine I have, I have always used their mats, you can buy stick and not sticky. They are clear with a grid on them...I like the clear. I never thought about chopping one of them up but great idea.
I also have some giant silicone mats. I use them on my art table as I do acrylic pour art also and they clean up awesome. I took a smaller one I had and chopped it up for the same reason you did I think it was the Tim Holtz. I get my silicone mats on Amazon as they are available in many colors and sizes.
I LOVE MY glass mat, mine is also magnetic and I have a variety of those super strong magnets for it. I tend to use that first. If I am having issues with whatever I am doing, then I grab the silicone mat.
But I have been thinking for a long while of trying that Waffle Flower one, I like the corner. Currently I cut 2 thin strips off the silicone mat and glued them onto the larger silicone mat to make a corner
Thanks for sharing once again and I wish you would stop making such beautiful cards.... they make me drool. My jaw is always hanging open when I watch your vids. God Bless you and your awesome creative mind and talent. ❤🙏
Haha! Well, I think you know I will not stop making cards and I do appreciate your very kind words. That idea of creating your own corner by stacking up the mat itself is genius! Let me know how it works! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for showing all the different mats. Great vid! Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for talking about all these products. I don't have a sticky mat, but I've been intrigued by them and you have given me lots to think about!
Thanks so much for watching!
All your cards are so beautiful Ardyth!!
My favorite is the
Tim Holtz Media Grip Mat!! ❤
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for all the comparisons. I like the Brutus Monore sticky mat. I use his cleaner and a paper towel to get the ink off. Works great and stays sticky. I also use the TH mat under my Misti mouse pad to keep it from shifting in my MISTI.
That's a great tip for the sticky mat! AND for the grey mat in the MISTI! I'm going to try that! Thanks for watching!
This was very helpful! Thanks also for the handy comparison chart!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching!
I’m in love with the new Brutus Monroe mat with the stencil layering guide. It holds all my stencils and paper tight and is easy to clean with the spray. Love your video.
Thanks so much for watching!
I use none of those 🤣 For my birthday, I asked for the new photopolymer mats that have been released recently. I'm sure they'll be great but I'll see when they arrive. Thanks for comparing all these.
I LOVE the new photopolymer mats - they weren't around when I made this video (I was just slightly ahead of my time! lol!) Let me know if you have any trouble, but I don't think you will. Thanks fo rwatching!
I do really enjoy your videos thanks for all your effort your so easy to watch and learn from Thank you
That is a lovely thing to say - thank you so much!
Thank you, Ardyth, for sharing your experience with these different options. I will refer to your chart again until I find which is best for me. I always learn something new from each of your videos. 🙂
That's a wonderful compliment! Thanks so much for watching!
Your videos are always jam packed with helpful information!
Glad you think so! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for the comparison of all of these. I actually own them all as well and I agree with your assessment. They all serve a purpose and it depends on so many different variables. I enjoy them all as I like having options to fit the project or other tools that I need at the same time. I actually use a cut piece of the Tim Holtz grey mat with my make art station to hold my paper down. Love all the card projects that you featured during your review. Thanks again! 💗
Love the idea of combining the grey mat with the staytion - I'll have to give that a try! Thanks for watching!
Great comparison vid! Thanks for the info friend!
Thanks for watching, Amy!
I got my 2 glass mats for about 1dollar u.s. They were sliding doors in an old cabinet. Works for me! 😀🇦🇺
Sounds awesome! Thanks for watching!
YIPPIE!!!! Best news I’ve had today!!!!!! At least it isn’t a ‘no’ anymore!!!!
Haha! You're funny!
Thank you that was really handy for me just starting out making cards..👏❤️👍😃🇨🇦
Glad it was helpful! Since this video, Altenew and Waffleflower have come out with photopolymer grip mats which also work really well. Thanks for watching!
Wow, gorgeous cards Ardyth! Thanks for sharing. I have 2 sticky mats but haven't used either yet.
Thanks so much for watching!
Great comparrisons
Thanks for watching!
I have only used the Make Art Station for stencils. I own the MISTI Sticky Mats and finally removed enough stick to make them actually work for me, but I have not tried them with stencils. Someone gifted me the TH Grip Mat. I haven't taken it out of the package as it just arrived yesterday. I enjoyed your video. I like how you showed using the stencils on each of these type of mats. Thanks!!
Thanks so much for watching!
Really useful video, Ardyth, thank you for this! Oh and amazing cards you created almost as an afterthought. Love ypu niece‘s birthday card in particular. Kind regards from Germany, Nicola
Thanks so much, Nicola!
Thank you for sharing. I do love my sticky mats. X
Thanks so much for watching!
Beautiful cards 🥰 I love your card designs, the stencils and your color choices. I don't use stencils enough to say whats best for me 😉❤️ thanks for sharing your creativity Hugs xx
Thanks so much for watching!
Great video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for the chart it will help me figure out what will work best for me. I am always inspired when you work with gel press and stencils...thanks
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for the very valuable information.
You're welcome. Of course the two newest sticky mats (Altenew and Waffle Flower) came out after this video - they're both excellent products as well! Thanks for watching!
I currently don't have a favorite mat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. Your video left me thinking I should ask for that seldom used gray mat back from my husband. Really liked the idea of putting ink pads on the the smaller piece of gray mat.
Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for sharing your videos
Thanks for watching!
Love your comparisons - and your color schemesI I mostly use the Tim Holtz “hinge” method. Tape only across the top like a hinge in order to lift up the stencil from the bottom to check coverage. Pixie Spray hasn’t left sticky stuff on the cards - maybe I use less? Or maybe it’s the type of cardstock? And thanks for the Brutus Monroe sticky mat - have some but haven’t tried them.
That hinge method is genius! Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for all your great tips!!!
Thanks so much for watching!
TBH, the best part of this was the tip of flipping the stencil for an alternative pattern... that will be a game changer for me, something so easy and obvious but I never would have thought of it!😆
Re gripping stencils/paper - I bought a square of silicone mat for dirt cheap from a manufacturer off ebay and it does the same as any of the name brand ones except having a corner, but then I use my stamping platform for that. TFS 🙂
LOL! This is exactly why we all benefit by sharing tips! Thanks so much for watching!
Great video. I own the Brutus Monroe, Misti, & DIY cricut sticky mats. I cut down a cricut mat to use before the sticky mats were produced. It worked fine & was inexpensive. I like the Brutus Monroe for the grids. I haven’t tried the Misti mats yet, but it appears a lot of RUclipsrs cut it down to use. TFS.
Thanks so much for watching!
What a great video. So many good things to think about. I really love the stencil set you used with the green ink. If you have to pick one, keep that one. I’d love to see it again. I prefer the rounder shapes.
Haha! I think I'll keep both - they were more different in real life than I thought when looking at them! Thanks for watching, Rebecca!
I don't use stencils enough to invest in a mat or anything. But if I do get into this is such a helpful video. I'm a tape it down type of crafter for now lol
Sometimes basic is best! Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for the review Ardyth. I've tried them all but the Tim Holtz is THE very best in my opinion. Make art magnets are not user friendly for arthritic hands, and the mat itself slips on the glass. The problem with the Misti is that the ink gets on the ruler sides and a mess to clean. The Stick and stamp gets so dirty I can't stand to use it. Again I thank you Ardyth for this fine video.
I'm enjoying reading everyone's opinions on the different mats - it just shows why there needs to be options available! Thanks for watching, Rose Anne!
I like the waffleflower, Tim holtz and tape on my glass mats. No special cleaning spray, no ink transfer or loss of stickiness and easy to clean. I too found sticky mat harder to clean and loss of stickiness.
Thanks for watching, Kathy!
Hi Ardyth, I have a few sticky mats also. I think when the stick is gone, I will either spray with the Pixie spray or use the Tombow multi medium glue to make them sticky again. Not sure if that will work but it's worth a try and may save my mats. Thanks for all the great tips.
That's a great tip - thanks so much! And thanks for watching!
Great video!! This was very helpful!
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!
Hi Ardyth , I use tonic studio mat along with pixie spray but I agree it’s hard to get the stickiness off of the stencil when you are done . I am going to try some of the ones you have suggested. Another amazing video.
Thanks so much for watching!
Soooo helpful!!! Thank you!
Thanks so much for watching!
Great information, thank you
Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for this Ardyth. You sure do cover everything in your research. I have both sizes of the Waffle Flower Water Media Mat and also both sizes of the Make Art Stay-tion so my stencilling (and ink blending etc) needs are covered. The only place I use "sticky" is in my stamping platform. For a while I used sticky grid (and still will if I need to line up dies precisely) but I found that not to be the best all purpose option as it leaves a sticky residue on the back of my card stock and can be expensive. I switched out to a 12 x 12" Universal Crafts Sticky Surface Cutting Mat. This is double sided and cuts down easily with a guillotine. I have one fitted in my large TH platform and the other in my Mini Misti. I also made the mistake of washing them and lost the stick... I rectified this with a light coating of Pixie Spray. This still works but the mat has become really grotty and I'm looking for a non-sticky option for my stamp platforms. Although, the Universal Mat lasts for ages and is very inexpensive I'm wondering about the TH grip mat. Would you (or any viewers) recommend this option for stamping platforms? (I don't need a grid because I use a grid transparency overlay to line up my stamps). Thanks. 🙂
What an interesting idea! I have not used the TH mat in my mistis because I have been using the WF Grip Mats and have been very happy with them (so nice to not need to use a magnet!). I think to use the TH mat, which is thin, I would need to put it on top of the black mat that comes with the misti to make sure that the stamping surface is high enough for clear stamps. I am going to put this on my list of things to try out! Thanks for sharing, and watching!
That first stencil -- the yellow makes me think Sunflower. If you had a pointy leaf shaped die, you could cut that background into sunflower leaf shapes. 😀
For the non Cricut sticky mats: trace around a card panel with a sharpie to get the center like the Brutus Monroe. Sharpies are alcohol based so water won't smear it. I guess it would if used alcohol inks on that mat.
The 5th card reminds me of a quilt.
Thanks for the comparison!
Ooh yes, I see where you're going with that sunflower idea! Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks!
Oh wow! THANK YOU! I appreciate your support so much!
Most times when I use a stencil I just hold it, but that’s because I’m often only using a section of it to add texture. From your review, I think the Waffle Flower mat looks like a great tool. I’ll put it on my wish list!
Thanks so much for watching!
Wahooo! Another amazing printable!!!! Thank you!!! How much left until you start selling your book?????? :)
LOL! Building up to that.... thanks for watching, Rhonda!
I recently got the Waffle Flower mat and now I actually use my stencils. I really love using it.
Haha! I love it too! Thanks for watching!
Great info. Thanks for sharing! I am very weak at stenciling. I have the waffle flower mini. I have the white glass mat too and to keep my ink pads from moving around, I bought silicone craft mats from Dollar Tree. They are about… 8 x 10? (Maybe a bit smaller but definitely bigger than a card.) They are coloured but who cares! They hold the pads well! I have also used one instead of my WF one to stencil because it’s on my desk and the other is neatly put away. Kind of wish I didn’t buy the WF one now that I found these cheapies that I’m not afraid to get dirty or damage!
I think stenciling (like every skill) takes practice and I'm sure you're better than you think! Sounds like there are some less expensive options out there, too - thanks for sharing! And thanks for watching!
Loved the reviews. I usually use the one I can find first! Lol
Haha! Me too, although I'm definitely partial to one with a corner. Thanks for watching!
That was a great comparison video! I really need to try to come up with new ways to use my stencils, you come up with some fantastic ideas! I like using either a silicone mat or the TH media mat when coloring. When you use a sticky mat, does the back of the panel feel sticky or like something is on it, when you're done (like pixie spray)??
Haven't had that happen wiith any I've used so far x
I haven't had that happen at all with the sticky mats. Thanks so much for watching - glad you enjoyed the cards!
I need to stencil more these are beautiful lol
I am doing a lot of it these days, trying to make sure I use all the new stencils I bought last year! lol! Thanks for watching!
@@ardyth your collection is quite nice. We should be neighbors. Lol
Thanks for all the info!! I now know why my BM sticky mat "died" after a few uses........ yup I scrubbed it :( Now I know lol
Haha! Live and learn! I hear that if you use his cleaner, it will stay sticky, but I haven't tried it myself. Thanks for watching!
Hi Ardith! I enjoyed your comparison video. Well ALL your videos are awesome 🎉. I get so much information and inspiration from you😊. Thank you for sharing with us your talent, wisdom and experience.
I’d like to know which white glass mat do you use? Is it the same as CZ? Not sure if you all use the same or each crafter has a preference 🤷🏻♀️
God Bless and thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it! My glass mat is from Glassboard Studio. I'm not sure there's a big difference in any of them, except that for me, white was important - the black TH glass mat (which I had first) showed a lot of camera reflection in my videos. Thanks so much for watching!
I have the mini make art station which I like for the grid. I'm looking at buying the TH media mat since it can be cut down.
Thanks so much for watching!
You know you can restick your sticky mats, just like you can clean and restick your Cricket mats. Plus you can make your own sticky mat. This is what I do. Enjoyed your reviews.
That's a great tip! Thanks so much!
I have lots of options too, it’s interesting to see pros and and cons. Most often I use post-it tape on a vinyl covered board or on my TH stamping platform. I’ve looked into soldering mats which are like the Waffle Flower mats but cheaper. I would love a mat with a corner that’s big enough for TE Create in Quads stencils but storage is an use. I have some old ScanNCut mats I could try too. I’m glad I never bought the Stay-tion - it looks frustrating. Pixie Spray leaves too much stick on my cards so I rarely use it even though it helps so much to get crisp edges. I also just forget my options so sometimes I just use tape and a sheet of scrap paper.
Sounds like we have similar experiences! Thanks so much for watching!
I did the same to my Brutus Monroe sticky mat. I see they now have a cleaning spray so I might try that with a new one since I liked it so much. I’ve been interested in the TH media mat but it’s been sold out for so long. I’m wondering if I could cut it and use it in the Misti to have the edges for alignment. 🤔
I was thinking I might try that too with the Brutus mat. And what a great idea for the TH mat. YES you can cut it. I have cut mine, never thought to put it in my misti! Thanks for that! And thanks for watching!
I have also tried all those options, and I don't usually know what brand I end up using. I tend to prefer sticky mats of any brand and the waffle flower mat... whichever one I can find first. (ideally, they would all be organized and living in the same space ... but ....)
Thanks for doing the comparison! I do think I probably don't have a favorite, but should be more mindful the next time I use different mats to see if any are a little better for me. I definitely don't need to own all the mats, but I should decide which one I would want to reorder in the future.
You raise a good point, maybe not even meaning to, lol! Storage - I find it hard to store the 'floppy' ones so that they're easy to pull out and that may influence my choice some days! Thanks so much for watching!
@@ardyth You are right. I didn't realize the implications of that. the floppy ones are harder to store because I can't really put them where I put the sticky mats. therefore my mats end up in different places. Especially those media mats are likely never going to be at my fingertips when I need them.
@@ardyth If you get a cheap small (what ever size you need) eraser board or blackboard..The silicone mats will hold on to it and I store it vertically in the same rack I store my misti.
@@judipalumbo That is an AWESOME tip! Thank you so much!
This was very interesting to watch and of course I saw more stencils I just have too have🤭 I was wondering though when you did your ink blending in the Misty with no sticky mat did you end up with ink on the black underlay? Thank you for the share
Yes, I do end up with ink there - the black foam is a little bit absorbent, but I'm sure it would wipe up pretty well. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for doing all the research for us. An observation: your chart is blocked by the link for stenciling with black ink video so it’s not possible to get the complete chart.
Thanks - I will fix that. Here's a link so you can download the pdf. Thanks for watching! drive.google.com/file/d/1IlcD6w4giv9YS56FG5X8Xxtbt-vjWTD0/view
Thx for the pdf and the work you put into this valuable video!
@@ardyth Thank you! I really enjoyed your video! The chart was the cherry on top! It makes the decision making process much more easier watching you use each of them.
Thanks Ardyth for your review. 😊
How do you find the pixie spray?
It works but I do find it difficult to get the exact right amount evenly across the stencil. I also find it leaves a residue on the card (which apparently can be 'erased' with an adhesive eraser). I save it for my most intricate stencils only. Thanks for watching, Sharyn!
Thanks for the info. Love all your cards. Did you find the post it tape in Canada?
Amazon.ca has it. I'm sure I've purchased it at Staples before, but I don't see it on their site right now. Thanks for watching!
@@ardyth , thanks Ardyth.
Thank you so much - maybeI need to get over have the mats wiped off.
Or maybe I should buy another Brutus one and let it be dirty all the time .
Haha! I understand that if you use his cleaner, it stays sticky, but I haven't tried it myself. Thanks so much for watching!
Is there a way to restock the Brutus Monroe sticky mat? Love the video, thanks
I suspect that the Cricut forums are filled with tips for this. I have never tried, but I understand that there are methods for resticking sticky mats. Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks, will check that out. Another question, I am looking into all the mats you reviewed. I like the Waffle Flower one because of the corners, but don’t like the fact it won’t hold the paper and stencil in place. Do you find that to be a problem?
@@janandbud The Waffle Flower mat does have grip, although it's not sticky like a sticky mat. The corner will hold the paper and stencil right in the corner. You'll have a harder time if you want to centre your cardstock in the centre of the stencil (ie the stencil could go in the corner, but the cardstock wouldn't, but I would probably just use a 6x6 piece of cardstock and then cut it down). For layering stencils, having a corner is my favourite method for precise placement, and I definitely love the WF mat! Hope that helps!
Thanks
I have a few of those mentioned, none is perfect! Bought the "Make Art Staytion"... because it looked cool with lots of possibilities. Turns out it's my least favorite, seldom used. Anyone want one?
LOL! I LOVE the staytion for when I'm lining up die cut letters on a card front. The magnetic ruler helps with centering and also the straightness. Thanks so much for watching!
@@ardyth Actually that's the reason I originally bought it for. Just doesn't work for me the way I had envisioned.
Very interesting. How do you store all these sticky mats?
The sticky mats come with acetate covers, so I store them standing up on their ends. The floppy ones are a little more challenging - right now they're sitting in a pile on the corner of my desk. I'll let you know if I come up with something better! Thanks for watching!
Oh, I like your square cards what are the dimensions for that? I’m wondering if I can make envelopes too. Does that take extra postage?
I love squares too! My square cards are 4.25x4.25" precisely so that they can fit into regular A2 sized envelopes and not require extra postage. I understand that in the US, square cards do require extra postage, but I don't know for sure. Thanks so much for watching!
Square cards don’t cost extra to mail in Canada, unless they are bulky or weigh more than 30 grams. You can get envelopes for them but you have to look around. Kristina Werner just did a whole video on postage and mailing cards in the US. It was very informative even for those of us who don’t live there.
@@tammyb6497 that's great info! Thanks!
@@ardyth here in the US, square cards that are bigger than A2 size envelopes do cost extra postage. 😒
The misti sticky mats are too sticky. I have tried many ways to remove my card stock but tears almost every time
I haven't had that with these ones, but I know what you're talking about. Maybe try putting the mat up against some fabric to reduce the sticky? Thanks for watching!
whats the name of the one you got from amazon please.
www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08XMFNHYZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
@@ardyth thank you😀
Mancano i grip mat di waffle flower....
That one didn't exist when I made this video. I have it and the Altenew one as well, and they both work very well.
I wish sticky mats didn't lose their stick so fast
I didn't find it fast, but definitely they do lose it over time. I bet there's lots of tips about this somewhere in a Cricut forum! Thanks so much for watching!
@@ardyth oh that's a great idea thank you