| One of the most expensive parts of owning the cricut | | | | time you use it. When you are done with the your |
| machine is replacing the mats. The mats are sticky | | | | cricut mat for the day wipe them down with a damp |
| and hold the paper you want to cut in place so that | | | | cloth or use baby wipes. Baby wipes are just part of |
| the blade can smoothly cut the shape you program. | | | | my scrapbook supplies. They keep your hands clean, |
| Below are a few tips to extending the life of your | | | | surfaces clean, they wipe up craft mats after using ink |
| cricut mats. The tips below have been developed by | | | | techniques. Wipe your mats with baby wipes. They will |
| users and are not necessarily endorsed by provo | | | | feel less tacky but as they dry the sticky will return. |
| craft. | | | | Another handy tool is a lint roller. It can be helpful to |
| Rotate: Rotate your mat every time you cut. | | | | pick up dust off your cricut mat as well as getting |
| Reposition your cutting. This way you are not | | | | those tiny little pieces of paper off. |
| constantly using one portion of the mat while leaving | | | | Resticky: You can make the mats sticky again if they |
| perfectly good sticky on the rest of the mat. You can | | | | don't have too many groves in them by using Wacky |
| either flip it the opposite direction or use the arrows on | | | | Tac. A word of precaution if you have a warranty on |
| the machine to start cutting in a completely different | | | | your machine and you are worried about voiding the |
| area of the mat. If you are a sure cuts a lot user or a | | | | warranty don't use this. I no longer have a warranty |
| cricut design software user this is pretty easy | | | | and don't have any trouble. Be sure to keep the |
| because you can visual position your cuts anywhere | | | | wacky tac in the cutting margins of the mat to prevent |
| on the mat. | | | | getting the wacky tac on the rollers or anywhere else |
| Get two mats and rotate between the two is also a | | | | in the cricut machine. This is a best judgment |
| very helpful tip. | | | | application. |
| Cover: Keep your mat covered. If you don't all the | | | | Using a little tape just on the corners of the cricut mat |
| particles floating in the air can land on your mat and | | | | to hold the paper down. It helps when you need just a |
| and prevent it from being sticky. Use the clear plastic | | | | little extra stick on the borders of the mat. |
| or store your mats face to face to prevent dust and | | | | Using this method I have been able to extend the life |
| debris from landing on your mat. | | | | of my cricut mats for nearly 6 months. |
| Clean: Clean off extra paper from your mat every | | | | |