I used to be able to have my ironing board set up to the right of my sewing machine, so I could just turn and press, or sometimes I would use the ironing board for sub-cutting fabrics. However, since we have downsized, there is no room to have an ironing board set up all the time, so I took a heavy cardboard box, despite my DH's objection (he never gets it when I try to improvise and save money, oh well); anyway, I put 2 layers of W&N batting along with a muslin top, then safety pinned the muslin to the back. It makes a great little "bridge" between my sewing table with the cutting mat and the craft sewing table I use for my sewing machine. It fits over the top of both tables and gives me an additional work space. Sometimes necessity is the Mother of inventions.