I've had the little Big Board since the mid 1990's and use it for all ironing, rotary cutting etc. My cutting mat just fits and being able to adjust the height definitely helps my cutting more accurately. I recently tried cutting with the mat on the sewing machine table and had much more difficulty using the rotary cutter. You definitely can make one yourself, but this was one of the best purchases I ever made both for ironing fabric, shirts, etc. and rotary cutting.