I bought this old mat at a yard sale for $1. Its in bad shape but decided I may use it for something. I've gotten alot of use out it. I'm glad I ended up with it. When I need to use my X-acto knife I just get this mat out. It works great.
What do you do with your old mats?

Oppps here is the picture

have you tried turning it over and using the back side of it?

If you make bags or purses, use as a stabilizer on the bottom of the bag. Make a slip cover for it and it matches your bag.
Voila!!

pvquilter is one smart sewer! I have a mat that the edges got a little warped, okay, I had to retire it because i didn't store it properly. Cutting it up and using it as a stabilizer in projects is a great idea. I mean that one cutting mat was serious bucks, and because i wasn't careful it became almost useless. I love this forum. Creative people real inspire me. thanks!

Old mats are great for the workshop too. Besides the obvious that you can cut on them with an exacto or even a breakaway razor tool, they are very easy to keep clean after painting, gluing or small fix it chores. And because of the texture of the mat, things are easier to stay put while working on them.
Oh and the grid and measurements on the mat are great to make some easy cuts of hose or primitive woodwork too.

Great tips. I also have 1 I use just for cutting fleece. I learned the hard way that stuff doesn't come up from the cutting mat very easy. ;)

I have cut up old mats to use as a mouse pad and also for a small one that is easy to turn on my cutting board.

Use a small part as cutting board in kitchen just for chicken.

Use a piece doing scrap booking.

Cover w/batting & flannel for small design wall.

Lots of uses - just look around

I make smaller cutting mats. I love a small mat when I am trimming up a block. I can spin the mat around easily. I have one of the fancy, expensive turn tables cutting mats, but I prefer a piece of cut mat. I use them for holding the hot glue gun too.