Tip of the Day: How to Resticky Your Cricut Mat

Cricut users:  Isn't it frustrating when you've designed or found your Cricut cut, lined up your paper, hit "load" on your Cricut then "start" and suddenly, your paper starts to drift over your mat, ruining your cut?  

Ahhhh, it's the dreaded mat that's grown fuzzy or unsticky over time.  I've got a quick and easy way to not only clean your mat, but also to apply some additional repositionable glue to the surface to make your mats as good as new.  

Here is a link to purchase the Bonding Memories Broad Tip Glue Pen  ($7.95 ea + tax/shipping):

https://cardmonkey.closetomyheart.com/retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=171

Tip of the Day: Stop that Dreaded ATG Tape Slip

One of my very favorite tools in my craft room -- something I use every time I'm crafting -- is my "Adhesive Tape Gun" (ATG) by Scotch 3M.  I use the pink one, where the refills are typically 1/4".

From time to time, I sponsor a group "buy-in" of off-brand tape refills which seem to me to be just as great as the brand variety, though they are a lot less expensive.  I buy them from Tape Jungle, where with a purchase of 144 rolls (12 dozen), the price is $1.16/roll, including shipping. 

No matter if you buy off-brand or brand refills, many of my crafting friends say they've experienced the dreaded "tape slip".  Even a perfectly-threaded refill will fall off the applicator roll in the front, causing the tape to jam and the need to rip, disconnect and rethread the tape.

There just HAD to be a solution. Well here it is....











The tape needs a shim over the roll of tape, and you can create your own, either electronically, with punches, or by hand.  I used my Silhouette Cameo 2 (new, this Christmas -- thank you, Hubby!)  to create a disc out of cardboard that is 3" in diameter, with a 1" cut-out in the center, like this:

Just place the shim over the roll of refill tape that you've loaded into the ATG gun. 

Here's my offer to my readers:  If you just don't feel like making one of these shims yourself, just leave a comment here, and send me an e-mail (to cardmonkey@comcast.net) with your address and I will mail one to you, free! 

Be in touch if I can help you with this crafty tip!


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,