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It’s Time to Bash Your Mat Stash!
If you’ve ever pulled a mat pack out of your stash and thought “okay… now what do I actually DO with these?” — this week’s Scrapbook Live is for you!
I have a single page layout from the CM Blog to share with you today that uses mats as part of the design, but before we dive into that layout, I want to have a mini-CLASS on Creative Memories mat packs. We’ll cover the different pack types, walk through every kind of mat you might find inside one, and talk about how to pair mats with stickers and embellishments for extra detail. By the end, you’ll look at your mat stash completely differently!
Let’s Start with the Mat Pack Itself
Mat packs have changed over the years, and knowing which generation you own helps you know what you’re working with:
- Old company, pre-2014: Power Palette Story Box (4.5 x 6.5″) and Ani & Zoe 4 x 6″ slide-in
- New company, up to roughly 2025: Variety Mat Pack, 24 per pack, in both 4×6 and 4.5×6.5 sizes
- 2025–current: Mat Pack, 12 per pack, all in the larger 4.5×6.5 size
Get to Know Your Mat Types
This is the heart of the class! Here are the mat types you’ll find across most packs:
- Journaling Mat — can be a basic journaling block or a fancier design, in full or half size
- Journaling Mat with Prompts — same idea, but with built-in prompts to spark your writing, also in full or half size
- Basic Mat — 4.5 x 6.5″ full size holds a 4×6 photo on top; half size holds a smaller photo, depending on the mat’s overall size
- Frame Mat — more decorative, often with details around the edges; you may need to trim your photo down smaller to show off the decorative elements
- Title Mat — full or half size; you can cut OUT the title using your Custom Cutting System circle or oval patterns, or “gut” the mat with your trimmer. The leftover frame becomes a mat of its own, and that cut-out title piece works beautifully as an embellishment — especially if you take the time to fussy cut around it!
- 100% Design Mat — we see fewer of these in newer packs, but some older packs included mats with no frame, journal lines, or decorative elements at all — just fun patterns to play with
Pairing Mats with Stickers and Embellishments
Once you know your mat types, the real fun begins! You can:
- Add extra detail to a decorative or title mat with stickers and embellishments
- Add decoration to a plain journaling or photo mat to dress it up
One of my favorite tricks: tuck a 4×6 title mat into a peekaboo pocket. You get a fun decorative element on the page while still having room for two photos tucked behind the pocket! This works especially well on slide-in photo sleeve pages — you’ll just need to trim down the larger Mat Pack size to fit. Don’t toss those leftover strips, though — they’re great for smaller scrap projects later!
I hope you are ready to fall in love with your mat stash!
Today’s Layout Handout + a Bonus!
The first handout is for the layout, and the second handout is a guide with QR Codes to take you to 8 mat-focused projects from the CM Blog.
Grab a stack of mats and join me LIVE on Wednesday, June 17th at 3pm ET / 12pm PT on my Facebook page! Let’s turn that mat pile into your favorite supply! ?
Need New or Retired Creative Memories Supplies?
Please consider shopping with me when you shop Creative Memories online! You can also shop my personal inventory of new and retired Creative Memories supplies (click the blue button below).
