Cutting mats for mounting

[PuzzledMoose]

I'm trying to find a cost effective way of getting 11x14 mats and it looks like the best way would be to learn to do it myself - cheapest mats I've found round here that size are in Micahels and cost about $4.99 - for a couple of bucks more the art supply shop has board that would make about 6 of these! (and of course have the centres left for smaller projects ..)

Do any of you cut your own mats - and if so what do you use to do it?

Oh and is it easy to do?

[sandra]

I've been cutting my mat's for a while now, you can get a mat cutter from Micahels, they have several to choose from each having there own instrutions. It's not difficult, just gotta measure twice, cut once. lol However i have wound up spending to much time cutting so i found a web site "Matshop.Ca", that sells very inexpensive. Only problem is you have to buy in bulk.
Sandra

[PuzzledMoose]

Originally Posted by sandra

However i have wound up spending to much time cutting so i found a web site "Matshop.Ca", that sells very inexpensive. Only problem is you have to buy in bulk.
Sandra

I know about matshop.ca - it was me who posted the link in an earlier thread ..

Their prices look good until you look at the shipping (at least in Canada) - shipping on 25 11x14 mats was around C$35 which significantly puts up the price of a mat! Seems to me they are making money on shipping and handling - shipping 16 30x24x1/8 baltic birch ply from Ontario to here costs $9.50 so where they get $35 from I dunno.

I hadn't noticed mat cutters in the Halifax Michael's store but I'll have a look .. I've just been looking at ones on the Lee valley site - not particularly cheap but I guess they'd pay for themselves quite quickly ..

[earlinjax]

A mat cutter and a straight edge and you can cut mats. For me it is a time intensive project and if I can find a precut one the right size I go for it. If you get a mat cutter, be sure to get spare blades. The sharper the blade, the easier the cut.

Earl