16 Genius Ways To Repurpose A Dollar Tree Chopping Mat To Use Around The House

Once a sensible solution for prepping food, plastic cutting boards have lost much of their appeal as we learn more about the dangers of microplastics. Today's scientists agree that it's time to ditch plastic cutting boards and opt for wood instead, prompting some thought about what to do with those old cutting mats. Fortunately, the landfill is far from the only place to relocate them. The surprising versatility of standard cutting mats, particularly those like Dollar Tree's Cooking Concepts Flexible Chopping Mats, is a DIYer dream, leaving little chance that you can't find something to do with them. In fact, some hacks are so practical, they could have you running to the store just to pick up a few extra chopping mats.

You may already be taking a repurposing route in this regard, especially if you're familiar with the smart way you should be repurposing Dollar Tree chopping mats in your pantry. Yet, that's only the beginning of the neat and helpful ways to refashion and reform them. From making them into handy protective envelopes for important papers to transforming them into delightful holiday decor, you can reuse your Dollar Tree chopping mat for countless budget-friendly DIYs to improve the home. Head to the store to pick up one, two, or 20 of these flexible mats, and dive into these fun and fulfilling creative opportunities.

A plastic folio is a critical upgrade to the standard manila envelope for holding valuable papers and keepsakes. Waterproof and rigid, it is a far-more appropriate storage medium. And with its opaque plastic sheath, you can quickly see what's inside for easy sorting. Dollar Tree cutting mats make these DIY envelopes a hassle-free journey. With a few simple folds, some grommets (or staples) to hold everything in place, and a Velcro clasp, like Art3d Hook and Loop Tape, you're all set to organize your most important items for safekeeping.

A translucent Dollar Tree cutting mat makes an excellent light diffuser, so you can likely imagine some clever repurposing ideas for putting that to work. To get started, consider a luminary for an aesthetically pleasing accent. Wrap your cutting board around a cylinder and create a base for it to rest on. Or, crease lines into the cutting mat to make a rectangle or other geometric shape. Then, insert a light to give off a soft, warm glow. Add stencils, stickers, and cut-outs to create an illuminating design, and cap the top to make an enclosed modern LED lamp.

When you've gained a little experience with repurposing plastic chopping mats around the home, give your creativity and DIY skills a serious workout with an inspired opportunity — an LED ceiling light fixture. YouTuber Yoduvh Essentials brings us this project, a gorgeous conversion of basic materials into a glam ceiling light. Despite the chic styling, you'll only need some chopping mats, paper plates, dowels, shower hooks, and tape, most of which you can pick up in one stop at the Dollar Tree.

Seasonal decor comes in all shapes and sizes, with one fashionable option being a set of ornamental tags to adorn various displays around the home. Cut a clear plastic mat into several tag shapes, and pair them with colorful backings and string. Glue on themed decals or add stickers to celebrate the season. Put them on gift bags, make cool place markers at the table, or create garlands and other festive decor to let your personality shine through.

One chopping mat can equal a whole table's worth of napkin ring holders, putting an attractive finishing touch on a dining arrangement. Cut the mat into strips and form them into loops about an inch wide. Staple or glue the loops in place before decorating them. Adorned with glued-on greenery, tags, and handmade ornaments, they present a pleasing themed accent to impress your guests.

Messy eaters happen, and when one sits at the dining table, a Dollar Tree chopping mat can make sure they don't create a cleaning nightmare by the end of the meal. A plain mat will work fine, but why not jazz it up with fun decorations? Wrapping paper, contact paper, or hand-painted designs can all boost the aesthetics in a flash, and you can even add games like tic-tac-toe to play with dry- or wet-erase markers. Adults can enjoy a custom place mat as well, with carefully chosen colors and textures adding style to a sophisticated setting.

Whether for yourself or to give as a gift, key ring tags are an enjoyable project you can do over and over again with a single chopping mat. Cut a small circle of a reasonable size for purses and pockets, and punch a hole near the edge to add a key clasp. Then, get to decorating. Apply monograms or small icons with personal meaning, or use them simply for color-coding different sets if you have a lot to juggle.

Need an extra ornament to fill that bare spot on the tree? You can find all kinds of projects to finish your decorations, like using old jar lids to make cute DIY ornaments, and now, you can add a Dollar Tree chopping mat hack to the list! Grab your X-ACTO Precision Knife and a stencil design, and discover how easy it can be to solve your decorating needs. Cut an ornament shape, adding designs to let light pass through. Finish with some paint or adhesive paper to lend color and pattern, and you'll have a beautiful personalized creation.

When there's a bookworm in the family, one repurposing possibility for that old Dollar Tree chopping mat becomes obvious — whip up some bookmarks! Cut strips a couple inches wide and approximately 5 inches in length. Then, find creative ways to finish them up. Form them into interesting geometric shapes or round off the corners. Add stickers, printed vinyl, and paint, and punch a hole in the end to put in a colorful run of ribbon to complete the look. Personalizing with motivational or bibliophile quotes make a lovely gesture. 

The easy-to-shape plastic that gives Dollar Tree chopping mats so much versatility around the home also makes it an excellent medium for DIY decor, particularly those that can for displaying on the wall. Cut the mat into various organic shapes to create artistic designs, or make it mimic other materials for low-cost and convenient effects. On their YouTube channel, We Craft Around demonstates how some gray and metallic silver acrylics and gel stains can create faux metal accents in a piece of farmhouse decor — play with textures and shapes to see what elements you can recreate!

The chopping mat's opaque plastic offers some potential as a window-like feature in various placements, with one being a unique build that's sure to capture attention. TikTok DIYer @briannaancheta shows off some serious creative knack with a gorgeous plant display assembled using only Dollar Tree essentials. The chopping mat half covers a baking tin, holding a collection of river rocks in place like a shadow box, while plastic greenery peeks out the top to complete an authentic planter look.

Kids can enjoy a repurposed Dollar Tree chopping mat as much as their DIY-crazed parents. Easy to cut and durable, the sheets present a great way to foster creativity and development by turning into various tracing mats. If you have a Cricut Joy Xtra Smart Cutting Machine or a similar cutting machine, you can build a template and cleanly cut an attractive and functional aid. But even if you don't have the machine, you can trace different shapes to cut out by hand, giving your child a new tool to make art, learn letters, and have fun.

Another handy Cricut creation, t-shirt rulers are easy to fashion out of Dollar Tree chopping mats to help you with vinyl and sublimation application. The plastic sheets are the perfect blend of transparency and reliable rigidity. Plus, one pack of mats supplies the perfect amount to make four rulers, giving you enough to cover everyone in the family. Find a template online, and you'll always ensure picture perfect placement with every t-shirt design.

A Dollar Tree chopping mat could be the secret to a neat DIY project you can apply in several ways around the house. The durable opaque sheet makes an ideal cover for discbound notebooks and other crafted volumes. Set up custom recipe books featuring family favorites, daily planners to stay organized, or journals to document your adventures. All it takes is cutting the chopping mats to the correct size. Then, you can add punches to fit the rings, and it's ready to use.

Presentation has a way of making everyday decor appear more interesting and high-value. As you arrange your items for holidays or seasonal changes, a simple display box could be a perfect addition to put a spotlight on select pieces. Score and fold the mat into multiple squares. With a few cuts, it's ready to transform into a 3D container. Add some adhesive to keep it together, and some ribbons, decals, and decorations, and enjoy a crisp, clean spot to hold, protect, and showcase your favorite pieces.

The Dollar Tree chopping mat's flexible, durable, and see-through design supplies a fitting way to help the family stay organized. Print a template on transparent sticker material, or draw designs with dry-erase markers. Attach it to a cut-to-size chopping mat, and glue on magnets at the corners. You now have a reusable board to put on the fridge and help stay on track. It's a great Dollar Tree DIY to have in the kitchen if you're a meal planner, but it's equally useful for managing monthly events, chore charts, or a simple place to leave notes for family members.