Messy mats are an amazing tool to have and use in the art room. Never heard of them? No worries! Keep reading for the ins and outs (plus a visual example) of what they are and why you should use them with your students.

What is a messy mat?

These mats are typically old pieces of scrap (or scratch) paper that would otherwise be tossed in the trash can. Start saving these pieces of paper and give them to students to use as a way to clean their paintbrush without using water. It is also a great way to protect a surface from getting dirty while painting.

How do I use messy mats?

Use a messy mat to help clean the brush between using different colors while painting. When using colors that are similar - like blue and purple - there isn’t much need for the messy mat. However, when wanting to switch between two completely different colors, bring out the messy mat! Be sure to hang on to them even when your students are done painting - you’ll see why later.

Why should I use messy mats?

When it comes to art, especially painting, resources can typically go to waste. With messy mats, not only are you incorporating scrap pieces of paper, but students can also finish off any unused paint by doodling on their mats. This helps conserve and preserve art supplies.

What do I do with a dry messy mat?

There are several things you can do with a dry messy mat:

• Use it as a canvas. For this activity, grab a messy mat and paint a picture of your choice on it. The paint used on the messy mat will become  a creative background for your picture.

• Turn it into scrapbook paper. Messy mats can also be used as scrapbook paper. Glue pictures on top, or cut it out to make a specific design like flowers.

• Create a collage. These cool new pieces of artwork can be made into smaller works by cutting them out and creating a collage. 

If you decide to send your students home with their messy mats, consider laminating them to create even more at-home uses, such as a floor mat or a placemat for the kitchen table. 

Messy mats are a unique way to add a touch of extra art to your classroom. To make it an easy process, consider keeping a storage basket for scrap pieces of paper. Use these as your go-to when doing anything painting related. Then, with the dried messy mats, store them in another bin for quick grabbing with other art projects.

Want to get really creative? Build a classroom project that all the students contribute to using their messy mats. Put all of the mats together to create a bulletin board backdrop, or to simply decorate an empty wall in the room.

CHIME IN: Do you use messy mats in your art classroom? If so, tell me about it in the comments below. If not, are you going to start?