Patent ID: 7270038

Claim:
A method of die cutting a shape from paper stock, comprising the steps of: forming a die assembly by: positioning a die with an upwardly projecting blade on the top of a support platform; positioning a sheet of stock material over the top of the die blade; and positioning a flat, planar cutting mat over the top of the stock material, the cutting mat having a plastic film affixed to and extending across the extent of the lower surface thereof, in contact with the stock material; removably retaining the cutting mat in a holder with the plastic film of the cutting mat exposed, and wherein the step of positioning the cutting mat includes positioning the holder over the stock material such that the plastic film of the cutting mat is in flush contact with the stock material; the step of removably retaining the cutting mat in a holder further including the steps of: providing a planar sheet with a plurality of flaps formed therein to serve as a holder; and attaching the cutting mat to the holder by journaling at least two edges of the cutting mat under at least two flaps of the holder; journaling the assembly between the rollers of a roller die cut machine; moving the assembly between the rollers, such that the rollers squeeze the die assembly to force the die blade through the stock material and into the film of the cutting mat; and removing the assembly from the die cut machine and removing the cut shape from the die assembly.