The present invention provides a cushioned, stretchable packaging material comprising a sheet of material (52), wherein the sheet material (52) includes a first region (64) and a second region (66) being comprised of the same material composition. The first region (64) undergoes a substantially molecular-level deformation and the second region (66) initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the sheet material (52) is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis. The first region (64) and the second region (66) are visually distinct from one another, wherein the second region (66) includes a plurality of raised rib-like elements (74) and the first region (64) is substantially free of rib-like elements (74).
