I used to take patterns that looked like paper piecing patterns and cut them apart and glue them to the plain side of cereal boxes. The I'd add the seam allowance (draw around the pieces using a see-through ruler) and then cut around with scissors.
Since these pieces were cardboard instead of something stronger I used washable magic marker to trace around the edges and cut with cutters and a real cutter ruler and voila!
Not nearly a accurate and reliable as what I can do now with cutters and rulers but might have saved my sanity then.
I read the directions for paper piecing and hum a little. Seems like I'd be working either blind or backwards so I never really given it a chance. Maybe we both need to practice on simple patterns until it looks easier?
Jois