Oh! For goodness sake take that rotary cutter out of the packaging and use it. They are great and I would not be able to quilt today if I had to use scissosrs because of the arthritis in my wrists and hands. Don't waste another moment, open the cutter and use the mat. You will love it but be careful with your holding hand. The blades are indeed very sharp. I bought a glove to wear on my holding hand but so far haven't hit my gloved hand yet...........
Let us know what you think of the rotary cutter once you break it out.