a gal after my own heart! I hate buying patterns and special rulers( too cheap,lol) and in my younger days, I would spend hours drawing things on graph paper to get it right, coloring and cutting paper, etc. Now my brain doesn't seem to want to help me out anymore so I look for the patterns. Still hate spending money for special rulers, but it seems once you use a rotery cutter and plastic templates, you are really spoiled! Back in the "old days", I used cardboard and scissors. Can't use the scissors for too much cutting anymore, arthritis in my thumb so cutting and drawing can get really painful.