I like the Dritz rotary cutter because it's pressure sensitive. That means the blade pops back inside when you're not pressing on it, so there's less chance of an accident. I use Olfa mats, the bigger the better. The ruler I use most is the Omnigrid 8.5"x24", but you also need a smaller ruler, maybe 6.5"x8". I hated the June Taylor shape cut ruler, too flimsy for my taste.