My go to tools are my rotary cutter (am now using the small 28mm due to arthritis), my Omnigrid mat (prefer it over the thin Olfa mat) and all my acrylic rulers and squares in most sizes. My great aunt taught me to cut out templates from cardboard, but I switched to rotary cutter as soon as they became available. Yes, there were the days when the rotary cutters, mats and acrylic rulers did not exist. I seldom pick up my scissor anymore except to clip the thread ends on my piecing.