If I could turn back time...

...I'd had signed up with a few discussion lists and fora before I got the PI. Had I done so I'd had learned that:

1. I needed to upgrade both software and hardware before trying to use it for the first time,
2. There are many generous people out there who took the time to write tutorials, make videos, blog about the machine

My Pazzles came with a 6 months free membership to their craft room. There you can find a good number of videos that walks you through some of the most basic functions, some how-to's and a good number of more advanced techniques.

On the side bar (-->) there are links to some blogs and here are a few groups I found useful:

- creativcutters
- funtimesoftware
- pazzlesinspiration
- pazzlesinspirationpals


Since I didn't follow the advice I'm giving here, I have a ruined cutting mat (for which I have no replacement) and my blade is probably damaged. :(
The extra time I spent trying to get the results I wanted wasn't such a bad thing, as I learned a little bit more about the software in the process.

BTW, on the funtimesoftware group I found a great tutorial about lattices that made creating a triangular grid much easier.