Remember [very important] when cutting a base, always trim the sides and back only---leave the front hairline alone as this area has a graduated density by default... you can ruin the look of your system by ` tampering` with it ......when cutting lace, use a sharp hobby-knife and once you have your template lined up, draw the blade ` across` the lace [in a sawing motion] rather than down through it ...you just need to slice the actual lace and seperate one section from the other ...if you push the blade ` down` you`ll most likely slice through hairs that you need to keep... so just ` line up` your template with the front of it up ` against ` the front-edge of the lace...then you trim around the sides and back only..... as LTB suggested, ` pop` your template so it`s now ` inside out`, then you could use a styrofoam head-shape to pin the system and template to using T-pins..that`ll hold it nice and firm while you trim off the ` excess`...good luck with it all !