This can be a patience tester! But, you really have to work slowly until you get a better feel for it. Do some parts folding at one sitting and think about walking away. Once that's done, you finished something successfully. Take the next step the next day.
This IS NOT the same territory as when you were a kid and could do no wrong in any given sitting wtih plastic parts, glue and paint. This stuff can still test you after years of using it. Seriously!
I do 1:700 ships, primarily. SK-2 radars that have 8 parts for assembly when the finished item measures no more than a 1/4 of an inch square is a good indication of what photo etch nighmares can be like. IMO, they should never be attempted in one sitting. No matter what your experience level.
Sometimes you can limit yourself by not having the right tools for the job.
Do you have.....
1. a ceramic tile or piece of glass for cutting/shaping the PE parts on?
A hard, steady surface is a must. Use this to cut parts off of their tree by pressing down and cutting with a SHARP fresh razor blade. Some like a PE cutting tool..... I like this way better. And watch your part when you cut. Don't let 'er shoot off your work area!
2. Good pair of small, flat ended needle nose? (not seraded either, smooth)
A quality pair that will handle the small parts. Consider high end stuff, i.e.~ German made.... You mentioned that parts were stuck to your fingers. IMO, fingers should stay off of photo etch parts. Too many variables with the fingers. Let that quality pair of needle nose or high-end tweezers grab at and handle these delicate parts. You won't fumble around as much this way.
3. Proper lighting. Don't under estimate the value. I own the Ott Lite. Don't know how I ever did without it.
4. Use a thin super glue like Zap A Gap. Put the super glue on a pallet that will keep several drops of it in a puddle form for a while. Yeah, it can be done without drying!
Use plastic lids to do so. Like the ones off of coffee cans? Or Chinese take-out soup lids?..... This particular kind of plastic has a recycle code on it. A triangle with a numer 4 or 2 in the center of it. Drop small super glue puddles on it. And leave it there until you're ready for it. Yes, eventully it will get thick. You'll know when it's too thick. Make another puddle.
5. A wire applicator. Copper, stainless, tungsten steel.....whatever. Use your wire to apply in PRECISION. To my mind, these PE parts need precise applications of CA glue. (super glue) The wire technique allows for this. Simply dip the wire into the puddle of glue, and with a steady hand.........
6. Photo etch bending tool. Good to have, but not completely neccesary. You can work with flat edge razor blades to bend PE. I did it for years. The tool is nice, though.
7. Safety glasses. Don't laugh. You don't want a small piece of brass shooting into your eye.
8. Mike Ashey did a great job in his book," The Basics of Ship Modeling"
His chapter on photo etch made me learn how to tackle this stuff.
Don't let photo etch beat ya! You CAN do it. You will need to have patience, and realise small victories when you work with it. Walk away from it BEFORE you NEED TO WALK AWAY FROM IT. This succession of baby steps will do your heart good, at least until you get more experience under you belt !!
And the end result will be that you'll be proud of your work, and all your friends and family will swear you're friggin' nuts to work with stuff that small !! LOL!! Regards~ Craig