Paper Templates

As an addendum to this video, I should say that after the paper template is complete, I typically use a regular glue stick (spray adhesive would work better) to stick it down to 1/4" MDF, rough cut it out with a jig saw or band saw, and sand down (or spokeshave down) to the line on the paper template. You don't need to cut the paper template down to the line for this.

Other times I use the cut out paper template just to rough cut parts out, or simply transferring a line to make features like relief carvings that I wouldn't need a router template to achieve.