I do applique a lot! My methods are fusible and hand . I also use Roxanne's glue baste it to help on curves when I am doing it by hand. I don't use freezer paper but baste the pieces to the background 3/4" to a 1/2" from the edge and then turn under the raw the raw edge under using a slip stitch. Another way is to turn under the raw edges and using the blind hem stitch on the machine and it looks a lot like hand sewing that way too.
Hope this helps!