Well, I recently did a project that also depended on fusible applique. It was a bunch of hands. I had offered to finish any hands where the original quilter couldn't do the sewing part of the applique. As I pulled some of the hands out of the envelope, some of them actually waved at me rather rudely. So - - - if you want to run the risk of Joseph waving his wand at the congregation, Mary falling backwards in the hay, or Baby Jesus rolling out of the manger - - - NO, you MUST not sew them down.