As far as spray basting, go for it. I use it all the time when just the stabilizer is hooped and I'm embroidering on fabric smaller than the hoop. Paper stabilizer? Not sure what you are referring to but I match my stabilizer to the number of stitches in the design and how the finished design will be used. Every stabilizer has a max recommended number of stitch and I start there. (Mine has a information sheet rolled up inside the cardboard roll.) Overall my advise is to use what works for you and is appropriate to the finished product.