I love the Karen Kay Buckley method and have been doing it that way for years. It is also called prepared applique. You trace the shape on heat resistant mylar plastic, cut out the shape. Cut your fabric using the cut template adding a 1/4" seam allowance. use starch on the seam allowance and iron the seam allowance over the edge of the shape. Place your shape on the background fabric and hold using small dots of glue. I then hand sew it or you can machine sew it. I love doing applique. My favorite patterns are part pieced and part applique.
I hope you enjoy whatever method you choose.