Thanks everyone, glad you've found it useful info. I will certainly pass along the kudos for photography to my sweetie.
Sandpat, I used freezer paper on this one because I was doing them from home. I took my own photos of my prep in case anyone had a question and will load those next (though I'm sure they won't be as pretty!!). From experience in hiding seams in baby items, I learned to press the seam to one side and sweep under. Occasionally, it is a bit bulky but if you putz with it long enough you'll get it looking acceptable.
When prepping pieces to take along, I have been using the back basting method so I don't have to deal with any pins and you can prep far in advance without concerns about the freezer paper loosing it's adhesive. This method is my preferred for needle turn. I do NOT miss the pins!! LOL.
For the seam allowance, I do not use the full 1/4" that print with the software automatically. You'll want to be sure that you are using a consistent amount around a piece to avoid pulling/bunching. The consistency is what I look for rather than a specific measurement.