If you have a friend that scrapbooks, she may have extra cardstock scraps. They build up like fabric scraps. I have some left over from my pre-quilt days and it works great.

I use generic packets of hexies from the store, though I started with some I printed myself...

as for glue basting, I do it on larger hexies, just find it easier (for me) to thread baste

and after 10,000 plus, it's a quick process :)