Use a manilla file folder. It is a little stiffer.

Take clear scotch tape and tape the paper template to the fabric. When I have small pieces (Jinny Beyer Stars for example), I copy the piece several times and tape both the fabric and the template to my cutting board. Once you cut through the paper and fabric there's no tape on anything except the scraps. The tape keeps the fabric and the template from moving.

I made them out of paper that I pin to the fabric. Problem is the fabric shifts under the paper and I end up cutting the fabric wrong. Any suggestions to keep it all in place?????[/quote]
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Since when I do sew, I like to make my own patterns, so
in making some kids quilts, or lap robes, which is most of
what I do, I simply use whatever I have on hand. Bottle and
jar caps, a favorite 1 inch thick plastic star as a volunteer gift, cookie cutters, pieces of boards I've cut with my Dremel tools, etc.
And I read here someone went to a car supply store for flat
bottomed thick aluminum pans to cut up for templates. When
you make your own, then you're on your own..
And as for the iron-on stuff, I iron 3 or so layers together, cut
them out. Small hands can draw their own patterns on them, and I graciously give them to the kids when they leave!! I have
enough junk==sorry==sewing stuff around to keep track of.

What a great idea!!! Thanks

]This works great for me. Find and old photo album, the kind that used to have plastic sheets that you lifted up, placed your photos, and then put the plastic sheet back down.
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What a lovely idea! I have some that I've put out to take to
GoodWill..I'll use them myself. And I'll see if I can't cut into
the covers...

I simply LOVE this forum...you ladies are SOOOO
talented! And I'm getting ideas that I can use forever.
Plus, I'm copying them and sending them to my daughter
and printing them out for quilting friends who are not
computer literate, but marvelous quilters.

You can spray the back of the template with 505 adhesive. The template will stay in position and can be re-used many times.

They also make little non-slip dots to use on the backs of rulers to stop slipping. They aren't too expensive for a sheet of them. I've not tried it, but I can't see why those wouldn't stop-home made templates from shifting while you cut, too.

One possibility is to make them out of freezer paper and then iron them on. Before you cut, iron all of the layers together, with the template on the top layer. It seems that ironing makes them stick together better. Do you have a rotary cutter? If you are careful, make them out of the cardboard that comes out of packages of paper, shirts, etc. then carefully use the non-slip side and cut.

Starch the dickens out of your fabric, then pin the template close together.

cereal boxes are great, also the plastic tray in bacon is also good, its kind of soft but it works. :)