Bret,
I used particle board ( the dense kind, not MDF) for the forms on the guillemot I'm building. It cuts well with a jigsaw, but holds staples poorly, however I'm not using staples. I would try OSB or plywood for staples. What Rehd said about which side faces out happens automatically if you follow Nick's instructions and face the paper plan side out for alignment purposes. Get a blade for your jigsaw that cuts on the down stroke (teeth pointing down, 12 or 14 tpi), that way the paper stays glued down and cuts are clean on the side that matters.
Richard