Interesting.
You can use a razor saw to cut wood and it'll rarely splinter, even poor quality ply... so I would think you could use this to cut your veneer squares.
I vaguely recollect something about sticking the veneer to something temporarily - was that canvas?
Woodwork classes are back in my distant past.
Instead of sandpaper I'd have used wet and dry for the final finish.... a cabinet scraper is another alternative as that doesn't block the wood pores.
Can't imagine I'll be doing any parquetry any time soon for figures... But you never know. Something more applicable to large display pieces perhaps.