Stick on thermometers are good for measuring the temp of the glass... that is about it.

You want to use a thermometer that either goes in the enclosure (for air temps), use a infrared thermometer gun, or a thermometer with a probe.

Newspaper is fine for substrate.

As far as UTH and thermostat, its really wide open. Most thermostats are rheostat like while others are completely digital. If you can use a rheostat thermostat and set it correctly they do the job just fine. As for UTH you can use any of the zoo-med stick on ones, or you can use heat tape or heat cable as well. It just depends on what is available to you.