It has been suggested to me that the foil from cigarette packets is good. It is light, and strong due to its paper laminate. Try making a multi stage rocket or try to add rocket boosters to a small paper airplane and watch. Also don't use lighter fluid on cardboard cos it sets fire to the card. A small, thin metal or plastic tube makes for a great launch environment.
Rockets go further because the tunnel helps channel the force.
The tube I used the body of a thin ink pen. Use the tip of a knife. Put the powder in contact with the match heads in the rocket and build the rocket as usual. Put it into some foil and where the foil is screwed up, poke a pin through and remove it. Heat where the dust is and off it goes.