Top 17 'Skip-the-Store' Craft Supplies to Make at Home When Creativity Strikes on Weekends - Goh Ling Yong
It's a familiar scene: Saturday afternoon rolls in, the light is perfect, and a brilliant creative idea finally sparks. You rush to your craft corner, ready to bring your vision to life, only to find you're missing one crucial supply. The glue bottle is bone dry, you're out of that specific paint color, or you need some modeling clay for a last-minute project with the kids.
The creative momentum screeches to a halt. The thought of packing up, driving to the store, navigating the aisles, and waiting in line feels like a monumental task that could extinguish your creative fire completely. But what if your kitchen pantry and linen closet already held the key to your next masterpiece? What if you could whip up exactly what you need in minutes, without ever grabbing your car keys?
Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe creativity should be resourceful, accessible, and fun. That's why we've compiled the ultimate list of "skip-the-store" craft supplies you can make at home. These recipes and ideas are perfect for those spontaneous weekend art sessions, saving you time, money, and a trip to the store. Get ready to unlock the hidden potential of your household basics!
1. All-Purpose Flour Paste (DIY School Glue)
The classic, non-toxic adhesive that never fails. Forget that crusted-over glue stick. This simple paste is the grandparent of all modern adhesives, and it’s perfect for paper crafts, collages, and especially papier-mâché. It’s completely kid-safe, costs pennies to make, and dries surprisingly strong.
The recipe is beautifully simple: just mix one part flour with two parts water in a saucepan. Whisk it constantly over medium heat until it thickens into a smooth, paste-like consistency. Let it cool completely before using. You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days.
Pro Tip: For a slightly stronger, archival-quality paste, add a tablespoon of sugar to the mix while cooking. This helps prevent breakdown over time and gives it extra sticking power for heavier paper or cardboard projects.
2. No-Cook Playdough
Whip up a batch of soft, vibrant dough in under ten minutes. There's no creative tool more versatile or beloved by kids than playdough. This no-cook recipe is my go-to because it’s fast, easy, and yields a wonderfully soft, pliable dough that lasts for weeks when stored correctly. It’s a sensory delight and a fantastic way to keep little hands busy.
To make it, you'll need: 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Mix these dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, add 1.5 cups of boiling water mixed with your favorite food coloring. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for a few minutes until it's perfectly smooth.
Pro Tip: The secret ingredient is the cream of tartar! It acts as a preservative and gives the dough its signature soft, elastic texture. For a multi-sensory experience, add a few drops of peppermint extract or lavender essential oil.
3. Natural Dyes from Kitchen Scraps
Turn your food waste into a vibrant color palette. Before synthetic dyes were invented, artists and artisans used the bounty of nature to color their world. You can do the same with everyday kitchen scraps! This is a fantastic, eco-friendly way to dye paper, yarn, fabric, or even Easter eggs.
Start saving your scraps! Yellow onion skins create a beautiful rusty orange or gold. Avocado pits and skins yield a soft blush pink. Turmeric powder makes a brilliant yellow, boiled red cabbage creates a surprising blue (add vinegar for pink or baking soda for green!), and used coffee grounds or black tea bags produce lovely shades of brown. Simply simmer your chosen ingredient in a pot of water for about an hour, strain out the solids, and your dye bath is ready.
Pro Tip: To help the color bind to fabric or yarn (a process called "mordanting"), soak your material in a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts water for an hour before dyeing.
4. Versatile Salt Dough
Create lasting ornaments, beads, and sculptures that bake hard. Salt dough is a step up from playdough. While it’s not as soft to play with, its superpower is that it can be baked into permanent, rock-hard creations that you can paint and seal. It's the perfect medium for making holiday ornaments, small figurines, beads, or even fake fossils.
The recipe is a simple ratio: 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of table salt, and 1 cup of water. Mix the flour and salt, then gradually add the water until a stiff dough forms. Knead for about 10 minutes until smooth, then start creating! Bake your finished pieces on a parchment-lined tray in an oven set to its lowest temperature (around 200°F or 100°C) for 2-3 hours, or until completely dry and hard.
Pro Tip: For a smoother finish, use a finer-grain salt. Once baked and cooled, you can sand any rough edges with a nail file before painting with acrylics. A final coat of clear sealant or Mod Podge will protect your masterpiece forever.
5. Edible-Safe Finger Paint
Worry-free, lick-safe paint for the littlest artists. When toddlers and paint are in the same room, you can bet some of it will end up in their mouths. This homemade finger paint recipe gives you total peace of mind. It’s made from basic food ingredients, has a wonderfully smooth texture, and washes away with just water.
In a saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of cold water until there are no lumps. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency. Remove from heat, let it cool, and then divide it into small containers. Stir in a few drops of different food colorings to create your palette.
Pro Tip: These paints will have a slightly translucent, jelly-like look on paper. They are best used on thick cardstock or finger-painting paper. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
6. Silky Smooth Air-Dry Clay
A more refined modeling clay for detailed work. If you want to create sculptures with a smoother, more porcelain-like finish than salt dough, this cornstarch and baking soda clay is your answer. It air-dries to a beautiful, bright white finish that’s perfect for painting. It's ideal for making small dishes, pendants, and delicate figures.
Combine 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of cornstarch in a non-stick pot. Slowly stir in 3/4 cup of cool water until smooth. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly. It will bubble and then quickly pull together into a thick, mashed-potato-like ball. Turn this out onto a piece of parchment paper and cover with a damp cloth until it’s cool enough to handle. Knead until perfectly smooth.
Pro Tip: This clay dries relatively quickly, so keep any unused portions tightly wrapped in plastic. Your finished pieces will be fully dry in 24-48 hours, depending on their thickness.
7. 3D Puffy Paint
Add fun, touchable texture to any art project. Why paint flat when you can paint puffy? This DIY puffy paint is a blast to use and creates an awesome 3D texture when it dries. It’s a sensory art experience that kids and adults will love.
The magic formula is equal parts white school glue (like Elmer's) and plain white shaving foam (not gel). Mix them together gently in a bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring or a squirt of washable paint to get your desired color. Spoon the mixture into squirt bottles or plastic baggies with the corner snipped off, and you're ready to create! The paint will puff up as you apply it and hold its shape as it dries.
Pro Tip: For a fun variation, you can microwave your finished artwork on a paper plate for 15-30 seconds. Watch it closely—it will puff up even more and set into a unique, styrofoam-like texture.
8. Coffee-Stained "Parchment" Paper
Instantly age paper for an authentic, vintage look. Need to make a treasure map, a "historical" document for a school project, or some rustic-looking invitations? You don't need to buy expensive parchment paper. This is a technique I, Goh Ling Yong, personally love for adding character to my mixed-media art.
Brew a very strong cup of coffee or black tea and let it cool. You can also use instant coffee dissolved in a little hot water. Lay a sheet of regular printer paper or cardstock in a shallow baking dish. Pour the coffee or tea over the paper, ensuring it's fully submerged. Let it soak for 5-15 minutes, depending on how dark you want it. Carefully remove the paper and let it air dry on a rack or bake it in a 200°F (100°C) oven for a few minutes until dry.
Pro Tip: For extra texture, crumple the paper into a tight ball before soaking it. The creases will absorb more color, creating a fantastic, weathered look.
9. Upcycled DIY Stamps
Find your next printmaking tool in your kitchen. Printmaking doesn't require fancy carving blocks or linoleum cutters. Your kitchen is full of objects that can be turned into fantastic, one-of-a-kind stamps for decorating cards, gift wrap, or fabric.
The classic potato stamp is a great place to start. Cut a potato in half, pat the surface dry, and carve a simple shape into it with a paring knife. Sponges, wine corks, apple halves, and even the base of a celery stalk make incredible floral patterns. Just dip your new "stamp" in some acrylic paint and get printing!
Pro Tip: For more intricate designs, try carving into a large, flat craft eraser. The rubber is easy to cut with a craft knife and holds fine details much better than a potato.
10. Homemade Watercolor Paints
Create your own vibrant, portable paint palette. Believe it or not, you can make a surprisingly good set of watercolor paints using just a few kitchen staples. This is a fun science experiment and art project rolled into one. The result is a set of dry cakes of paint, just like the ones you'd buy in a store.
In a small bowl, mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. It will fizz! Once it stops, stir in 1/2 teaspoon of corn syrup and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch until you have a smooth paste. Divide this white base into an empty ice cube tray or egg carton. Now, add a few drops of different food colorings to each section and mix thoroughly. Let the paints dry completely for 1-2 days until they are hard cakes.
Pro Tip: The corn syrup acts as a binder and adds a bit of gloss, while the cornstarch is the filler. To use your paints, simply wet a brush with water and activate the colors, just like with store-bought watercolors.
11. No-Fuss Fabric Stiffener
Shape and sculpt fabric into bowls, ornaments, and more. Fabric stiffener allows you to defy gravity, turning soft, flexible cloth into rigid, three-dimensional shapes. It’s perfect for making lace bowls, fabric beads, or stiffening doilies into beautiful ornaments.
The easiest DIY version is a simple mixture of one part white school glue to one part water. Mix it well and either brush it onto your fabric or dip the fabric directly into the solution, squeezing out the excess. Drape the wet fabric over a mold (like an upside-down bowl covered in plastic wrap) and let it dry completely, which can take up to 24 hours. A quicker, though less permanent, method is a cornstarch solution (1 tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 cup of cold water, then mixed with 2 cups of boiling water).
Pro Tip: The glue-and-water method is more water-resistant and permanent. The cornstarch method is less stiff and will soften if it gets wet, but it’s great for temporary projects like fabric crowns for a party.
12. Eco-Friendly Salt Glitter
Get all the sparkle without the plastic pollution. Traditional glitter is a microplastic, which is harmful to the environment. But who says you have to give up sparkle? You can make a gorgeous, biodegradable glitter alternative using a household staple: salt!
Pour some regular table salt or Epsom salt into a small resealable bag. Add a few drops of your chosen food coloring. Seal the bag and shake, shake, shake! Massage the bag to distribute the color evenly. Once you have your desired shade, spread the colored salt on a baking sheet to dry for a few hours. Use it just like regular glitter, applying it over a thin layer of glue.
Pro Tip: For different textures, experiment with coarse sea salt for a chunkier look or finely ground table salt for a delicate shimmer.
13. Custom-Colored Sidewalk Chalk
Take your driveway art to the next level with your own chalk. Making your own sidewalk chalk is a magical process. You can create custom colors, fun shapes, and jumbo-sized sticks that are perfect for big art. All you need is a key ingredient from the hardware or craft store.
The main ingredient is Plaster of Paris. In a disposable cup, mix 2 parts Plaster of Paris with 1 part water. Stir in powdered tempera paint or a generous amount of food coloring until you get the color you want. Quickly pour the mixture into your molds—toilet paper tubes, small paper cups, or silicone ice cube trays work great. Let it set for at least 24 hours until it's completely hard.
Pro Tip: Work quickly, as Plaster of Paris begins to set within 10-15 minutes. Lightly tapping the molds on a hard surface after pouring will help release any air bubbles.
14. Pressed Flowers and Leaves
Preserve a piece of your garden for your art. This isn't a supply you make as much as one you preserve. Pressing flowers and leaves is a timeless craft that captures the delicate beauty of nature. The finished, flattened botanicals are perfect for decorating phone cases, making bookmarks, creating resin art, or adding to collages.
The traditional method is simple: arrange your flowers and leaves between two sheets of absorbent paper (like parchment or newspaper) inside the pages of a heavy book. Make sure they don't overlap. Close the book and stack a few more heavy books on top. Then, be patient! It will take 2-4 weeks for them to dry completely.
Pro Tip: For faster results, you can use a microwave. Place your flowers between two pieces of paper towel and two ceramic tiles, secure with rubber bands, and microwave in 30-second intervals until dry.
15. DIY Texture Paste or Gesso
Add dimension and prepare surfaces for mixed-media art. For the more advanced crafter, texture paste and gesso are staples for adding dimension and priming surfaces. Gesso creates a "toothy" surface for paint to grip onto, while texture paste is used to build up thick, sculptural effects. You can make a simple version of both at home.
For a basic gesso, mix equal parts white acrylic paint, white school glue, and talcum powder (or baby powder/baking soda). For a thicker texture paste, use a similar recipe but increase the amount of talcum powder or add cornstarch until you reach a thick, spackle-like consistency. Apply it with a palette knife or an old credit card and let it dry completely before painting over it.
Pro Tip: Experiment with adding fine sand or coffee grounds to your texture paste to create different gritty effects perfect for creating landscape or abstract art.
16. Reusable Homemade Stencils
Create custom patterns from upcycled materials. Why buy pre-made stencils when you can design your own for free? This allows you to create any pattern, letter, or image you can imagine. Look around your home for sturdy, waterproof materials that can be easily cut.
Old plastic folders, report covers, or even the lids from plastic food containers are perfect. Simply draw your design directly onto the plastic with a permanent marker and carefully cut it out with a craft knife (always use a cutting mat underneath). For a one-time-use stencil for fabric painting, you can use freezer paper. Iron the waxy side down onto your fabric, paint, and peel it off once dry.
Pro Tip: When stenciling, use a sponge or a stiff-bristled brush and a dabbing (or "pouncing") motion rather than a brushing one. This prevents paint from seeping underneath the edges of the stencil.
17. Yarn from Old T-Shirts ("T-Yarn")
Upcycle your old clothes into chunky, versatile yarn. Before you throw out that old, stained t-shirt, consider giving it a second life as "t-yarn." This is a thick, slightly stretchy yarn that's perfect for weaving, macrame, making rag rugs, or knitting with large needles. It’s a fantastic no-sew upcycling project.
Lay a t-shirt flat and cut off the bottom hem and the top part just under the sleeves, leaving you with a tube of fabric. Cut this tube into one continuous strip, about 1-2 inches wide, by cutting in a spiral. Don't cut all the way to the edge, but rather leave an inch or so, then shift your cut up on the next rotation. Once you have one long strip, pull it taut. The edges will magically curl in on themselves, creating a soft, cord-like yarn.
Pro Tip: Seamless t-shirts work best as they won't have a lumpy seam running down the side of your yarn. Join strips from different shirts by cutting a small slit in the end of each, then threading one through the other and pulling tight to form a knot.
So the next time creativity strikes on a quiet weekend, take a moment before you reach for your car keys. Look in your kitchen, your recycling bin, and your closets. You might just find that you already have everything you need to make something wonderful. By embracing a "skip-the-store" mentality, you not only save time and money but also connect with your creativity on a more resourceful and satisfying level.
What are your favorite homemade craft supplies? Do you have a secret family recipe for the best playdough or a unique way to create texture? Share your tips, tricks, and creations in the comments below—we’d love to learn from you!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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