For lightweight bendable objects:

- FABRIC (fabric store, old clothes) - paint if needed

- NEOPRENE foam (camping mat, art supply stores, floor mat). Neoprene is great if you need a 3-d surface on your object as you can cut or melt a shape into it. Paint it once you're done if needed. Watch out for paint coming off though!

For lightweight rigid objects:

- MODEL MAGIC air dry styrofoam. This is the easiest material to mold into shape, but requires some time to set and then needs to be covered in paint and glue to keep its shape intact. Make a plasticene mold, then form and dry the foam on it. Cover the finished product with paint and then silicone glue all over - caution the glue is very smelly, do it outside or somewhere with lots of ventilation.

- STYROFOAM (packing material, art supply store, bike helmet). Carve it into shape - stick multiple layers together with toothpicks and carpenters glue. Cover it with a layer of plaster to seal up pores and protect it from paint. Then paint it. Watch out for silicone glues and some paint that can melt styrofoam.

- BALSA WOOD (hobby store, art store; can be cut to shape with a sharp knife - be careful though!)

- LINOLEUM floor tile (hardware store; can be cut with shears or a sharp knife)

For heavier objects:

- WOOD (broken wooden furniture, hardware store)

- SHEET METAL (ventilation ducting, hardware store) - cut with shears and paint if needed

- PLASTER (make a styrofoam or plastiscene mold and cast into it)