Re-templates
My husband purchased a roll of heavy plastic (like/maybe a little heavier than a plastic lid from a butter container) for me at a Woodworkers Show.  I have no idea what it is called, but it is used for patterns.  I trace all my paper patterns on the plastic (the ones for foam) and then cut out.  

Fabric patterns I use another pattern material I bought at a quilt show. It has a 1" grid on one side of it, and has a sort of plastic coating on one side.  Not sure of it's name either.  It is heavy enough to last, yet pliable enough to pin though. Sort of like butcher paper.

Also... if you do not like to pin your patterns you can use pattern weights (available at fabric stores). When I was a child my mom would use butter knives if she did not have enough pins. LOL - didn't realize she was using "pattern weights."

Next time you got to your local Chinese Restaurant, grab a handful of "chopsticks" when they aren't looking..heehee.
They work great for many applications.

Popsicle sticks work great too.

I have even constructed a chopstick/Popsicle stick mini platform. Complete with many extended sticks . I use it for a drying platform and an area I can paint smaller object in a "raised" environment...closer to my face..ha

I have also glued clothes pins to the platform to hold items to dry or paint.

The only other tool you need is a hot glue gun and we all have one of those...right?

Garage Sale time...I just bought another heavy duty, small vase. Great for keeping all my paintbrushes or pens even scissors.

Check every restaurant that has carry out...sometimes you will find many different spoon designs at these places. Those spoons work great for eyes. Dont over do it, just make sure you buy a couple hot dogs when your taking some spoons.

My local Chinese restaurant has the PERFECT spoons for eyes. I am a regular customer there and went in to ask to buy 100 spoons to use for eyes, but she just gave them to me. They are soup spoons so have a nice shape but also are a more pliable plastic so the handles cut off nicely and do not splinter.