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Before I had just been using cardboard as a paint pallet, until I realized that the cardboard was quickly absorbing and drying out the paint.
I do not own a paint pallet in my home so what other means could I use as a paint pallet? Construction paper? Printing paper?

You could use a ceramic plate or tile.

An old glass or plastic plate, floor tile, an old CD jewel case.

Basically, anything solid that's not paper, unless it's waxed paper

 Bi'ios wrote:
An old glass or plastic plate, floor tile, an old CD jewel case.

Basically, anything solid that's not paper, unless it's waxed paper

I'll go with the CD jewel case. Thanks!

I use a old lid off a cheese grater. Its plastic and does the job.

You can buy little plastic paint palettes from any big-box arts and crafts store for very cheap. They come in all different shapes and sizes. A trick to keep from having to scrape old paint out of them all the time is to line them with a piece of tinfoil. You get the befefits of using a the cups of a palette with the ability to reuse it without cleaning.

The only time you want to use cardboard is if you are using oil paints and you want to leech the linseed oil out of it.

Do yourself a favor and try a wet palette Not only are they reusable and keep your paints usable for a long time, but they keep your paints slightly thinned and often looking better on the model. All you need to make one is some stuff around the kitchen like a Tupperware container, paper towels, and a bit of parchment paper.

Just buy a plastic palette, they are incredibly cheap. I bought the one I use for 75 cents and ive never needed anything else.

Every time I look into a painting thread I realize just how many things I'm doing wrong. I don't even use a pallet when I paint, but the few times I've had to mix paint I've just used a paper plate with wax coating. Works just fine and you can just toss it afterwords. Plus water tends to bead on those plastic plates which might be helpful? I found it easier to manage.

I usually use a glazed bath tile, but lately I have been using the top of a ziplock brand storage container. The old paint peels off fairly easily, the ceramic tile needs to be scraped after a while.

I use this white porcelain palette from Hobby Lobby. The plastic palettes may be cheaper and come in more sizes, but the porcelain is a lot easier to clean up.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
You can buy little plastic paint palettes from any big-box arts and crafts store for very cheap. They come in all different shapes and sizes. A trick to keep from having to scrape old paint out of them all the time is to line them with a piece of tinfoil. You get the befefits of using a the cups of a palette with the ability to reuse it without cleaning.

The only time you want to use cardboard is if you are using oil paints and you want to leech the linseed oil out of it.

I had to log in to say thanks for this tip. IMO, anyone should invest 2 dollars into a pallette. I painted for 15 years without one, 3 years with. I wish I had realized the simple value earlier. Flat surfaces not recommended at all if you intend on washes or thinning anything. The tinfoil hack is brilliant, thanks again.

I've actually had great luck using a small plastic container, wet paper towel, and some parchment paper (stolen from the kitchen )

I have an actual paint pallet from my school days but it was HUGE due to it being meant for big canvases. I instead just use the lid off of a small plastic icecream container.

The only problem for me now is the container is aging and the plastic is slowly cracking apart.

For years I used to just put down old envelopes, typically the larger ones as my school used to send me newsletters in them, it was dual purpose as it also served to protect the table while I was painting.

Being envelopes they were just paper, but slightly more water resistant than just regular cardboard or paper. After a few sessions of painting it was so thickly covered in paint I was basically using a layer of paint as a palette

It worked fine for everything but washes, I used them in spite of having a plastic palette as it meant less things I had to unpack for a painting session as I didn't have a permanent painting area,

The plastic palettes with the little cups are good because you can also mix washes and glazes in them though. They're pretty cheap if I recall correctly, I think I got mine from a $2 shop.

The only downside is if you want to use solvent heavy paints the cheap plastic will slowly degrade so you probably need to go for something more resistant.

Also cleaning the plastic cups out is annoying

Another vote for self-made wet palette. It takes about a minute to make and you probably have all the materials needed already.

I am using transparent plastic lid from metal or finecast citadel miniature boxed sets. Put some folded wet paper towels on bottom and piece of parchment paper on top wet paper towels. Paint stays wet for the duration of painting session and if the palette runs out of space, I have painted for too long already

Next day, toss the parchent paper into bin and set the paper towels to dry. They can be re-used as brush-wiping towels once dried.

If you don't have parchment paper and/or are too lazy to make your own, or just want something more fancy, or don't care about $10... the privateer press wet palette is a nice solution. you get a plastic box that's the right size for minis, a little piece of sponge inside, and a pad of wet palette paper. The refills are cheap, too.

On the plus side, the PP wet palettes are generally good for a little longer than the home-made parchment paper deals, mostly just because the sponge block is flat/square/level, whereas folded paper towels aren't.

I just use cheap disposable plastic plates...bought a pack of about a dozen of them...like 2 years ago, for about $5...I'm still only about halfway through the pack...

hmm, that reminds me, I should probably switch to a new one, I've been using the same one for a good 6 months now...there's probably around 3-4mm of dried paint in some places

To go a step beyond, don't get the PP palette, just get the refills.

A kitchen sponge will fit almost perfectly in a citadel tuft box, the pp refill fits on that with a bit of scissor work, the lid closes much better and keeps your palette airtight. I mistakenly used antibacterial sponges, and honestly that thing lasted months before getting rank.

I use plastic egg containers, the little cups have a small enough surface area that the paint doesn't dry too fast, but really, a wet pallet is just the best.

Just don't skimp on the parchment paper, get Reynolds brand.

I switched from a piece of glass to a store bought wet palette and I would never even consider going back. I'd recommend the ones from a real art store, not the model store ones. The art store ones are bigger and the supplies are easier to get, at least for me.

20 bucks got the tray, sponge and some paper, 12 bucks got me enough palette paper to last a lifetime. I feel like this setup pays for itself in a few months because you don't really waste any paint on the tray, ie your paints last at least twice as long.

Wet Palette is the The GOD! It is chap and simple and you can do it with home materials.

However if you are extremely lazy you can use empty box of chocolates like this one:

It works good if you have to mix paints.

My favorite wet pallet guide: http://www.fullborerminiatures.com/articles/wetpalette.html