I picked up a roll of parchment paper ($3.50), some left over bins ($2.98), and some basic sponges ($1.30) needed for the project. Snow-monster helps open the sponges... and every other packet of anything with seals like that.
Just add water and the end result is a palette that ought to keep my paints at ready when I need to pause the action.
Now I get to figure out how exactly this thing works.
Cheers,
CJ