DIY DnD maps and props

The recent string of DnD sessions that I'm DM'ing rekindled my interest in home-made RPG props, so I've dug up some old material that I've just been too lazy to publish.

DIY maps

The adventure we're playing has a nice set of printable colored maps for the outside encounters. However, the name of the game is Dungeons and Dragons, and there was nothing included for that part. So I decided to roll my own.
Steps:

1. Print a 1x1inch square grid on white paper. Use a generator.
2. Use water color to paint it grey. No reason to be careful. Just slap the paint on.
1. Optional. Add small doodads to your maps, e.g. staircases, storage containers. This will make them better looking, but less reusable. 
3. Plan the maps that you have to make. Then cut out appropriate pieces.
4. Use paper glue to stick the pieces of paper on large sheets of cheap paper. Wrapping paper is ideal.
5. Use heavy things to apply pressure on the maps, so they won't curl up and the glue sticks.

 Pictures below:

I dilute the black paint with lots of water, so the paper takes a long time to dry. Solution: leave it out for the night.

With a bit of planning, you can pre-establish all the needed pieces.

You'll need a large surface to work with. Use wrapping paper or a flipchart.

Work in progress...

OK, put some heavy books on it for the night and you're done! Some examples below:


 A simple dungeon room.




Natural caves work even better on brown wrapping paper, to give that earthy feeling.

A larger map of interconnected rooms, with storage containers and a staircase.

DIY props

The process is similar to the one above.

1. Print a 1x1inch square grid on white paper. Use a generator.
2. Use water color to paint your props. Again, there's no need for artistic complexity; although the better looking, the greater.
3. Use a black pen to strengthen the borders, or draw additional elements.
4. Cut out the props following the square borders.
5. Use paper glue to stick the props to cardboard. I used pizza boxes, as they are thick and heavy enough to be moved easily along with the miniatures.
6. Cut out the pieces (again) from the cardboard.

Done! Here are some of the props that I created:

Left to right, top to bottom: strange runes drawn on the floor; crates; tables (some with dirty dishes on them), broken statues, a fire pit, a bloody drawing on the floor, alcoves, wells, beds, pits, an iron maiden, debris with animal bones, a large pit, a fire, altars.