There is a site called www.proppeople.com which usually has pretty good solutions to prop questions. 

My best advice is that if you find someone who likes to dink around with weird substances like dryer-lint "paper" mache, etc. hang on to them and give them lots of encouragement!  We discovered that we have an art major who became our fake food artist when we needed food props for The Nerd -- she made the most adorable cornish hens and devilled eggs and very realistic cottage cheese.  We also have a very creative medical doctor who doubles as a prop artist / actor/ costumer / set builder for our group -- he will rise to almost any challenge. We are so lucky! We love them both and try to let them know it.