India, Sept. 24 -- More and more makers are finding that the right materials at the right price are what make a project work. These seven went looking for value, found it on Temu, and built something worth talking about.

There's a long-standing assumption in maker communities that quality lives at the top of the price range. Pay more, get more. Stick to the specialist suppliers. For the people here, questioning that assumption turned out to be one of the better creative decisions they ever made.

Sam Hwang decided to build her own statement stage for her wedding after being quoted $16,000 by a contractor.

A seasoned crafter, Sam started with a pre-made wood platform, then shaping plaster over it to mimic cake frosting, pressing silicone...