We’ve been deep in a burger phase lately, and this one is a showstopper — it’s paper mache! We invited fellow burger fan and talented necklace maker Karla of Twerkstorian to show us how she creates these playful food sculptures. I’m genuinely obsessed. There are matching fries, too, and these make hilarious gifts or quirky desk accessories. Honestly, there’s no occasion a paper mache cheeseburger wouldn’t brighten.
Karla is also generously giving away one of her popular “Fryday” necklaces as part of this post. Scroll down to enter the giveaway.
Supplies:
- Newspaper
- Masking tape
- Small piece of cardboard
- Scissors
- Acrylic paint (white, brown, yellow, red, black, green)
- Hot glue gun
- Paint brushes
- Paper mache glue mix: 1/2 cup flour, 3/4 cup water, a dollop of school glue, pinch of salt
Step-by-step instructions:
- Prepare the paper mache glue: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour with the water, stirring until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency. Add a dollop of school glue and a pinch of salt, then mix well.
- Shape the buns: Crumple newspaper into balls to form the top and bottom buns. Use masking tape to smooth and round the shapes. Make the bottom bun with a flat base so it will sit steady when you layer the toppings.
- Create the toppings:
- Tomato: Cut two stacked tomato slices from cardboard to add thickness, then cover them with newspaper and tape.
- Cheese: Fold a sheet of newspaper, cut a square slightly larger than the bun, then cover both sides with strips of masking tape to stiffen it while keeping it flexible.
- Patty: Form the meat patty from balled-up newspaper and tape it to shape.
- Lettuce: Fold newspaper, draw a lettuce shape, cut it out, and cover both sides with masking tape.
- Apply paper mache: Tear newspaper into strips. Dip each strip into the glue mixture, remove excess by running your fingers along the strip, and apply it over each element until fully covered.
- Drying: Protect your workspace with a plastic tablecloth. Let the paper mache pieces dry for about six hours; using a fan speeds up drying.
- Prime with paint: When dry, paint all pieces with white acrylic as a base coat. Allow to dry completely.
- Paint final colors: Study a real burger photo for reference or get creative with color. Paint the buns, patty, cheese, tomato, and lettuce to your liking. Let paint dry.
- Assemble: Use hot glue to stack and secure all the pieces into a burger.
- Finish: Add small dots of hot glue on the top bun to mimic sesame seeds.
- Make fries: Use the same paper mache method but roll newspaper strips into long, thin shapes—like sushi rolls without filling—to form fries. Cover with glue strips and paint them once dry.
That’s it—simple, fun, and likely achievable with materials you already have at home. These pieces are perfect for a lighthearted gift or a whimsical decoration.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Tutorial by Twerkstorian | Creative Direction + Styling by Kelly Mindell
Go make some burgers! To enter the “Fryday” necklace giveaway, follow the giveaway widget on this page. The giveaway ends Friday, July 17 at 9 a.m. PST and the winner will be announced here soon after. The giveaway is open worldwide.
A huge thank you to Karla for teaching us how to paper mache the most delicious of foods. Don’t forget to check out her shop for more playful necklaces and creations.