Welcome to Modern Agriculture!
© Tolgart/Getty Images
When a YouTuber first revealed her method of boiling a full roll of toilet paper to create a decorative paste, many viewers were both intrigued and skeptical. The results, however, were so striking that comments such as “They turned out so beautiful” and “Looks very pretty” flooded her channel. The technique, popularized by DIY creator Evrim Taşer Yılmaz, turns ordinary toilet paper into a thick, moldable paste that can be used to transform an old glass jar into a one‑of‑a‑kind flower vase.
While many craft projects use toilet paper or paper towels for decorative purposes, simmering an entire roll elevates the idea into a truly inventive process. Both toilet paper and paper towels dissolve into pulpy material when submerged, loosening the adhesive that keeps them bound to their cardboard cores. Once the paper is soft, the cardboard can be removed with tongs and discarded, leaving a clean base for your paste.
To make the paste, first pour the saturated paper into a pot of boiling water. After a few minutes, remove the roll and let it sit until the paper is fully softened. Drain the excess water, then transfer the paper to a large glass bowl. Using an immersion blender, chop the material until it reaches a consistency similar to cottage cheese curds. Spread the mixture onto an absorbent kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. At this point, add several tablespoons of white craft glue, mix thoroughly, and knead until you achieve a thick, pliable paste.
Begin by lightly coating the old glass jar with a thin layer of craft glue. This primer helps the paste adhere and creates a slightly stiff surface that you can shape with additional paste. Use a small paintbrush to apply the paste to the jar, pressing and smoothing it into place. You can build up raised patterns—dots, lines, or other shapes—by applying extra paste before it dries. Evrim Taşer Yılmaz, for example, created an elegant oval raised design on one side of her jar.
Allow the paste to dry completely. Once dry, you have a blank canvas that can be left white or embellished as you wish. Yılmaz cut a small oval from a decorative napkin and decoupaged it into the raised frame using Mod Podge. She then highlighted the area with decorative craft paint applied with a stipple brush, before sealing the entire vase with a clear spray varnish. Alternative finishes include spray paint, markers, or hot glue accents such as faux flowers or sisal rope—just be careful not to saturate the paste after it has dried, as excess moisture can loosen the finish.
When you’re ready to display your vase, use room‑temperature water to fill it. Trim any leaves that would sit below the water line to keep grocery‑store flowers fresh for longer. If you prefer a maintenance‑free option, simply use silk flowers or greenery instead of real blooms.
