Squishies are one of the biggest kids' crazes right now, and the paper version is the one kids can make themselves. A paper squishy is a drawing with a front and a back, covered in tape, stuffed and sealed into a soft, squeezy little pillow. All you need is a paper squishy template, some tape and about 20 minutes. Below you'll find easy template ideas to draw yourself, step-by-step instructions, the best stuffing, and printable Christmas squishy templates if you'd rather skip the drawing.
Paper squishy templates: what makes a good one
A paper squishy template is simply a picture with a matching front and back, the same size and outline, so the two halves line up when you tape them together. The best templates have:
- A simple, chunky outline. Round shapes (a cookie, a bun, a snowman) are much easier to cut, tape and stuff than spiky ones.
- A matching back. The back can be plain, a mirror of the front, or a funny "back view" like a bear's tail.
- A good size. About the size of a child's hand is ideal. Too small is fiddly; too big needs lots of stuffing.
- Bold colors. Bright crayon or marker looks best under shiny packing tape.
Easy squishy template ideas to draw yourself
- Food: a donut, a cupcake, a slice of watermelon, a milk carton, a hot cocoa mug
- Animals: a cat face, a penguin, a polar bear, a bunny, a sleepy reindeer
- Winter and Christmas: a snowman, a Christmas tree, a gingerbread cookie, a peppermint, a mitten
- Faces and shapes: a happy cloud, a star, a heart, a little moon
Tip for drawing your own: fold a sheet of paper in half, draw your outline on the top layer and cut through both layers at once. You get a perfectly matching front and back every time.
What you need
- A squishy template (draw your own, or print ours)
- Regular printer paper
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
- Scissors
- Clear packing tape (wide tape is easiest)
- Stuffing: thin plastic bags, tissues, cotton balls or scrap paper cut into strips
How to make a paper squishy in 5 steps
- Color. Color the front and the back of your design. Simple shapes with big, bold colors work best.
- Tape. Cover the front of each picture with clear packing tape, overlapping the strips a little. This makes it shiny and stops it tearing.
- Cut. Cut out the front and the back along the outline. Grown-ups can help with the tricky curves.
- Seal. Put the two pieces back to back (taped sides facing out) and tape around the edge with small pieces of tape. Leave a gap about two fingers wide.
- Stuff and squish. Push the stuffing in through the gap, a little at a time, then tape the gap closed. Squish!
The best stuffing
Thin plastic bags (like produce bags), cut into strips, make the squishiest, slowest-rising squishies. Tissues and cotton balls make softer, puffier ones. Scrap paper works but feels crunchy.
Squishy not squishy enough?
- Too flat: add more stuffing, a little at a time, into the corners first.
- Too hard: take some stuffing out, or swap paper for plastic bag strips.
- Edges splitting: use smaller pieces of tape around curves and press them down well.
- Ink smudging: let markers dry before you tape over them.
Fun ways to play
- Open a pretend squishy shop with price tags and play money.
- Make a matching pair and give one to a friend.
- Hang a few on the tree with a loop of ribbon taped to the back.
- Make a new one every day of winter break and keep a collection.
Printable Christmas paper squishy templates
Want to skip the drawing? Our Christmas Paper Squishies pack has 12 printable squishy templates, including a snowman, reindeer, penguin, polar bear, peppermint and hot cocoa. Every design has a matching front and back, in a ready-colored version and a black-and-white color-your-own version. It also has a how-to page, a squishy shop with price tags and play money, and a collection checklist. Ages 5 to 10, A4 and US Letter, instant PDF download.
Get the 12 Christmas squishy templates →
Paper squishy FAQ
What age are paper squishies for?
Kids from about 5 can color, tape and stuff a squishy with a little help cutting. Kids 7 and up can usually make one on their own.
Can you make a paper squishy without packing tape?
Clear packing tape gives the classic shiny, squeezy finish and stops the paper tearing. Regular sticky tape works for small squishies, but they wear out faster.
How do you make a paper squishy slow rising?
Stuff it with thin plastic bags cut into strips, and don't overfill it. Plastic strips spring back slowly, which gives that satisfying slow rise.
Can I print the templates more than once?
Yes. Our printable squishy templates are yours to print as many times as you like for your family or classroom.