Squishies · DIY
DIY Squishy Dumpling: The Paper Tutorial
Make your own squishy dumpling with zero counterfeit risk: the half-moon template, the pleats, the kawaii face and the stuffing. Perfect for trading.
Store-bought squishy dumplings are a huge hit, but so are dangerous copies. The fix: make your own. This paper dumpling uses the same technique as the paper squishy, with a shape and details made for dumplings: a puffy half-moon, pleats on top and a little face. It costs almost nothing, doesn’t smell, and it’s a great item for fidget trading.
What you need
- 2 sheets of white or cream paper
- A pencil and markers (black, pink, and a color for the “filling” if you like)
- Wide clear packing tape
- Scissors
- Stuffing: plastic bags cut into thin strips, or tissues
Step by step
- The template: draw a half-moon about 4 inches (10 cm) wide, with an almost straight bottom edge and a nicely rounded top. Trace it onto the second sheet for the back.
- The pleats: on the front, draw 5 to 7 small curved lines starting at the top of the curve, like the pleats on a real dumpling.
- The face: two round eyes (a tiny white dot in each one for the kawaii look), a little mouth, two pink cheeks. Leave the back white, or draw the golden, pan-fried “bottom” of the dumpling.
- The tape: cover each side completely with tape, overlapping the strips slightly.
- Cutting: cut out both half-moons with a border of about 1/16 inch (2 mm).
- Putting it together: tape all around the edge, leaving an opening of about 1¼ inches (3 cm) on the straight edge.
- Stuffing: stuff it generously, especially in the curve, so it’s nice and puffy. Close it up.
Collectible variations
Store-bought mystery boxes are all about variations, and you can do the same. Make a series of four dumplings with different expressions (sleepy, surprised, in love, mischievous), a “rare edition” dumpling with a gold star, or a whole family of bao, gyoza and dim sum. Keep them in a little cardboard “steamer basket” box for a surprise effect.
Want a really squishy dumpling?
For a feel closer to gel, a balloon squishy filled with cornstarch makes a great dumpling: a white balloon, a well-hidden knot, and pleats and a face drawn with a permanent marker. Don’t try to copy silicone squishies with hardware-store products: that’s not an activity for kids (see the taba squishy).
Why homemade, for this toy in particular?
Because the 2026 warnings about Squishy Dumpling copies (volatile organic compounds, a child injured) make bargain purchases risky. A homemade dumpling has no smell, contains no chemical products and can be fixed with a piece of tape. Smart habits for store-bought ones are on the squishy dumpling: real or fake page.
See also
DIY
Paper squishy
Paper, tape and stuffing: the homemade squishy everyone’s making at school.
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DIY
Balloon squishy
A balloon filled with cornstarch: the classic homemade stress ball.
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Trending
Taba squishy
The super-soft, slow-rising silicone squishy taking over TikTok.
Read the guide →