Squishies · DIY
Paper Squishy: The Easy Tutorial
How to make a paper squishy with tape and stuffing: drawing it, “laminating” it with tape, stuffing it, plus fun design ideas that are perfect for trading.
A paper squishy is a drawing turned into a little paper pillow: you cover it in tape and fill it with stuffing, so you can squeeze it like a real squishy and watch it puff back up. It’s also the star of mini fidget trading: everyone makes their own, then trades them.
All it takes is stuff from your pencil case, and it costs next to nothing. Plan on 20 to 30 minutes for your first one.
What you need
- 2 sheets of white paper (or one sheet folded in half)
- Markers or colored pencils
- Wide clear packing tape (or regular clear tape)
- Scissors
- Stuffing: plastic bags cut into strips, tissues, cotton balls or crumpled paper
Step by step
- Draw your design big (at least the size of your palm): an ice cream cone, a cloud, a dumpling, a cat… Draw the back on the second sheet, or trace the shape.
- Color both sides. Bright colors and a little face make your squishy more “tradeable.”
- “Laminate” it: cover each drawing completely with tape, overlapping the strips a little, with no bubbles. That’s what makes the squishy smooth and sturdy.
- Cut out both shapes, leaving a thin white border of about ⅛ inch (2 to 3 mm) around the outline.
- Put it together: place the front on the back, taped sides facing out, and close the edges with small pieces of tape, leaving an opening of about 1½ inches (3 to 4 cm).
- Stuff it through the opening, a little at a time, pushing the stuffing into the corners with a pencil.
- Close the opening with tape and give it a squeeze: it should squish down, then bounce back.
Tips for a great squishy
- Plastic bags cut into thin strips give the best “slow-rise” effect.
- A simple, rounded shape is easier to close than one with lots of points.
- Slightly thicker paper (like drawing paper) lasts longer.
- For a “surprise” squishy, slip a tiny folded drawing into the stuffing: traders love that.
Design ideas
The most popular ones look like food (ice cream, dumplings, sushi, donuts, a fizzy soda), round animals (cats, seals, axolotls) and kawaii characters. Making a little “collection” of three matching designs makes trading more fun. To keep trades fair and drama-free, print the trading board.
How long does a paper squishy last?
Several weeks if it’s well covered in tape. The corners wear out first: a piece of tape fixes them. If it has gone flat, open one side and add more stuffing.
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