Free printables · Paper craft
Paper squishy templates
12 original food and animal squishy templates — butter, toast, dumpling, donut, strawberry, cupcake, fried egg, cat, bear, cloud, ice cream and milk carton. Every design has a front with a face and a mirrored back, in full color or blank to color yourself.
- 12 designs, 2 per page
- Front + mirrored back
- 5 cm print-check bar
- No brands or characters
The 12 designs
Left: front (with face). Right: the mirrored back. Squishies with smooth, round outlines — butter, cloud, dumpling, bear — are the easiest to tape for beginners.
Butter block
A rounded rectangle — the easiest first squishy.
Toast slice
Classic bread outline with a crust line.
Dumpling
Pleated top edge — fold-friendly and very squishy.
Sprinkle donut
Cut the outer ring only; the hole is drawn, not cut.
Strawberry
Seeds and a leafy top; great in red and green.
Cupcake
Swirl frosting on a ridged cup.
Fried egg
Wavy white with a round yolk.
Cat face
Pointy ears — cut slowly around the tips.
Bear face
Round ears and a muzzle patch.
Happy cloud
Soft bumps, no sharp corners — beginner friendly.
Ice cream cone
Scoop plus waffle cone grid.
Milk carton
Gable top carton; straight edges cut cleanly.
How to make a paper squishy
- Print at 100%. Check the calibration bar at the bottom of the sheet measures 5 cm. Regular 20 lb / 75 gsm paper works; heavier paper is stiffer and less squishy.
- Color (blank version). Color both halves with markers or pencils. Do it now — markers smear on tape.
- Tape the sheet. Cover the front and back designs with overlapping strips of clear packing tape. This makes them waterproof and gives the glossy “store-bought” look.
- Cut out. Cut on the outer black line, leaving about 1 mm of white. Cut both FRONT and BACK.
- Tape the edges. Place the halves face-out and tape around the edge with short strips, leaving a 3–4 cm gap.
- Stuff and seal. Push in thin strips of plastic bag or fiberfill until it’s plump, then tape the gap closed and trim any extra tape.
Tips for better squishies
- Slow-rise feel: use plastic grocery bags cut into strips; tissue flattens after a few squeezes.
- Crisp corners: on the milk carton and butter, fold short tape pieces over each corner instead of wrapping one long strip.
- Party table: print the color version on card-friendly paper and pre-tape the sheets so kids only cut, stuff and seal (about 20 minutes each).
- Make it a game: once squishies are done, use them as tokens with our food word cards or animal word cards charades.
FAQ
- What do I need to make a paper squishy?
- A printed template, scissors, clear packing tape (wide, 2 in / 48 mm), and stuffing — cut-up plastic bags, tissue, cotton balls or polyester fiberfill. Markers if you use the color-your-own version.
- Why is the back mirrored?
- So the two halves line up exactly when you put them face out. If you cut a shape that isn't symmetrical, like the cat with one ear tilted or the cupcake cherry, a mirrored back keeps the outline edges matching all the way round.
- Why is my squishy smaller than expected?
- Your printer scaled the page. Each sheet has a 5 cm calibration bar at the bottom — measure it. If it isn't 50 mm, print again with "Actual size" or 100% scaling.
- How do I make it extra squishy?
- Cover both sides in tape before cutting (this is called "taping the paper"), then tape the edges together, leaving a 3–4 cm gap. Stuff loosely with thin plastic bag strips — they spring back better than tissue — and seal the gap.
- Is this safe for young kids?
- Kids under 6 need an adult for cutting and taping. Plastic bag stuffing should be sealed in completely; keep loose bags away from small children.
- Can I use these templates in class or at a party?
- Yes — print as many as you like for home, classroom, library or party crafts. Please don't sell the files. All 12 designs are original, with no brand or character artwork.
More printables
Coloring this month? See our Thanksgiving coloring pages, or browse all printables.