If your kids love squishies, mystery blind bags, and collecting adorable little characters, they’re going to love making their own paper squishies!
We’ve been having so much fun making these little guys lately. They’re surprisingly easy to create using supplies you probably already have around the house, and there’s something so satisfying about turning a flat piece of paper into a soft, squishy toy.
And if you’ve seen those cute DIY mystery squishy bags, you can even make your own little collection of surprises!
Today, I’m showing you how to make a paper squishy step by step using one of our adorable Christmas tree squishies.
What Is a Paper Squishy?
A paper squishy is a soft, squeezable toy made from printed or hand-drawn paper, clear tape, and a little stuffing.
You can make them in almost any shape you can imagine, from cute animals and food to holiday characters.
The best part? You don’t need a sewing machine, special crafting tools, or expensive supplies.
You can draw your own designs or use printable paper squishy templates to make the process even easier.
What You’ll Need to Make Paper Squishies
- Printed paper squishy templates or your own drawings
- Scissors
- Clear packing tape
- Polyester fiberfill, cotton, or another soft stuffing material
- A home printer, if you’re using printable templates
That’s it!
I like using clear packing tape because it helps protect the paper and gives the finished squishy a smooth, slightly shiny surface.
If younger kids are helping, an adult can handle the cutting and taping while the kids do the fun part: stuffing and squishing!
How to Make a Paper Squishy: Step by Step
Step 1: Print and Cut Your Squishy Design
First, choose your design!
For this tutorial, I’m using the Christmas tree from our printable Christmas Mystery Squishy Kit.
Print the front and back pieces, then carefully cut around the outlines.
If you’re making your own squishy without a template, simply draw two matching shapes on paper and decorate the front however you like.
Step 2: Tape the Pieces Together
Place the front and back pieces together with the designs facing outward.
Use clear packing tape to cover and seal the paper, joining the edges as you go.
Make sure to leave a small opening so you can add the stuffing.
Tip: Try not to pull the tape too tightly. You want to leave enough room for your squishy to puff up when you stuff it.
Step 3: Add the Stuffing
Now comes the fun part!
Take small pieces of polyester fiberfill or cotton and gently push them inside your paper squishy.
Keep adding stuffing until it feels soft and puffy.
You don’t want to overstuff it, though. A little breathing room makes it easier to squeeze.
Step 4: Seal and Squish!
Once you’re happy with the amount of stuffing, close the opening with another piece of clear tape.
Check the edges to make sure everything is sealed.
And you’re done!
Give your new paper squishy a squeeze and watch it puff back up.
Turn Your Paper Squishies Into DIY Mystery Blind Bags!
Making the squishies is only half the fun.
My kids also love the idea of hiding little surprises inside mystery bags and discovering which characters they get.
That’s what inspired our Christmas Mystery Squishy Kit!
Instead of making just one paper squishy, create a whole collection of adorable Christmas characters, each with its own mystery bag and matching collector card.
Our collection includes:
- Christmas tree
- Santa dumpling
- Magical reindeer
- Holiday snowman
- Festive coal
The collector cards even feature different rarity levels, so kids can have fun collecting and trading their favorite characters.
You could use these for a Christmas crafting afternoon, a fun holiday party activity, or a special surprise during Christmas break.
And because they’re printable, you can make another set whenever you want!
Want to Make Your Own Christmas Mystery Squishies?
If you’d rather skip drawing your own designs, I’ve put together a printable Christmas Paper Squishy Craft Kit in my Etsy shop, Kindred Inspiration.
It includes five Christmas squishy designs, five colorful mystery bags, and matching collector cards to turn your craft project into a fun little collectible activity.
You supply the paper, tape, and stuffing, and the printable templates provide the cute characters!
SHOP THE CHRISTMAS PAPER SQUISHY KIT ON ETSY
You can also explore our other printable activities and easy Christmas ideas while you’re there.
A Few Tips for Making the Best Paper Squishies
Before you start, here are a few things I’ve learned:
Use packing tape instead of tiny pieces of regular tape. It makes covering larger areas easier and helps create a smoother surface.
Don’t add too much stuffing. You want your squishy to be soft enough to squeeze without putting too much pressure on the taped seams.
Start with simple shapes. Designs with fewer tiny corners are easier for beginners to cut and seal.
Let the kids personalize them. If you’re drawing your own designs, kids can add faces, names, accessories, and anything else that makes their squishy special.
Make extras! Once kids figure out how easy these are, they’ll probably want to make a whole collection.
More Easy Printable Activities for Kids
If your kids enjoyed this project, you might also like the other printable activity kits in my shop.
I love projects that are easy for parents to prepare but give kids plenty of opportunities to create, imagine, and play.
And that’s exactly what makes these little paper squishies so much fun.
You get a craft project, a toy, and a surprise activity all rolled into one!
BROWSE MORE PRINTABLE KIDS’ ACTIVITIES AT KINDRED INSPIRATIONhttps://kindredinspiration.etsy.com
Happy crafting!
