23 Paper Squishy Ideas That’ll Turn Your Craft Table Into a Squish-Making Factory

I have been doing many trials for paper squishy, and I know for sure which ideas work and which ones do not. With such experience under my belt, every idea presented below has been proven effective through practical application, and I did not take anything off the Internet.

What are the best paper squishy ideas? Strawberry, donut, panda, avocado, and emoji face squishies, made by crumpling paper into a ball, putting them into the right shape with tape and covering with fabric or foam paint. The simplest shapes and bright colors squish the best.

Stay tuned as I am about to give you 23 designs, a list of required materials, tips on what to avoid and some secrets to make your squishies special.

What Exactly Is a Paper Squishy?

A paper squishy is an easy-to-make stress reliever consisting of wadded up paper, tape, and fabric covering. You can mold the paper inside any way you please, wrap it up, and dress it up to resemble anything from a delicious food to your favorite animal. The amazing thing is that it really does squish when you squeeze it, kind of like those foamy stress relievers you can buy in the store, except much less expensive and unique. I love these squishies because they require no special equipment to make. All you need is paper, tape, scissors, and some time.

Now we have reached the best part, which is the 23 different designs for squishies I found.

1. Strawberry Squishy

Strawberries are the gateway drug of paper squishies. Everyone starts here because the shape is easy, just a round cone, and the color scheme practically paints itself. Take some red tissue paper or red duct tape for the body, then add little black or yellow dots for seeds with your marker. Green felt or paper leaves on top finish it off.

Tip: Round the bottom instead of making it pointy. This helps it to squish more evenly.

It’s a great shape for decorating a room in a fun, silly way – like a kid’s bedroom or a craft room. And it works well for our next fruit squishie idea.

2. Watermelon Slice Squishy

Watermelon slices give you a chance to play with layered colors, green rind, white middle layer, pink or red center. Shape the paper into a triangle wedge, then wrap each color section separately before combining. Black seed dots (little paper circles or marker dots) seal the deal.

Keep the wedge slightly thick in the middle so it has enough paper to squish without tearing.

Watermelon squishies pair beautifully with a summery, bright color palette in any craft display.

3. Donut Squishy

Donuts are ring-shaped, so you’ll need a hole in the middle, easiest done by shaping the paper around a small cardboard tube before removing it. Cover the top half in a “frosting” color like pink or brown, then add colorful dot sprinkles using tiny paper circles.

Tip: Use a slightly thicker paper core here since the ring shape needs more support to keep its form.

This one looks great sitting on a shelf next to other “sweet treat” squishies, which brings us to cupcakes.

4. Cupcake Squishy

Cupcakes need two parts, a wrapper (bottom) and frosting swirl (top). Build the bottom as a cylinder wrapped in striped paper or tape, then shape a cone-like swirl on top using twisted paper strips. A cherry on top, just a small red paper ball, adds a nice pop.

Keep the frosting section lightweight so the whole thing doesn’t tip over when you squeeze it.

Cupcake squishies fit right into a pastel, girly-themed desk setup.

5. Ice Cream Cone Squishy

Shape a triangle for the cone (use tan or brown paper with a waffle-pattern drawn on) and a rounded scoop shape on top. Two-tone scoops, like chocolate and vanilla, add visual interest.

Tip: Attach the scoop and cone separately, then glue them together at the end. It’s easier than trying to build one continuous shape.

This design works well in a retro or diner-themed craft corner, and it sets up nicely for our next food-based idea.

6. Pizza Slice Squishy

Pizza slices are triangle-shaped like watermelon, but the color scheme flips, yellow cheese, red sauce dots, and a light tan crust edge. Add small paper pepperoni circles for extra texture.

Keep the crust edge slightly puffier than the tip of the slice; it mimics real pizza proportions and squishes nicer in your hand.

Pizza squishies are a hit for anyone doing a “junk food” collection theme.

7. Burger Squishy

Burgers need layering, bun, lettuce, tomato, patty, bun again. Stack thin paper discs in different colors, then glue them together like a sandwich. This one’s stackable and satisfying to build.

Tip: Make each layer slightly smaller than the one below it, just like a real burger, so the edges show.

This chunky, colorful design suits playful, casual room décor.

8. Sushi Roll Squishy

Sushi squishies use a cylinder shape wrapped in black paper (for the nori) with white “rice” paper peeking through, plus a colorful center dot for the filling. It’s a clean, minimal design compared to the food squishies above.

Roll the paper tightly so the cylinder holds its round shape without collapsing.

This works great for a modern or minimalist craft display thanks to its simple color blocking.

9. Avocado Squishy

Avocados are two-toned and oddly satisfying to build. Shape a rounded pear-like form, cover the outer half in green, leave a lighter green or yellow “flesh” section, and add a brown paper circle for the pit.

Tip: Make the pit slightly raised so it looks 3D instead of flat.

This trendy design fits right into a boho or plant-lover’s room theme.

10. Panda Face Squishy

Pandas are a fan favorite because the color scheme is just black and white. Build a round head shape, add black paper ears, black eye patches, and a tiny black nose. Simple, but it always gets compliments.

Keep the eye patches slightly oval, not round, it makes the panda look more realistic and less like a random blob.

This design suits any animal-lover’s shelf or a black-and-white themed desk.

11. Cat Face Squishy

Cats follow a similar build to pandas but with pointed ears and whisker details drawn on with a fine marker. Pink triangle ears and a tiny pink nose add character.

Tip: Draw the whiskers last, after the tape layer is on, so the lines stay crisp.

Cat squishies are perfect for teens who want a personal, low-key cute accessory.

12. Bunny Squishy

Bunnies need long ears, which are trickier to squish-proof than round shapes. Roll thin paper tubes for the ears and attach them to a round head base. Pink inner ears and a small pink nose finish the design.

Reinforce the base of each ear with extra tape since that’s the spot most likely to bend or break.

This design works beautifully in a soft pastel, nursery-inspired room.

13. Emoji Face Squishy

Emoji squishies are just plain yellow circles with facial expressions drawn or cut from black paper. Pick a classic smiley, a laughing face, or even a heart-eyes version.

Tip: Draw the face features on paper first, cut them out, then glue them on rather than drawing directly on the round surface. It keeps lines from smudging.

These fit any modern, casual style room and make a fun grouped collection on a shelf.

14. Heart Squishy

Hearts are surprisingly tricky since the shape has a dip in the middle. Build two rounded lobes separately, then join them at the base and pinch the top center slightly inward.

Keep the color solid, red, pink, or even a color-shifting metallic tape, for the cleanest visual impact.

Heart squishies are great gifts and work with Valentine’s or romantic-themed décor.

15. Star Squishy

Stars need five even points, which means measuring before you start scrunching paper. Sketch a star outline on paper first as a guide, then build the paper core to roughly match that shape.

Tip: Round the tips slightly instead of leaving them sharp. Sharp points tend to poke through the tape layer over time.

Yellow or gold stars suit a celestial or night-sky themed room.

16. Rainbow Squishy

Rainbows are an arch shape with color-blocked stripes. Build the arch using a curved paper base, then wrap each stripe color separately, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, in order.

This one takes patience since you’re managing six colors, but the payoff is a genuinely eye-catching squishy.

Rainbow squishies fit perfectly into bright, cheerful, kid-friendly room designs.

17. Cloud Squishy

Clouds are just soft, lumpy white shapes, no sharp edges needed. Scrunch several small paper balls together into a puffy cluster shape before wrapping the whole thing in white tape or paper.

Tip: Don’t overwork the shape into a perfect circle. Clouds look better a little lumpy and irregular.

This calm, simple design pairs well with a dreamy, pastel-blue room theme.

18. Macaron Squishy

Macarons are two rounded discs with a “filling” layer between them, similar to a tiny burger. Use pastel colors, lavender, mint, baby pink, and a slightly darker filling color in the middle.

Keep the edges of each disc slightly ruffled or textured; real macarons have a rough edge called a “foot,” and mimicking that adds realism.

These elegant little squishies suit a chic, French-inspired desk setup.

19. Boba Tea Cup Squishy

Boba cups need a clear or light-colored “cup” section and small dark paper balls glued at the bottom for the tapioca pearls. A straw made from a thin rolled paper tube sticking out the top seals the design.

Tip: Use translucent paper or tissue for the cup if you want that see-through boba shop look.

This trendy design fits modern, café-inspired room décor.

20. Cactus Squishy

Cactus squishies use a rounded or columnar green base with small paper spike details glued on. Add a tiny flower on top using pink or yellow paper for extra charm.

Keep the spikes flat rather than pointy, poking spikes defeat the purpose of a squishy toy.

This design fits desert, boho, or plant-themed room styles.

21. Unicorn Squishy

Unicorns combine a round white or pastel head shape with a gold paper horn and a rainbow-colored yarn or paper mane. This one takes more steps but delivers major cuteness.

Tip: Attach the horn last, after the base shape is fully wrapped, so it doesn’t get bent out of shape during building.

Unicorn squishies are a favorite for whimsical, fantasy-themed kid’s rooms.

22. Dinosaur Egg Squishy

Dino eggs are speckled ovals, easy shape, fun texture. Build an oval paper core, wrap it in a solid color, then add small darker paper dots all over for the speckled look.

Keep the shape slightly asymmetrical, real eggs aren’t perfectly smooth, and it adds character.

This design suits adventure or nature-themed room decor.

23. Galaxy Squishy

Galaxy squishies use a dark blue or black base with swirls of purple, pink, and white paper or paint layered on top, plus tiny white paper dots for stars. This is the most advanced design on the list because blending colors smoothly takes practice.

Tip: Layer your colors in small sections rather than trying to blend the whole surface at once. It gives you more control.

Galaxy squishies fit a space-themed or teen bedroom perfectly, wrapping up our list on a high note.

Materials and Difficulty Table

Squishy Idea	Main Materials	Difficulty	Build Time
Strawberry	Red paper, tape, marker	Easy	10 min
Watermelon	Green/pink paper, tape	Easy	15 min
Donut	Cardboard tube, paint	Medium	20 min
Cupcake	Striped paper, red ball	Medium	20 min
Ice Cream Cone	Tan paper, cotton balls	Medium	20 min
Pizza Slice	Yellow/red paper	Easy	15 min
Burger	Layered colored paper	Medium	25 min
Sushi Roll	Black/white paper	Easy	15 min
Avocado	Green paper, brown circle	Easy	15 min
Panda Face	Black/white paper	Easy	15 min
Cat Face	White/pink paper, marker	Easy	15 min
Bunny	Paper tubes, pink paper	Medium	20 min
Emoji Face	Yellow/black paper	Easy	10 min
Heart	Red/pink tape	Medium	15 min
Star	Gold/yellow paper	Medium	20 min
Rainbow	Six colored papers	Hard	30 min
Cloud	White paper, cotton	Easy	15 min
Macaron	Pastel paper	Medium	20 min
Boba Tea Cup	Tissue paper, dark balls	Medium	25 min
Cactus	Green paper, small spikes	Easy	15 min
Unicorn	Gold paper, yarn	Hard	30 min
Dinosaur Egg	Speckled paper	Easy	15 min
Galaxy	Purple/blue/pink paper	Hard	30 min

Tips for Success

Here’s what actually makes a paper squishy work, not just look cute for five minutes.

• Use newspaper or scrap paper for the core. It scrunches better than printer paper and holds shape longer.
• Tape in layers, not all at once. Build a rough shape first, then add tape in thin criss-cross layers to smooth it out.
• Choose soft, stretchy outer materials. Fabric tape, foam sheets, or thin craft foam squish way better than plain construction paper.
• Let glue dry completely before squeezing. I know it’s tempting to test it right away, but a half-dried squishy falls apart fast.
• Start small. Tiny squishies are quicker to finish and easier to shape correctly than big ones.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake	Why It Happens	Fix
Squishy feels hard, not soft	Too much tape, not enough paper give	Use fewer tape layers, softer outer material
Shape falls apart	Paper core wasn’t scrunched tight enough	Scrunch tighter, add more tape at stress points
Colors bleed or smear	Marker used before tape sealed the surface	Draw details on separate paper, then glue on
Squishy doesn’t bounce back	Paper packed too densely	Leave slight air pockets while shaping the core
Small parts (ears, horns) snap off	Attached before base fully dried	Let base dry first, then attach small pieces

Similar Variations You Can Try

Once you’ve made a few of these, you’ll want to remix them. Here are some quick spin-offs:

• Mini keychain squishies: Shrink any design down and attach a small clip or string.
• Two-toned mash-ups: Combine two ideas, like a cat-shaped donut, for a quirky hybrid.
• Glow-in-the-dark versions: Use glow paint on stars, galaxies, or moons for a nighttime surprise.
• Scented squishies: Add a drop of essential oil to the paper core before wrapping for a soft scent.
• Textured squishies: Swap smooth tape for bubble wrap or foam sheets underneath for a bumpy feel.

Wrapping It Up

Paper squishies are one of those crafts that seem simple until you actually try one, and then you’re hooked. I started with a basic strawberry and somehow ended up with a whole shelf of donuts, pandas, and galaxy blobs staring back at me. The best part is how forgiving the process is; even a lopsided watermelon still squishes just fine.

Whether you’re making these paper squishy ideas for yourself, a classroom project, or a gift for a friend, the steps stay the same, scrunch, tape, decorate, squish. Grab some paper, pick one from this list, and see which design becomes your favorite.