- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 4.4 in (9.1 × 11.2 cm)
Turn your favorite salty snack into a huggable desk buddy with this free chips paper squishy template. The design features a bright red crinkle-top bag with a rosy-cheeked potato chip on the front and three golden crisps floating on the back. Your download comes in US Letter and A4 sizes with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank bag for custom flavors. Pair it with our French fries paper squishy for the ultimate snack duo!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page” in your settings. Check the scale line in the top corner: it should measure 2 inches (or 50 mm on A4). If you picked the black and white coloring page or blank version, color your custom chip flavor now and let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay wide clear packing tape over the front and back chip bag pieces only, rather than laminating the entire sheet. Press each strip down from the middle out toward the edges without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat gives your snack bag that authentic shiny wrapper look while making the paper strong and super squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Grab your scissors and cut out the front and back pieces right along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border intact. Take your time around the flared corners where the crimped top and bottom seals step out from the slightly curved sides of the bag so both halves match up neatly.
4Add a tape border to the back
Flip the back piece printed side down and set it onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge all the way around, then snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little tabs will wrap cleanly around the angled corners and curved sides.
5Join front and back
Place the front piece right on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides together, lining up the crimped top and bottom edges. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them flat. Leave a gap of about 3.5 cm (1½ in) open along the bottom edge (the pink line in the picture shows where)—that gap is where you will add the filling.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and poke them inside through the bottom gap. Push stuffing all the way up into the top two corners of the bag first, then fill the middle and bottom corners until the pouch feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets tight, as overstuffing can make the tape seams pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the bottom opening and secure the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire outer border—especially where the side seams meet the wide top and bottom seals—to make sure every flap is pressed down tight.
8Squish!
Your finished bag of chips measures about 3.6 × 4.4 in (9.1 × 11.2 cm) and is ready to squeeze! Give the smiling chip a press and watch the pillow puff right back into shape. If you want a slower, more satisfying rise, prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the bag so the air escapes gently.
Free Chips Bag Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Bag feels too stiff?. If your chip bag feels hard instead of pillowy, it has too much filling inside. Gently peel open the bottom gap, pull out a few tufts of stuffing, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the chip face?. Stretched packing tape tends to bunch up over the wide red front. Use shorter strips and lay them down gently from the center outward without pulling.
- Corner seam popping open?. The stepped corners near the crimped seals take the most pressure when you squeeze. Place a fresh short strip of tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old flaps.
- Smudged custom flavors?. Marker ink can smear under packing tape if it is still damp on the coloring page. Let your colored design dry completely before taping; regular printer ink is ready right away.
Questions
What gives this chips paper squishy the best crinkle sound?
Stuffing your squishy with torn plastic grocery bags makes it sound just like a real crinkly bag of potato chips! If you prefer a quiet, cloud-soft pillow, use cotton balls or fiberfill instead, or try small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising effect.
Is there a black and white chips paper squishy template to color in?
Yes! The PDF includes a black and white coloring page version as well as a blank bag template so you can invent your own chip flavors and designs.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the bag?
No, glue will not stick to the tape-covered paper and the seams would pop right open when squeezed. Folding the snipped tape border over the edges is what holds the pouch together securely.
What kind of paper works best for a food paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal because it folds easily and squishes nicely once taped. Avoid heavy cardstock, which makes the bag stiff and difficult to squeeze.
Can I make a giant bag of chips or craft with a group?
To make a larger bag, print the template at 120% scale with both the front and back on the same sheet so they match. For a party or classroom activity, plan about 30 minutes, print 1 sheet per kid, pre-cut the tape strips, and let everyone make a popcorn paper squishy next!
More paper squishies to make
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