- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 4.5 in (9.1 × 11.4 cm)
Deck your desk with a kawaii Christmas tree paper squishy! This festive pine features a golden star topper, strings of lights, red and yellow ornaments, and a sweet blushing face. Our free printable PDF comes in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. The finished squishy measures about 3.6 × 4.5 in (9.1 × 11.4 cm) and looks adorable next to a Santa paper squishy.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen template at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page.” Check that the scale line in the top corner measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the pine needles, ornaments, and star topper now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two tree pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the center of the branches outward without pulling or stretching, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy layer makes your holiday tree shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back trees right along the solid outer line. Take your time curving smoothly around the star on top, the three tiers of branches, and the little trunk at the bottom. Be sure to keep the small white border intact around the whole shape.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back tree printed side down on strips of regular clear tape, with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge all the way around, then snip this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little flaps will hold your squishy together around the star and branch curves.
5Join front and back
Put the front tree on the back piece with the white sides together, lining up the star, branches, and trunk. Fold the tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ in) gap open (the pink line in the picture shows where): that is your gap for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the gap. Fill the far corners first—gently poking stuffing up into the star tip, out into the branch points, and down into the trunk—and stop when the tree feels soft and puffy. Too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the gap and tape the opening shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges—around the star, every branch curve, and the trunk—to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your Christmas tree squishy and watch the branches puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the tree so the air escapes slowly.
Free Christmas Tree 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
- Tree feels too stiff to squish. It has too much stuffing inside the branches. Open the gap, take some filling out until the tree feels soft, and tape it shut again.
- Tape wrinkles over the ornaments. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the wider lower branches and lay them on smoothly without pulling.
- A branch edge splits open. Curved branch tips and the narrow trunk get lots of pressure when squeezed. Put a new short strip of tape across the open edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Red and green markers smeared. Dark holiday marker colors take a moment to dry on paper. Let your colored tree dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
What are some fun Christmas paper squishy ideas for a set?
This pine tree pairs wonderfully with a candy cane paper squishy or a cute snowman for a full holiday collection. You can also print the blank tree template and draw your own tinsel, lights, or ornaments.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the Christmas tree?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the curved branch seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a Christmas paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the tree stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my paper squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill to make it soft, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this craft with a class or holiday group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the tree coloring page while you help with taping, and you should plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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