- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm)
Squeeze away the day with a cute pink stress ball featuring glossy squishy bubbles, rosy cheeks, and a happy kawaii smile. This free printable paper squishy ball PDF comes in 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank template in both US Letter and A4. Print a sheet, grab your tape, and craft a puffy desk friend in about 20 to 30 minutes—or pair it with our squish cube paper squishy for a matching fidget set.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your stress ball sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the test line in the top corner—it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, add your favorite shades to the round bubbles and face now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the two round stress ball pieces, covering just the motifs rather than the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle out toward the bumpy edges without pulling or stretching, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy layer makes your paper squishy shiny, sturdy, and extra satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back stress ball pieces right along the solid black outer line. Take your time following the wavy curves around the outer bubbles, and be sure to keep the narrow white border intact on both shapes.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape so the sticky side faces up around the rim. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the wavy outline, then snip into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper edge. Those little sticky flaps will hug the curved perimeter cleanly.
5Join front and back
Line up the smiling front piece on top of the back piece with the white paper sides facing each other, matching the bumpy bubbles all around. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open along one side, just like the pink line in the picture shows, so you have room for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the open gap. Fill the far corners and bumpy bubble curves around the rim first, then stuff the middle until the stress ball feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets tight—too much stuffing will make the taped seams pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps neatly over the open edge and tape the 4 cm (1½ in) gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger all the way along the wavy edges to press the tape down well so no air or stuffing escapes.
8Squish!
Done! Give your kawaii stress ball a big squeeze and watch the happy pink face puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Gently prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back piece so the air lets out slowly.
Free Stress Ball 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
- Keep the bumpy rim smooth. Because the stress ball outline curves in and out around the bubbles, press each snipped tape flap down carefully so the wavy border stays neat. If an edge splits open along a curve, put a new short strip of tape right across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- My stress ball feels hard. A stiff squishy has too much stuffing packed inside. Gently open the stuffing gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Stop the tape from wrinkling. Wide tape can wrinkle if you stretch it across the round face. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently from the center outward without pulling.
- Prevent smeared marker ink. Bright markers on the round bubbles need a moment to set before you tape over them. Let your coloring page dry fully before taping, while regular printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do you make a paper squishy ball without glue?
You don’t need any glue for the edges—in fact, glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper and the seams would open. Instead, lay the back piece on clear tape, snip the overhanging tape border every 2 cm (1 inch), and fold those sticky flaps over the edge of the front to hold your squishy together.
What can I stuff a fidget toy paper squishy with?
Tear up plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or use cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow. You can also use small pieces of memory foam if you want a slow-rising stress ball.
What paper works best for a paper squishy ball?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the stress ball stiff around the bumpy bubble edges and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I make a bigger stress ball squishy?
Yes! At 100% scale the finished squishy is about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm), and you can print the page at a larger scale like 120%—just print the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these with a class or a group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person, cut tape strips in advance, and let kids color the coloring page while you help with taping (plan about 30 minutes, or pair it with a macaron paper squishy for extra fun).
More paper squishies to make
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