- Medium
- 30–45 minutes
- 3D shape
- about 2.4 × 0.9 in (6.2 × 2.2 cm)
Turn plain paper into a sweet and creamy 3D stick of butter with a smiling kawaii face, tiny hearts, and playful squish facts on the back. This free printable butter squishy template comes in US Letter and A4 sizes and includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank net for your own wrapper design. Once stuffed, it measures about 2.4 × 0.9 in (6.2 × 2.2 cm) and looks adorable next to a butter dish squishy.
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 “fit to page” is turned off). Check the scale bar at the top right so it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the bold letters, floating pats, and rosy cheeks with markers or pencils right now before adding any tape.
2Tape the motif
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape across the entire butter stick net, making sure you cover all the yellow and blue tabs too. Smooth each strip outward from the middle without stretching it. This gives the wrapper a shiny, buttery finish and keeps the paper strong when you squeeze it later.
3Cut it out
Cut carefully along the solid black outer boundary line with your scissors, keeping every yellow glue tab and blue tape tab attached. Take your time around the angled corners of the end flaps, and never cut into the dashed interior lines.
4Pre-fold every tab
Line up your ruler along each dashed line and press firmly with an empty pen to score the paper. Fold every single tab and box edge inward toward the unprinted white side once, then open it again. Pre-creasing now makes the rectangular corners look crisp later, since taped paper is hard to fold.
5Make the walls
Fold the middle panels into a rectangular ring with the picture facing outside. Dab a little glue onto the small yellow side tab on the far right, press it inside the opposite wall to hold it, and immediately tape that vertical seam from the outside along its whole length with regular clear tape.
6Close the bottom
Put glue on the 3 yellow bottom tabs on the lower dotted panel. Fold that long panel in to close the underside of the butter stick, reaching inside the box to press the tabs flat against the walls. Leave the top panel with the blue tabs open so you can fill through it.
7Tape the bottom
Because glue alone does not hold on tape-covered paper, reinforce the base right away. Run strips of regular clear tape along the outside of every bottom edge, sealing the front, back, and short end seams completely all along each edge.
8Stuff it
Push loose scrunches of plastic bag or soft puffs of fiberfill in through the wide open top. Make sure the filling reaches into the narrow ends of the stick, but stuff lightly so the box stays square and flat like a real stick of butter.
9Close it
Fold the 3 blue tabs in and close the top lid over the stuffing. Hold the lid flush with the walls and tape every top edge from the outside with regular clear tape, all along the edge.
10Squish!
Done! Your kawaii butter stick is ready—squeeze the rectangular box and watch it puff right back up. For a slow-rising squishy, prick one tiny pinhole so the air escapes gradually.
Free Butter Stick 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 4–6). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Keep the stick corners sharp. A butter stick looks best with crisp, boxy edges. Score every dashed line with your empty pen and ruler before folding so the narrow panels bend cleanly.
- Prevent a round, puffy middle. Too much stuffing makes the rectangular walls bulge out of shape like a cylinder. Take some filling out so the front logo panel stays flat.
- Stop long seams from popping. Glue doesn’t hold on tape and only keeps the yellow tabs in place while you build. Put a strip of clear tape along the whole seam on every outside edge.
- Avoid wrinkles on the wrapper. Because the unfolded butter net is wide, long pieces of packing tape can wrinkle easily. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently without pulling.
Questions
How do you make a paper butter squishy stay closed without popping?
Use glue only to hold the yellow tabs in place while you build, then seal every glued seam from the outside with a strip of regular clear tape. Glue alone doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper for long.
What paper works best for a butter paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock is hard to fold once it is taped and makes the narrow 0.9 in sides stiff.
What can I use to stuff my butter squishy?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly, light feel or fiberfill for a soft squish. Stuff lightly so the rectangular butter stick shape stays neat.
Can I print the template larger or pair it with other food squishies?
Yes, print the page larger on a bigger sheet of paper—all parts are one piece, so they always fit together. At 100% scale, it pairs great with a salted butter squishy for a cute play kitchen set.
Can I make this craft with a classroom or party group?
Yes! Print one sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the coloring page while you help with scoring and taping—plan about 45 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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