- Medium
- 30–45 minutes
- 3D shape
- about 2.2 × 3.1 in (5.6 × 8.0 cm)
Nothing beats a cute desk buddy that reminds you to drink your water! This pastel pink tumbler cup features a happy little face, a sweet “Stay Hydrated” message, and a pattern of smiling hearts and yellow stars, plus a top lid with a printed pink straw. Download our free tumbler paper squishy template in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank net. Pair it with a pink drink squishy or an iced coffee squishy for the ultimate desk set.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen tumbler cup page at 100% on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale bar in the top corner: it should measure 2 inches on US Letter (or 50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, grab your markers and color the cup, hearts, stars, and straw lid now before adding any tape.
2Tape the motif
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape across the entire printed tumbler design, making sure to cover all the yellow glue tabs and both circular ends too. Smooth each strip outward from the center so no air bubbles get trapped over the “Stay Hydrated” lettering, and be careful not to stretch the tape as you lay it down.
3Cut it out
Use your scissors to cut neatly along the solid black outer line of the template. Take your time going around the curves of the top lid circle and the bottom circle, and make sure both circles stay attached to the main cup wrapper at their hinges. Do not cut along any of the dashed lines.
4Pre-fold every tab
Trace over every dashed line with an empty pen to score the paper, including the curved tab lines, the side tab, and the short hinge lines holding the lid and bottom circles. Fold every yellow tab and both circle hinges inward toward the blank white side once, then unfold them again.
5Snip the bottom tabs
Look at the lower edge of the curved wrapper next to the bottom patterned circle. Use your scissors to snip only the short solid lines between those bottom yellow tabs, cutting right up to the dashed fold line so they can fan inward cleanly. Leave the top row of tabs uncut for now.
6Roll the wrapper
Roll the curved wrapper into a tapered cup tube with the pink artwork facing out, noticing how the top opening is slightly wider than the base. Put a little glue on the long yellow side tab, press it inside the opposite edge to align the cup drawings, and run a strip of regular clear tape along the outside seam from top to bottom.
7Glue the bottom on
Fold all the snipped bottom tabs inward around the narrower base of your tumbler tube. Dab glue onto their outer yellow surfaces, which are now facing up toward you. Fold the attached patterned bottom circle right down onto those sticky tabs and press it firmly all around so the base sits flat.
8Tape the bottom
Because glue alone will not hold on slick tape for long, reinforce the base right away. Take overlapping strips of regular clear tape and wrap them all the way around the bottom circular edge, connecting the side wall of the tumbler tightly to the underside of the cup.
9Snip the top tabs
Now turn your attention to the wider upper rim of the tumbler cup, right on either side of the attached straw lid circle. Use your scissors to snip the short solid lines between the top yellow tabs, stopping right at the dashed fold line so each tab can bend freely.
10Stuff it
Stand your tumbler cup upright on the table and hold the circular lid folded back out of the way. Push small tufts of fiberfill or plastic bag pieces in through the wide open top. Stuff it lightly from the narrower bottom up to the rim so the rounded sides stay smooth without bulging.
11Glue the lid on
Fold the snipped top tabs inward over the stuffing around the upper rim. Spread glue across the yellow outer side of the tabs now facing up. Fold the circular lid featuring the pink straw down onto the glued tabs and press it firmly into place to close the tumbler.
12Tape the lid
Just like the base, glue alone cannot hold the lid shut against the stuffing once you squeeze it. Seal the top rim all the way around using overlapping strips of regular clear tape. Smooth the tape neatly over the curved edge to lock the lid down for good.
13Squish!
Your kawaii tumbler cup paper squishy is ready! Give the sides a gentle squeeze and watch your 2.2 by 3.1 inch (5.6 by 8.0 cm) cup puff right back into shape. If the air feels completely trapped and you want a smoother, slow-rising squish, prick one tiny pinhole along a seam.
Free Tumbler Cup 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 4–7). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Jagged top or bottom rims. If the circular rims look bumpy instead of round, score every dashed curve with an empty pen and a ruler before folding the tabs.
- The lid pops open. Glue only tacks the yellow tabs briefly and will not stick to tape, so seal the entire rim with a fresh overlapping strip of clear tape.
- Cup won’t stand upright. Too much filling pushes the flat bottom circle outward; pull a little stuffing out before sealing so the base stays level.
- Wrinkles on the curved seam. Because a tumbler is wider at the top than the bottom, use shorter strips of clear tape around the circular edges and lay them down without pulling.
Questions
How do I keep my tumbler paper squishy seams from popping?
Glue alone does not stick to tape-covered paper for long—it only holds the yellow tabs in place while you assemble the cup. Always finish the side seam, the bottom circle, and the top lid with clear tape on the outside.
What paper works best for a tumbler paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal for rolling a smooth tapered cup. Heavy cardstock becomes too stiff once covered in packing tape and makes it hard to fold the small rim tabs cleanly.
What can I stuff my tumbler cup paper squishy with?
Use plastic grocery bags for a light, crinkly feel or fiberfill for a plush bounce. Add the filling lightly so the tapered sides and flat bottom keep their neat cup shape.
Can I print this paper squishy template larger?
Yes! Because the cup wrapper, top lid, and bottom circle are all connected as one single piece, you can scale the print up on a larger sheet of paper and the parts will still fit together.
Can I make these paper squishies with a class or group?
Definitely! Print one sheet per person, pre-cut strips of clear tape for the rims, and plan about 45 minutes so kids can color the cup while you help with scoring and taping.
More paper squishies to make
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