- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.7 cm)
With diagonal stripes in soft pink, yellow, mint, and lavender plus sparkly heart-shaped eye highlights, this pastel square looks just like a cozy kawaii cushion. Grab the free square paper squishy template below in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a line-art coloring page, and a blank shape for your own designs. Pair it with our pastel rectangle squishy to build a matching paper pillow set.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen pastel square page at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure “fit to page” is turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner so it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank version, color your diagonal rainbow stripes or custom pattern now and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back square pillow pieces, covering just the two shapes rather than the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the center outward toward the four pillow corners without pulling or stretching the tape, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your pastel square shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out both the front and back pieces right along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving smoothly around the four pinched pillow corners and along the gently dipped sides, making sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, paying extra attention around the four curved pillow corners so the little flaps hold your squishy together neatly.
5Join front and back
Put the smiling front piece on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together, matching all four pillow corners. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open along one side where the pink line in the picture shows—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 pillow corners first so the four tips puff out nicely, then fill the center and stop when your pastel square feels soft and puffy—too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger along all four sides and corners of the square pillow to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your pastel square paper squishy and watch the chubby pillow puff back up into shape. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back so the air escapes slowly.
Free Pastel Square 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
- Pillow feels too hard. If your pastel square feels stiff instead of soft, it has too much stuffing inside. Gently open the side gap, pull a few pieces out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the pastel stripes. Wide shapes can trap creases if you pull the packing tape tight. Use shorter strips and lay them gently across the square without pulling.
- Corner seam splits open. The curved pillow corners take the most pressure when you squeeze. If an edge splits open, put a new short strip of clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Custom marker colors smeared. When coloring the diagonal stripes or drawing on the blank square template, let markers dry fully before taping. Printer ink on the full-color version is fine right away.
Questions
What are some fun square paper squishy ideas for the blank template?
The blank pillow outline is great for drawing a pastel throw cushion, a patchwork quilt block, or a cute checkerboard pattern. You can also pair it with our smiley circle squishy to craft a whole collection of geometric kawaii shapes.
Can I use glue instead of tape for a square paper squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the pillow seams would open when squeezed. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds the square shape best.
What paper works best for printing the template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the pillow corners stiff and your squishy won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my pastel square squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow squish, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this square paper squishy bigger or make it with a group?
Yes! To make it bigger than the standard 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.7 cm) size, print the page at a larger scale like 120% with the front and back on the same sheet so they match. For a class or group, print 1 sheet per person, cut tape strips in advance, and plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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