- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.1 × 4.5 in (7.9 × 11.4 cm)
Stack up two sweet scoops for your DIY dessert collection! Our kawaii ice cream cone features a smiling mint chocolate chip scoop, a strawberry scoop topped with rich chocolate fudge, and a golden waffle cone. Grab the free ice cream paper squishy template PDF in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank design to draw your own flavors. Pair it with our ice cream sundae squishy for the ultimate summer treat.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen ice cream cone page at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off “fit to page”. Check the scale line in the top corner: it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the waffle cone, scoops, and chocolate drizzle now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Laminate just the front and back ice cream cone pieces using wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the entire sheet. Press each strip down from the middle outward without pulling or stretching the tape, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy layer makes your double-scoop cone sturdy, shiny, and wonderfully squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back cone shapes right along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the bumpy sides of the two scoops and down the tapered waffle cone, making sure you keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape so it extends about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the curvy scoop edges. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Lay the front piece right on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides together, lining up the cone tip and scoops. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them flat. Leave a small gap open on the side as shown by the pink line in the illustration for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Pull your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and tuck them inside through the open gap. Push the first pieces all the way down into the narrow bottom of the waffle cone and up into the rounded top scoop before filling the middle. Stop when the cone feels soft and puffy, as overstuffing can pop the seams.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps neatly over the stuffing gap and secure the opening with one extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire outline, from the bottom of the cone around both scoops, to press all the tape seams down tightly.
8Squish!
Your sweet treat is ready! Give your ice cream cone a big squeeze and watch the scoops puff right back into shape. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, gently prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the squishy so the air escapes slowly.
Free Ice Cream Cone 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
- Flat waffle cone tip. The tapered bottom of the cone is narrower than the scoops, so push small bits of stuffing down there first before filling the wide mint and strawberry center.
- Wrinkled tape on the scoops. If the glossy layer creases across the wide strawberry and mint scoops, use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them down smoothly without pulling.
- The cone feels too stiff. If your ice cream cone feels hard instead of pillowy, gently peel open the stuffing gap, pull out a pinch of filling, and tape the edge shut again.
- Smudged chocolate or cheeks. Dark brown and bright pink markers take a moment to set on plain paper, so let your colored page dry completely before laying down the packing tape.
Questions
What paper works best for a paper squishy ice cream?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Heavy cardstock makes the waffle cone and scoops too stiff to squish nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the cone?
No, glue will not stick to the tape-covered paper and the seams would pop open when squeezed. Folding the snipped tape border over the edges holds the squishy together securely.
What are some fun paper squishy ideas for ice cream?
Use the blank template in the PDF to invent your own flavors like rainbow sherbet, cookies and cream, or birthday cake sprinkles! You can also craft a matching ice cream sandwich squishy to set up a pretend paper squishy ice cream stand.
What can I stuff my ice cream squishy with?
Cut-up plastic grocery bags give a light and crinkly squish, while cotton balls or fiberfill feel plush and soft. You can also use tiny pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising effect.
Can I make this craft with a class or party group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per kid and pre-cut the tape strips ahead of time so they can color their scoops while you help with the taping; plan for about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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