- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 3.7 in (9.0 × 9.4 cm)
Nothing says spring quite like a chubby, sugar-coated marshmallow chick with sparkly eyes and rosy cheeks! This adorable Easter paper squishy is super easy to craft at home and makes a sweet handmade basket stuffer. Our free printable PDF comes in US Letter and A4 sizes and includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our Easter egg squishy and mini chocolate eggs squishy for a whole basket of squishy treats!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your marshmallow chick template at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner; it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color your chick in bright yellow, pastel pink, or lavender now, and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape right over the front and back chick pieces, rather than covering the whole sheet of paper. Smooth each piece of tape from the middle outwards without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your marshmallow chick shiny, sturdy, and super satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Grab your scissors and cut out both the front and back pieces right along the solid black outer line. Take your time around the little wings and the tiny tail bump on the side, making sure to keep the narrow 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 so the sticky side faces up at you. Trim the tape all the way around, leaving about 1 cm (½ inch) sticking out past the paper edge. Snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper to create neat little flaps around the curves.
5Join front and back
Line up the front piece right on top of the back piece with the white paper sides facing each other. Fold the sticky tape flaps over onto the front one by one, pressing them smoothly around the head and wings. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ inch) gap open—right where the pink line in the picture shows—so you have space to stuff your chick.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic grocery bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small fluffy bits and push them inside through the open gap. Poke the first tiny pieces into the far corners like the top of the head, the little wings, and the tail bump before filling the round belly. Stop once the chick feels soft and puffy, because too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the front edge to close the gap, then tape it shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all the curved edges of your marshmallow chick so the tape is pressed down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give that round yellow belly a big squeeze and watch your marshmallow chick puff right back into shape. Want a slow-rising squishy? Gently prick one tiny pinhole into the back so the air escapes slowly.
Free Marshmallow Chick 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
- The chick feels too hard. It has too much stuffing inside the round belly. Gently open the gap, pull out a few pieces of filling, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the yellow belly. Packing tape wrinkles when it gets pulled tight while you lay it down. Use shorter strips over the chick and lay them on without pulling.
- A wing seam splits open. The curves around the little wings and tail get extra pressure when squeezed. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Smudged beak or cheek colors. Wet marker ink can smear under clear tape. Always let your colored chick dry completely before taping, though regular printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for this Easter paper squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would pop open when you squeeze your chick. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What are some fun Easter paper squishy ideas to make a set?
You can color the blank marshmallow chick template in pastel pink, lavender, or blue to make a whole rainbow flock! They also look super cute in a spring basket alongside handmade paper Easter eggs and chocolate treats.
What paper and stuffing work best for a marshmallow chick?
Use plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb), since heavy cardstock makes the chick too stiff to squish nicely. Stuff it with plastic grocery bags for a light, crinkly feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I print the marshmallow chick template bigger?
Yes! At 100% scale, the finished chick measures about 3.6 × 3.7 in (9.0 × 9.4 cm), but you can print the page at a larger scale like 120%. Just make sure to print the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these Easter paper squishies with a class or group?
Yes, plan about 30 minutes for a group activity. Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance so kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping.
More paper squishies to make
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