- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.7 cm)
This cute waffle paper squishy looks good enough to eat, featuring a round golden grid, glossy chocolate drizzle, a juicy strawberry half on top, and a sweet smiling face with rosy cheeks. Grab the free printable template in US Letter and A4 sizes, which includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with a pancake stack squishy to build your own kawaii breakfast collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print the waffle template at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the scale line in the top corner to confirm it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the golden grid, chocolate drips, and red strawberry now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover just the front and back waffle circles with wide clear packing tape rather than taping the entire page. Smooth each strip from the middle of the waffle grid out toward the edges without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This layer makes your squishy shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out both the smiling front piece and the matching back piece right along the solid black outer line. Keep the small white border intact all the way around the circle and the slight curve at the top where the strawberry sits.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back waffle piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape 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. These little flaps will hold your round squishy together.
5Join front and back
Place the front waffle piece on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides together, lining up the strawberry tops. 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 the curve (the pink line in the picture shows where) for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the gap. Fill the far corners and top strawberry curve first, then work toward the middle until your waffle feels soft and puffy—stop before it gets too full, or the seams might pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the edge of the waffle and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all the circular edges to press the tape seams down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give your round breakfast waffle a big squeeze and watch it puff right back up into shape. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back so the air escapes slowly.
Free Waffle 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
- Fixing a split curve seam. If an edge along the round waffle border splits open, place a new short strip of clear tape across the seam, overlapping the old strips.
- My squishy feels too hard. If the waffle feels stiff instead of puffy, gently open the stuffing gap, take some filling out, and tape it shut again.
- Preventing tape wrinkles. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them across the waffle face without pulling, smoothing from the center outward.
- Keep chocolate colors crisp. Dark brown and red markers can smear under tape, so let your coloring page dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Where can I get a waffle paper squishy template?
Right here on this page! You can download the free printable PDF in both US Letter and A4 sizes, complete with 3 versions: a full-color design, a coloring page, and a blank outline.
Can I use glue instead of tape?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the round seams would open when you squeeze it. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a waffle paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the round waffle stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I make my waffle squishy bigger?
Yes! Print the template page at a larger scale, such as 120%, and make sure the front and back pieces are printed together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make a paper squishy bakery set with a group?
Yes, just print 1 sheet per person, cut tape strips in advance, and plan about 30 minutes so kids can color while you help with taping. You can pair the waffle with a cinnamon roll squishy for a fun bakery craft table.
More paper squishies to make
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