- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.4 × 4.5 in (8.7 × 11.4 cm)
Turn your favorite sweet treat into a puffy fidget toy with this free printable candy paper squishy template! This gem ring candy features a faceted ruby-red sugar jewel with a kawaii smiling face, a tiny pink heart, and a chunky pink ring band at the base. The PDF comes in both US Letter and A4 sizes and includes 3 versions: full color, a black-and-white coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our popping candy squishy for a full sweet shop bundle!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your gem ring candy sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off “fit to page” in your settings. Check that the scale line in the top corner measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the jewel facets and ring band now—try blue raspberry or sour apple shades—and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the front and back gem ring pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of the candy outward and do not stretch the tape, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. The glossy layer makes your gem ring shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and the back right along the solid black outer line. Keep the small white border intact all the way around, taking your time as you turn the corners between the wide faceted gem top and the curved pink ring base.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape, sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the edge, then snip into this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little flaps will hold your gem ring squishy together.
5Join front and back
Put the front piece on top of the back piece with the white sides together. Fold the tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them down, working around the gem points and the indent at the ring collar. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ in) gap open where the pink line in the picture shows: that is your gap for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the gap. Fill the far corners of the red gem and the bottom curve of the pink ring first, and stop when it feels soft and puffy—too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the opening and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger along all edges—from the angled jewel top down to the rounded ring band—to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your gem ring candy squishy and watch the big red jewel puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Carefully prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the candy.
Free Gem Ring Candy 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 gem tape looks wrinkly. Wide surfaces like the faceted jewel can crease if the tape is pulled tight. Use shorter strips of tape and lay them on smoothly without pulling.
- Gem corners feel too hard. If the angled jewel top feels stiff instead of puffy, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- A seam splits on the curve. The rounded bottom of the pink ring gets a lot of pressure when you squeeze the gem. Put a new short strip of clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Marker colors smeared under tape. Bright jewel tones made with markers need a moment to set on plain paper, so let the ink dry fully before taping. Printer ink on the color version is fine right away.
Questions
What are some fun candy paper squishy ideas to make next?
You can color the blank gem ring template in purple grape, blue raspberry, or rainbow stripes to build a whole jewelry box of sweets. You can also print the page at 120% scale with the front and back on the same sheet for a jumbo jewel, or craft a swirl lollipop squishy to go alongside it!
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the candy edges?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a printable paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Heavy cardstock makes the gem ring squishy stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my candy paper squishy with?
Use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill to make it soft. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this gem ring squishy with a class or a group?
Yes, plan about 30 minutes for the activity. Print one sheet per person and cut 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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