- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.3 cm)
Turn your favorite bag charm into a pillowy craft with this free printable squishy keychain paper squishy template! Designed like a pink frosted heart with pastel rainbow sprinkles, rosy cheeks, and a cute keychain loop on top, it finishes at about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.3 cm). The download comes in US Letter and A4 sizes with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Keep it neat inside a squishy storage box when you are done!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your squishy keychain template at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the line in the top corner to confirm it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you are using the coloring page, color the pink heart frosting and tiny sprinkles now, then let the marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two heart pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the center of the kawaii face outward, taking care not to stretch the tape—stretched tape wrinkles later. This smooth layer makes your keychain squishy shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and the back along the solid outer line. Take your time curving around the rounded heart arches, the bottom point, and the little charm loop at the top, 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 on strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the edge, then snip this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, following the curve of the top loop and bottom tip. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Put the front heart piece on the back with the white sides together, lining up the top charm loop and bottom point. Fold the tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them down well. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open (the pink line in the picture shows where) as 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 first—gently nudging stuffing into the top keychain loop, the two heart curves, and the bottom point—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 edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger along all the edges—from the rounded top loop down to the bottom point—to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your pink heart squishy keychain and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick 1 tiny pinhole in the back of the heart so the air escapes slowly.
Free Squishy Keychain 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
- Smooth the curved top loop. Because the charm loop and heart arches curve tightly, make sure to snip the tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper so the flaps fold flat.
- My squishy feels too hard. If the heart feels stiff instead of bouncy, it has too much stuffing; open the gap, take some out, and tape it shut again.
- Keep the kawaii face wrinkle-free. To keep the wide tape smooth over the sparkly eyes and rainbow sprinkles, use shorter strips and lay them on without pulling.
- Fix a split seam. If an edge splits open at the bottom heart point or along the side, put a new short strip of clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
Questions
How do I start a kawaii paper squishy collection?
Print your favorite designs on plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) so they stay soft and squishy rather than stiff like cardstock. This sweet heart charm pairs wonderfully with a frosted donut squishy to build a sprinkle-themed paper squishy collection.
Does the download include a black and white template?
Yes, the printable PDF includes 3 versions: full color, a black and white coloring page with all the sprinkles outlined, and a blank outline. Just let your markers dry fully before taping so the colors do not smear.
Can I use glue instead of tape?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the curved heart seams would open when squeezed. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my squishy keychain with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft squish, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this heart charm bigger or craft it with a group?
To make it bigger, 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, plan about 30 minutes, print 1 sheet per person, and cut tape strips in advance while kids color.
More paper squishies to make
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