- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 3.9 in (9.2 × 9.9 cm)
Turn a few sheets of paper and clear tape into a puffy, glossy bag of sour candy! This gummy worms paper squishy features a hot pink and yellow wrapper with a clear window showing off tangled neon blue, pink, orange, and green worms with a sweet kawaii smile. Download the free printable template in US Letter or A4—it includes a ready-to-make color version, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our peach rings squishy for a full candy shop collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your gummy worms 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 to see that it measures 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the wiggly worms in bright sour shades now and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the 2 candy bag pieces only, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip from the center of the gummy worms out toward the edges without pulling or stretching, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This layer gives the candy wrapper a glossy shine and makes it strong and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back bag pieces right along the solid outer black line. Take your time curving around the flared corners of the wrapper and the slightly pinched sides, 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. Trim the tape so it extends about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the curved bag corners, to create little flaps that hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Line up the front piece on top of the back piece with the white sides facing together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge 1 at a time and press them down firmly along the pink crimped top and bottom edges. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ inch) gap open on one side, just like the pink line in the picture shows, for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them inside through the side gap. Tuck stuffing into the far flared corners of the candy bag first so they puff out nicely, then fill the middle until the pack feels soft and puffy—stop before it gets too tight so the seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open side and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges of the candy bag to press every seam down well so no stuffing can poke out.
8Squish!
Done! Your sour gummy worms bag is ready to squeeze—give the puffy pillow a squish and watch the colorful worms bounce right back into shape. If you want a slow-rising squishy, gently prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the wrapper to let the air escape slowly.
Free Gummy Worms 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 candy bag feels hard. If the wrapper is too firm to squeeze, it has too much stuffing. Open the side gap, pull out a few tufts of filling, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles over the clear window. Stretched packing tape can leave creases right across the cute kawaii face. Use shorter strips of tape and lay them down gently without pulling.
- A pinched side seam splits. The slightly curved sides of the bag take the most pressure when you squeeze. Place a new short strip of clear tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old tape.
- Neon marker colors smeared. Always let your colored gummy worms dry completely before laying down the packing tape. Printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the candy bag?
Not for the edges. Glue won’t stick to the tape-covered paper, so the seams of your gummy worms bag would pop open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a gummy worms paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the pinched wrapper shape too stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my gummy candy paper squishy with?
Use plastic grocery bags for a light and crinkly candy bag feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft squeeze. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make a giant gummy worms squishy or a full candy set?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale, for example 120%, with the front and back together on the same sheet so they match. You can also print our gummy bear paper squishy to build a whole gummy candy collection.
Can I make these paper squishies with a class or group?
Yes, plan about 30 minutes. Print 1 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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