- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.3 × 3.7 in (10.9 × 9.4 cm)
This mint-green vintage television features a glowing pastel screen with starry kawaii eyes, two chunky channel dials, and a vented back panel with corner screws. Grab our free retro TV paper squishy template to craft a puffy 4.3 × 3.7 in (10.9 × 9.4 cm) pillow in about 20 to 30 minutes. The PDF comes in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our game console squishy for a cozy gaming set!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen television page at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page” in your settings. Check the scale line in the top corner; it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank screen, color the casing and dials now and let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over just the two TV pieces, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of the screen out toward the edges without pulling or stretching, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This clear layer makes your retro television shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front screen piece and the vented back panel along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the rounded top corners and the two little television feet at the bottom, making sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the vented back panel printed side down onto strips of regular 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, paying extra attention around the bottom feet so the little flaps hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Place the front TV piece right on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together. Fold the sticky flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly around the curved corners and feet. Leave a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap open along the edge (the pink line in the picture shows where) for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the gap. Fill the far corners of the screen and the two bottom feet first, then stuff the middle until the television feels soft and puffy—stop there, as too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges and around the bottom feet to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Your kawaii television is done! Give the screen a big squeeze and watch it puff right back up. If you want a slow-rising squishy, gently prick one tiny pinhole in the vented back panel so the air escapes gradually.
Free Retro TV 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 television feels too hard. If the screen feels stiff instead of squishy, it has too much stuffing inside. Gently open the gap, pull a few pieces out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Tape wrinkles on the screen. To keep the cute face on the screen crystal clear, use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them down without pulling.
- An edge splits near the feet. The dip between the two TV feet is a curved spot; if a seam pops open there, put a new short strip of tape right across the edge overlapping the old ones.
- Markers smeared under the tape. If you colored your own TV casing or drew a custom channel on the screen, let the markers dry fully before taping. Printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do I make a retro TV or computer paper squishy?
Print our template on plain 80–100 gsm (20–24 lb) printer paper, cover both pieces with wide packing tape, and cut them out. Join the front and back using a snipped 1 cm (½ inch) tape border, stuff the pillow through a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap, and tape it shut—you can even use the blank version to draw a retro computer monitor!
Can I use glue instead of tape for the edges?
Not for the edges, because glue does not stick to tape-covered paper and the television seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff it with, and can I make a tech set?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy. Pair your finished TV with a flip phone squishy to build a cute throwback tech collection!
Can I make this retro TV squishy bigger?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale, such as 120%, and make sure to print the front and back together on the same sheet so both television pieces match.
Can I make these with a class or a group?
Yes! Print one sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the television coloring page while you help with the taping, and you should plan about 30 minutes for the craft.
More paper squishies to make
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