- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.0 × 4.5 in (7.7 × 11.4 cm)
This retro red gumball machine has a sweet smiling face, a silver coin slot, and a clear globe packed with pastel pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple gumballs. It makes the cutest gum paper squishy for your desk or collection! 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 bubble gum tape squishy to build a whole candy shop set.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your gumball machine template at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the test line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). Picked the coloring page? Color the pastel gumballs and red stand now, and let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back gumball machine pieces, rather than covering the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the center of the round globe outwards without stretching the tape, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This layer gives the glass globe and red base a glossy, sturdy, and super squishy finish.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and the back along the solid outer line. Take your time around the little top lid knob and the inward curve where the round globe meets the red stand, keeping 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 with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the outer line, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper edge, especially around the curved globe and base.
5Join front and back
Line up the front piece on top of the back, white sides together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly around the top knob and globe. Leave a 3 cm (1 in) gap open along the side as shown by the pink line in the illustration for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them in through the open gap. Fill the far corners first—tucking small pieces into the top lid knob, the wide gumball globe, and the bottom corners of the red base. Stop once it feels soft and plump so the curved seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps neatly over the stuffing gap and seal it shut with one extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire outline, from the round globe down to the bottom of the stand, so every seam stays tightly closed.
8Squish!
Your kawaii gumball machine is ready! Give the pastel globe and red base a good squeeze and watch it puff right back up. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the machine to let the air escape slowly.
Free Gumball Machine 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 waist curve pulls apart. The inward dip between the round globe and the red stand gets a lot of tension when stuffed. If a seam splits there, place a short strip of clear tape right across the edge, overlapping the old flaps.
- The globe feels too hard. Overstuffing makes the round gumball dome stiff instead of squishy. Gently peel open the stuffing gap, pull out a few pinches of filling, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the gumballs. Long, pulled tape strips can crease over the wide globe artwork. Lay shorter strips across the paper without stretching them, smoothing from the middle outward.
- Smudged pastel gumball colors. Bright red and pastel marker ink can smear under packing tape if it is still damp. Always let your colored page dry completely before taping; printer ink is ready right away.
Questions
What are more fun gum paper squishy ideas to make next?
Once you finish this gumball machine, you can craft a matching watermelon gum squishy for a sweet candy collection. Both use the exact same paper and tape method, and they take about 20 to 30 minutes each.
Can I use this bubble gum paper squishy template for a group craft?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and pre-cut the tape strips before you start. Kids can color the gumballs on the coloring page while you help with the taping steps—plan about 30 minutes for the activity.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the gumball machine?
Not for the edges. Glue will not stick to tape-covered paper, so the curved seams around the globe would pop open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds everything together best.
What paper works best for a gum paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) gives the best squish. Heavy cardstock makes the gumball machine too stiff to squeeze nicely.
Can I make a bigger gumball machine squishy?
Yes! Instead of printing at the standard 3.0 × 4.5 in (7.7 × 11.4 cm) finished size, set your printer scale to 120%. Just keep the front and back on the same sheet so both halves match up.
More paper squishies to make
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