- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm)
With its glossy red skin, tiny green leaf, and sweet blushing cheeks, this kawaii red apple is almost too cute to squeeze! Download our free printable apple paper squishy template in US Letter or A4—it includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline for your own face design. Once stuffed, your squishy pillow measures about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm). Pair it with our strawberry paper squishy for a cute fruit basket.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your red apple template at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner; it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the apple red, green, and brown—or try a golden yellow apple—and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two apple pieces with wide clear packing tape, not the whole sheet of paper. Smooth each strip from the middle of the red cheeks out toward the edges without pulling or stretching the tape, because stretched tape wrinkles later. This clear layer gives your apple a shiny glaze and makes the paper strong and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back apple shapes right along the solid black outer line. Take your time around the top curve of the brown stem, the leaf curve, and the little dip at the bottom of the apple. Always keep that small white border intact around both pieces.
4Add a tape border to the back
Flip the back apple piece so the printed side faces down, and lay it onto strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the stem curve and bottom indent. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Place the front apple piece on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides together, lining up the stem and leaf. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open on one curved side (shown by the pink line in the picture) for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic grocery bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the side gap. Fill the far corners first—up into the stem and leaf area and down into the bottom curves of the apple—then fill the middle until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets too full, or the seams might pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open side of the apple and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all the edges—from the stem and leaf down around the bottom dip—to make sure the tape is pressed down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give your shiny red apple paper squishy a big squeeze and watch it puff right back up. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick 1 tiny pinhole in the back of the apple so the air escapes slowly.
Free Red Apple 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
- An edge splits open. If a seam pops along the curved side or near the stem dip, place a new short strip of clear tape right across the split, overlapping the old tape.
- My apple feels too hard. If the apple won’t squish down easily, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the side gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the red cheeks. Pulling packing tape tight while laying it down causes ripples later. Use shorter strips and lay them gently across the apple without pulling.
- Marker ink smudged under tape. Bright red and dark brown markers need a moment to set on paper. Always let your colored apple dry completely before taping, though printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do I make a fruit paper squishy collection?
You can print and tape several fruit templates at the same time to build a cute play-food basket! Try pairing this red apple with our watermelon paper squishy using the exact same tape-and-stuff method.
How do I make my apple paper squishy bigger?
Print the template page at a larger scale, such as 120%. Make sure to print both the front and back apple pieces together on the same sheet so their sizes match.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the apple?
Not for the edges. Glue won’t stick to the tape-covered paper, so the apple seams would open up. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my fruit paper squishy with?
Plastic grocery bags give a light and crinkly feel, while cotton balls or fiberfill make a soft pillow. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this apple paper squishy with a classroom group?
Yes, plan about 30 minutes for a class or group activity. Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance so kids can color their apples while you help with taping.
More paper squishies to make
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