- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.5 cm)
This rosy pink cute octopus has big sparkly eyes with tiny heart reflections, blushing cheeks, and a row of chubby tentacles along the bottom. Grab our free octopus paper squishy template to craft your own puffy pillow measuring about 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.5 cm). The PDF download includes 3 versions—full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline—formatted for both US Letter and A4 paper. Pair it with our pastel jellyfish squishy for an adorable ocean desk set!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen octopus page at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the scale line in the top corner: it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the head and tentacles now—try pastel lavender or coral—and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the front and back octopus pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle of the round head out toward the edges without pulling; stretched tape tends to wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your paper strong, shiny, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back pieces right along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border around the pink artwork. Take your time guiding the scissors smoothly around the wavy bottom edge where the little tentacles curve in and out.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back octopus piece printed side down onto strips of tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut 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, paying close attention around the curvy tentacles. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Put the front piece on top of the back piece, white sides together, matching the round dome and wavy tentacles. Fold the tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down flat. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open on the smooth side of the head (shown by the pink line in the picture) for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the open gap. Fill the far corners and bottom tentacles first, then stuff the round head until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets overly full so the curved seams don’t pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the opening on the side of the head and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges and around every tentacle curve to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Your chubby pink octopus is ready—squeeze its round head and watch it puff right back up. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back.
Free Cute Octopus 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. Curvy tentacle seams can sometimes pop if the flaps lift. Put a new short strip of clear tape across the open edge, overlapping the old strips to secure it.
- My octopus feels too hard. There is too much stuffing packed inside the round head. Open the gap on the side, take some filling out, and tape it shut again.
- Wrinkles across the face. Pulling packing tape tight while laying it down causes ripples over the big eyes. Use shorter strips and lay them on smoothly without pulling.
- Smudged marker on the cheeks. Markers need time to set before you tape over the face. Let your colored octopus dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for my octopus paper squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the curved tentacle seams would open right up. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for this printable paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Heavy cardstock makes the octopus stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my cute octopus squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow texture, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make the octopus paper squishy bigger?
Yes! Print the template page at a larger scale, for example 120%. Make sure to print the front and the back together on the same sheet so both octopus pieces match.
Can I make this ocean craft with a class or party group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person, cut tape strips in advance, and plan about 30 minutes so kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping. You can also include our axolotl paper squishy or a fish paper squishy so everyone can pick their favorite water creature.
More paper squishies to make
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