- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 3.8 in (11.4 × 9.6 cm)
Flutter into a relaxing craft session with this dreamy pastel butterfly! Featuring soft pink and lavender wings decorated with sweet little hearts, a chubby striped body, and a happy smiling face, this butterfly paper squishy template is free to download in both US Letter and A4 sizes. You get 3 versions in the PDF: ready-to-make full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our bunny paper squishy for a cute springtime set!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your butterfly sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page” in your printer settings. Check the test line in the top corner; it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page version, color the heart-patterned wings and striped body now, and let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two butterfly pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle out toward the wing tips without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy layer makes the pastel wings shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back butterfly shapes along the solid outer line. Take your time curving around the scalloped wing lobes and the rounded antennae at the top, making sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back butterfly piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape, so the sticky side faces up toward you. Cut the tape 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 curves of the wings and antennae so the little flaps hold your squishy together smoothly.
5Join front and back
Put the front butterfly piece right on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides together, lining up the wings and antennae. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap open along the wing edge for the stuffing—the pink line in the picture shows where.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and gently push them in through your open wing gap. Fill the far corners first—poking stuffing into the opposite wing tips, the top curve, and the bottom of the body before the middle. Stop when your butterfly feels soft and puffy, since too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps neatly over the open wing edge, and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all the scalloped wing and body edges to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give the puffy pastel butterfly wings a gentle squeeze and watch them puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick 1 tiny pinhole in the back so the air escapes slowly when you squish.
Free Pastel Butterfly 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
- Stiff or hard wings. If the butterfly feels too firm to squeeze, it has too much stuffing. Open the gap on the wing, take some out, and tape it shut again.
- Wrinkles across the heart patterns. Wide tape can crease if you pull it tight across the broad wings. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently without pulling.
- Wing dips splitting open. The inward curves between the top and bottom wings take pressure when squeezed. Put a new short strip of tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Smudged pastel marker ink. Wet marker ink will smear under clear tape. Let your markers dry fully before taping, though printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for my butterfly squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the wing seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the butterfly stiff and the wings won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my butterfly squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill to make it soft. Small pieces of memory foam also work great for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make the butterfly paper squishy bigger?
Yes! The standard size is about 4.5 × 3.8 in (11.4 × 9.6 cm), but you can print the page at a larger scale, for example 120%. Print the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these with a class or a group?
Yes, just 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. You can also print our unicorn paper squishy so everyone can pick a favorite!
More paper squishies to make
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