- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 3.2 in (11.4 × 8.2 cm)
This happy little taco paper squishy is packed with crunchy lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and a big kawaii smile on its golden shell! Grab the free printable PDF below—it comes in 3 versions (full color, coloring page, and blank) for both US Letter and A4 paper. Pair it with a tortilla chips bag squishy or a cute avocado paper squishy to craft your own squishy fiesta!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your taco template at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page”. Check the scale line in the top corner: it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank version, color the spotted shell and toppings now and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back taco pieces, without covering the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of the shell outward toward the wavy lettuce edge, and avoid pulling the tape tight so it won’t wrinkle later. This layer gives your taco a glossy, sturdy, and extra-squishy finish.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out both taco pieces along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border intact all the way around. Take your time following the scalloped curves along the top where the lettuce and tomatoes peek out, then glide smoothly along the flatter bottom of the shell.
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 paper edge, then snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. Those little tabs will wrap cleanly around the curved top and corners.
5Join front and back
Place the front piece right on top of the back, with the white paper sides facing each other. Fold the sticky flaps over the front edge one at a time and press them down firmly around the bumpy lettuce rim and side corners. Leave a 4.5 cm (1 ½ in) gap open along the bottom edge, just as the pink line in the illustration shows.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them inside through the bottom gap. Tuck stuffing into the two lower corners of the taco shell first, then fill the rounded top until the pillow feels soft and plump. Stop before it gets tight—overstuffing can pop the taped seams.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the bottom of the shell and seal the opening with one extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire curved top and bottom rim to make sure every flap is pressed down tight.
8Squish!
Your kawaii taco is ready to squish! Give the puffy shell a squeeze and watch it bounce right back into shape. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, poke 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the shell so the air escapes gently.
Free Taco 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 taco shell feels too stiff. You packed a little too much filling inside. Gently peel open the bottom gap, pull out a bit of stuffing until the shell feels pillowy, and tape it shut again.
- Wrinkles across the cute face. Packing tape wrinkles when it gets stretched while you lay it down. Use shorter strips across the taco and smooth them from the center outward without pulling.
- A gap on the wavy top. The bumpy lettuce edge has lots of curves where a flap can lift. Reinforce any open spot with a short strip of clear tape right across the seam, overlapping the old tape.
- Smudged red and green toppings. Marker ink needs a moment to set before the tape goes on. Let your colored taco dry completely before laminating; regular printer ink is ready right away.
Questions
How do you make a paper squishy without glue?
You don’t want glue for a paper squishy because glue won’t stick to tape-laminated paper and the seams would pop open. Instead, lay the back piece on clear tape, snip the overhanging border into little flaps, and fold them over the front edge.
What paper works best for a printable paper squishy template?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal. Heavy cardstock makes the taco shell too stiff to squeeze nicely.
What can I stuff my taco paper squishy with?
Cut-up plastic grocery bags give a light, crinkly squish, while cotton balls or fiberfill feel super soft and plush. You can also snip up small bits of memory foam for a slow-rising effect.
Can I change the size of the taco template?
At 100% scale, the finished taco measures about 4.5 × 3.2 in (11.4 × 8.2 cm). To make a jumbo version, print the sheet at 120% so both the front and back scale up together on the same page.
Is this a good food paper squishy craft for a group or classroom?
Yes! Print 1 template sheet per kid and pre-cut the tape strips before you start. Kids can color their taco toppings while you help with the taping—plan about 30 minutes from start to squish.
More paper squishies to make
Pin this tutorial
Save it to your craft board so you can find the free template again.