- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm)
With its soft sage green scales, tiny cream horns, little bat-like wings, and chubby paw pads, this baby dragon paper squishy is pure kawaii magic. You get a free printable PDF in both US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our magical unicorn squishy or cute dinosaur squishy to build an entire fantasy collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your baby dragon template at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page” in your printer settings. Check the scale line in the top corner to confirm it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page, color the dragon’s belly, wings, and horns now, and let marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back dragon pieces only, rather than taping the entire sheet. Press each strip down from the middle and smooth it outward toward the wings and tail without pulling. Stretching the tape causes wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your paper strong, shiny, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back dragon shapes right along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the little horns on top, the pointed wing tips on the sides, and the curled tail. Leave the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back dragon piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape so the sticky side faces 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, including around the curvy wings and horns. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Line up the front dragon piece right on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly around the horns, wings, and bottom paws. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open where the pink line shows in the picture for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them gently through the open gap. Fill the far corners first—like the dragon’s head, wing tips, and bottom feet—then stuff the round belly until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets tight, because too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps neatly over the stuffing gap and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges—from the top horns down to the paws and tail—to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Your finished baby dragon measures about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm) and is ready to play with. Squeeze its chubby belly and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back.
Free Baby Dragon 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
- Keep the colors from smearing. If you color your own dragon with bright markers, let the ink dry fully before laying down the packing tape. Standard printer ink is fine to tape right away.
- My dragon feels too hard. If the belly doesn’t squish easily, it has too much stuffing—open the gap, take some out, and tape it shut again.
- Smooth out tape wrinkles. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them gently across the dragon’s face without pulling so the glossy surface stays smooth.
- Fix a split seam. If an edge splits open near the paws or wings, put a new short strip of clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for my paper squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams around the dragon would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for this printable template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the dragon stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my dragon squishy with?
Use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillow. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this dinosaur or dragon paper squishy bigger?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale, for example 120%. Make sure to 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, plan about 30 minutes and print one sheet per person. Cut the tape strips in advance so kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping.
More paper squishies to make
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