- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.3 cm)
This chubby little bat has starry eyes, rosy cheeks, tiny white fangs, and cozy purple wings wrapped around its fluffy body. Grab the free Halloween paper squishy template PDF in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Once taped and stuffed, your shiny bat pillow measures about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.3 cm). Pair it with a cute ghost squishy for the sweetest spooky desk crew!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the bat template
Print your bat template at 100% on plain printer paper and make sure “fit to page” is turned off. 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 fluffy fur, purple wings, and pink cheeks now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the front and back
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the two bat pieces only, not the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of the belly out toward the ears and wingtips without stretching it, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your bat strong, shiny, and extra satisfying to squish.
3Cut out both bat pieces
Cut out the front and back pieces right along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the pointed ears at the top and the little dip between the bottom paws, keeping the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a snipped tape border
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape, sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into that border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the curved wings and ears. These little flaps will seal your bat together.
5Join front and back
Stack the front bat piece right on top of the back, white sides together, lining up the ears and wings. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open along the side—the pink line in the illustration shows where—so you can stuff it.
6Stuff your bat
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them in through the open gap. Tuck tiny pieces up into the pointed ears and out into the rounded sides of the wings first, then fill the round belly until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets too tight so the seams stay shut.
7Close the stuffing gap
Fold the last tape flaps neatly over the open side and seal the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly around the ears, wings, and bottom paws to press every bit of tape down tight.
8Squish your little bat!
Your spooky-cute bat is ready! Give its chubby belly a squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want a slow-rising feel, poke one tiny pinhole into the back of the body so the air escapes gently.
Free Bat 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
- Pointed ears look flat. Push tiny shreds of stuffing right up into the ear tips before filling the round belly. Big clumps get stuck in the middle and leave the top corners empty.
- Tape wrinkles on the front. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the wide wings and lay them down gently without pulling. Stretched tape shrinks back and causes wrinkles over the bat’s face.
- Dark fur colors smeared. Dark gray and purple markers take an extra moment to dry on plain paper. Wait until the ink is completely dry to the touch before laying down your packing tape.
- Belly feels too firm. If the bat feels stiff instead of pillowy, gently peel open the side gap and pull out a few pinches of stuffing. Tape the edge shut again with a fresh strip.
Questions
What are some fun Halloween paper squishy ideas to go with this bat?
You can craft a whole spooky basket by pairing your bat with a pumpkin paper squishy or sweet candy corn. Print them all on plain paper and keep a roll of clear tape handy for an easy fall afternoon project.
How do I use this Halloween paper squishy template with a group or class?
Print one sheet per kid and pre-cut strips of clear tape before you start. Let everyone color their bat’s wings and fangs while you help with the taping steps—the whole craft takes about 30 minutes.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the bat’s edges?
No, glue won’t stick to the slick packing tape surface and the seams will pop right open. Folding the snipped tape border over the edge is what holds the pillow securely together.
What paper works best for a bat squishy?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds smoothly around the ears and wings and squishes nicely. Heavy cardstock is too stiff and won’t give you that soft pillow feel.
Can I make a bigger bat squishy?
Yes! Print the template sheet at 120% scale so both the front and back pieces grow together on the same page and still match up evenly.
More paper squishies to make
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