- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.4 cm)
This cute bubble gum tape design turns a classic retro candy container into a huggable gum paper squishy with a happy kawaii smile, a little heart, and a coiled pink gum ribbon peeking out the side. Grab the free printable PDF in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our watermelon gum squishy or gumball machine squishy for a sweet candy shop collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your bubble gum tape sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” option. Check the test line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the round dispenser in bright magenta and the coiled gum strip in pastel pink, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape right over the two gum dispenser pieces—no need to cover the whole page. Smooth each piece of tape from the center out toward the edges without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your candy container strong, shiny, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back pieces right along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border intact. Take your time curving around the round container lid and the little bump where the pink gum ribbon sticks out on the side.
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. Cut 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 all the way around. These little flaps will wrap around to hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Set the front piece right on top of the back piece with the white sides together, lining up the round case and the gum strip. Fold the tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open, just like the pink line in the picture shows, for your stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic grocery bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the gap. Fill the far corners and the side bump where the gum tape hangs out first, then fill the round body until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets too full so the seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold those last remaining flaps cleanly over the edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger all the way along the round candy case and the gum ribbon bump to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Your retro bubble gum tape pillow is ready to play with. Squeeze the pink container and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Gently prick one tiny pinhole in the back.
Free Bubble Gum Tape 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
- My squishy feels too hard. If the round gum container feels stiff instead of squishy, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the gap, take a few pieces of filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- The tape wrinkles on the curve. Use shorter strips of tape and lay them across the round bubble gum container without pulling. Smoothing gently from the middle outward keeps the glossy front nice and flat.
- A seam splits near the lid. If an edge splits open around the curved lid or the side gum bump, place a new short strip of regular tape right across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Pink marker ink smeared. Bright pink and magenta markers need time to dry fully before you lay down packing tape. Let your colored page dry completely first, whereas regular printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
What is the best paper for a gum paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best for this bubble gum tape design. Heavy cardstock makes the round container stiff so it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape for a bubble gum paper squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open; the snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I use to stuff my gum squishy?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a light and crinkly feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillow. Small pieces of memory foam also work well if you want a slow-rising squishy.
Can I print the gum paper squishy template larger?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale, for example 120%, and keep both the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these with a class or a party group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance; kids can color the bubble gum rolls while you help with taping, and the activity takes about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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