- Medium
- 30–45 minutes
- 3D shape
- about 2.1 × 2.8 in (5.4 × 7.0 cm)
This cute 3D boba paper squishy looks just like an iced brown sugar bubble tea cup, complete with drippy caramel swirls, glossy tapioca pearls at the bottom, a smiling kawaii face, and a lid topped with tiny bears and a pink straw. Our free printable PDF comes in US Letter and A4 and includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank net. Pair your finished cup with a matcha latte squishy for the ultimate desk cafe.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your bubble tea sheet at 100% on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the scale bar in the top corner: it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page, color the milk tea swirls, dark boba pearls, and bear toppings now before adding any tape.
2Tape the motif
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape across the entire printed boba cup net, including both round end pieces and all the yellow glue tabs. Smooth each strip out from the middle toward the edges without stretching the tape, so the glossy tapioca pearls and cute face stay flat and wrinkle-free.
3Cut it out
Cut carefully along the solid black outer outline of the bubble tea template. Take your time around the round top lid with the pink straw and the smaller bottom circle so both stay attached to the main cup wrapper by their hinges. Do not cut along any of the dashed lines.
4Pre-fold every tab
Score the dashed lines with an empty pen, including the slightly curved rim and base lines of the cup. Fold all the yellow glue tabs and both circle hinges inward toward the blank white back once to create crisp creases, then unfold them again.
5Snip the bottom tabs
Look at the narrower bottom edge of the wrapper (right below the dark tapioca pearls) and snip only the short solid lines between the yellow bottom tabs, stopping right at the dashed fold line. Leave the top tabs along the wider foam edge uncut for now.
6Roll the wrapper
Roll the wrapper into a tapered cup tube with the BOBA illustration facing out. Put glue on the long yellow side tab, tuck it inside the opposite edge to hold the cone shape, and seal the entire vertical seam from the outside with a strip of regular clear tape.
7Glue the bottom on
Fold the bottom tabs inward. Dab glue onto their outer yellow surfaces (which are now facing up). Fold the attached smaller bottom circle with the floating pearls and tiny brown hearts down onto the sticky tabs and press firmly so the base sits nice and round.
8Tape the bottom
Because glue alone will not hold on laminated tape for long, reinforce the base right away. Wrap overlapping strips of regular clear tape all the way around the bottom edge of the bubble tea cup to lock the round base securely to the tapered wall.
9Snip the top tabs
Now move to the wider upper rim of your cup where the cream foam and ice cubes are printed. Snip the short solid lines between the yellow top tabs right up to the dashed fold line so they can bend smoothly around the curve.
10Stuff it
Stand your boba cup upright and hold the round bear-and-straw lid folded back out of the way. Push small tufts of fiberfill or plastic grocery bags lightly through the open top, filling from the narrow pearl base up to the wider rim without stretching the paper.
11Glue the lid on
Fold the top tabs inward over the stuffing. Apply glue to the outer yellow side of each tab (now facing up), then fold the round lid with the pink straw and floating bear faces down onto the tabs and press it firmly into place.
12Tape the lid
Since glue alone does not stick permanently to tape, finish the rim with regular clear tape. Place overlapping strips all the way around the upper edge of the lid so the seam is completely sealed and your boba cup stays closed for good.
13Squish!
Your 3D bubble tea paper squishy is ready! Give the cup a gentle squeeze and watch the caramel-swirled sides puff right back up. If your cup feels too airtight and you want a slower rise, prick one tiny pinhole into a seam to let air escape.
Free Bubble Tea 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 4–7). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- The curved rim looks bumpy. Score the curved dashed lines along the foam rim and pearl base thoroughly with an empty pen and a ruler before folding so the round lid and bottom sit cleanly.
- The cup seam pops open. Glue never holds permanently on tape-covered paper, so press a fresh strip of clear tape firmly along the entire side or lid seam.
- The tapered cup bulges out. You added a bit too much filling for the tapered shape; remove a little stuffing so the sides stay smooth.
- Tape wrinkles over the face. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them across the BOBA lettering without pulling or stretching.
Questions
How do you make a boba paper squishy step by step?
Print the bubble tea template on plain paper, cover it with clear packing tape, cut along the solid outline, and score the dashed fold lines. Roll the wrapper into a tapered cup, glue and tape the bottom circle closed, stuff it lightly, and then glue and tape the straw lid on top.
Can I build this bubble tea squishy with only glue?
No, glue is only used to tack the yellow tabs in place while you assemble the cup. Because glue does not stick to laminated tape for long, every seam must be sealed from the outside with clear tape.
What paper and stuffing work best for a paper boba squishy?
Use regular printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb), as heavy cardstock becomes too stiff to roll and fold once taped. Stuff the cup lightly with soft fiberfill or plastic grocery bags so it keeps its neat tapered shape.
Can I make a whole drink set or print the template bigger?
Yes! Because the cup wrapper, bottom, and lid are all one connected piece, you can print it larger on a bigger sheet of paper and everything will still fit. You can also craft a matching cafe set by adding a pink drink squishy alongside your boba.
Is this a good craft for a group or classroom?
Definitely—plan about 45 minutes and print one sheet per person. Pre-cut strips of clear tape before you start so kids can color the black-and-white boba template while you help with scoring and taping.
More paper squishies to make
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