- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.3 cm)
Meet the friendliest predator in the sea: a round, light-blue chubby shark with rosy pink cheeks, little gill stripes, sparkly heart-shine eyes, tiny fins, and a happy open smile. You can craft your own shark paper squishy in about 30 minutes using our free printable PDF, which comes in both US Letter and A4 formats with 3 versions (full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline). Pair it with our axolotl paper squishy to start a cute underwater collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the shark template
Print your chubby shark template at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (or 50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page version, color your shark now with ocean blues, soft greys, or even rainbow pastels, and let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the front and back
Cover only the two shark pieces with strips of wide clear packing tape—no need to tape the entire sheet of paper. Smooth each strip down from the center of the round belly outward toward the fins without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy layer makes your squishy strong, shiny, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both shark pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back shark shapes right along the solid black outer line. Be sure to keep the narrow white border intact all the way around, taking your time as you curve around the top dorsal fin, the little side flippers, and the forked tail fin peeking out on the side.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back shark piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape so it extends about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge all around, then snip this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the curved fins and tail. These small flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Put the front shark piece right on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides together, lining up the top fin and side tail carefully. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open along the bottom curve, just where the pink line shows in the picture, for the stuffing.
6Stuff the chubby shark
Tear plastic grocery bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the bottom gap. Fill the far corners first—tucking bits into the top dorsal fin, the side flippers, and the tail fin—before filling out the round white belly. Stop when your shark feels soft and puffy, as too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the bottom edge of the belly and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges, pressing the tape down well around the fins and curves to make sure every seam is tightly closed.
8Squish!
Done! Give your chubby shark’s round belly a big squeeze and watch it puff right back up. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the shark so the air escapes gently when you press it.
Free Chubby Shark 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
- Shark feels too hard. If the round belly feels hard instead of squishy, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the bottom gap, take some stuffing out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Tape wrinkles on the belly. Wide curves can trap wrinkles if the packing tape is pulled tight. Use shorter strips and lay them smoothly across the shark without pulling.
- A fin edge splits open. The curves around the dorsal fin and side tail take extra pressure when squeezed. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Colors smeared under the tape. If you colored the rosy cheeks or blue body with markers, let the ink dry fully before taping. Regular printer ink is fine to tape right away.
Questions
Where can I get the shark paper squishy template?
You can download our free printable shark paper squishy template right on this page. The PDF includes 3 versions (full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline) in US Letter and A4 sizes, and the finished shark measures about 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.3 cm).
What paper works best for a paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the shark stiff around the curved fins and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the shark’s seams would open when squeezed. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my shark squishy with?
Use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly, light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillowy shark. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make ocean paper squishies with a class or group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person, cut tape strips in advance, and plan about 30 minutes so kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping. You can also print our tropical fish squishy or scale the template to 120% (printing front and back on the same sheet) for a bigger shark.
More paper squishies to make
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