- Medium
- 30–45 minutes
- 3D shape
- about 2.4 × 3.1 in (6.0 × 8.0 cm)
Brighten up your desk with a cheerful crayons paper squishy that looks just like a classic yellow and green pack! A smiling red crayon character waves from the front below a row of rainbow tips, while the back panel shares cute squish facts and a smiling sun. Our free PDF includes US Letter and A4 sheets in 3 versions: full color, a line-art coloring page, and a blank box. Pair it with a juice box paper squishy for a sweet lunchbox set.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your crayon box template at 100% on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off “fit to page” in your settings. Check the scale bar at the top right; it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page version, grab your markers and color the crayon tips, stars, and box stripes now before putting any tape down.
2Tape the motif
Cover the entire crayon box net with wide clear packing tape, making sure to include all the yellow and blue tabs. Lay each strip down gently and smooth it out from the center toward the edges without stretching the tape. A smooth layer over the front window and the Squish Facts list on the back gives your box that glossy, store-bought pack shine.
3Cut it out
Use your scissors to cut neatly along the solid black outer line of the template, keeping every yellow glue tab and blue tape tab attached. Take your time around the angled corners of the top and bottom flaps. Do not cut any of the dashed interior lines—those are the fold lines that form the rectangular corners of your crayon pack.
4Pre-fold every tab
Line up your ruler along each dashed line and trace over it firmly with an empty pen to score the paper. Fold every single tab and box edge inward toward the white back side once, then unfold it flat again. Taped paper gets stiff, so pre-folding now makes the narrow side panels with the blue, green, and purple crayons bend cleanly later.
5Make the walls
Fold the main panels into a rectangular ring with the crayon artwork facing outside. Put a dab of glue on the long yellow side tab, press it inside the opposite wall to hold the ring together, and immediately run a strip of regular clear tape along the whole vertical seam from the outside so the corner stays shut.
6Close the bottom
Swipe glue onto the 3 yellow tabs at the bottom of the box—the end decorated with colorful crayon scribbles and little stars. Fold the bottom in and reach inside the open box to press the tabs tightly against the walls. Leave the top flap with the rainbow crayon tips completely open for filling.
7Tape the bottom
Since craft glue alone cannot hold onto slick packing tape for long, reinforce the base right away. Place strips of regular clear tape all the way along every bottom edge from the outside. Smooth the tape neatly along the green chevron corners so the bottom of your crayon box sits flat and won’t pop open when squeezed.
8Stuff it
Push small, loose scrunches of plastic grocery bag or fluffy fiberfill down through the open top of the box. Tuck the first bits lightly into the bottom corners, then fill up toward the window. Keep the stuffing light and airy so the front panel with the happy red crayon and the back Squish Facts panel stay flat and square instead of bulging.
9Close it
Fold the 3 light blue tabs at the top inward and close the lid showing the row of rainbow crayon tips down over them. Hold the lid snug and seal every top edge from the outside with regular clear tape, running the tape along the full length of each seam to lock the stuffing inside.
10Squish!
Your 3D crayon box is ready! Give the middle a gentle squeeze and watch the paper puff right back into shape. If the air is completely trapped and you want a smoother, slow-rising squish, prick one tiny pinhole in an inconspicuous spot, like one of the little stars on the side panel.
Free Crayon Box 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 4–6). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Keep the side panels crisp. The narrow side strips with the blue, green, and purple crayons give the pack its boxy depth. Score their dashed lines firmly with a ruler and empty pen so the edges don’t curve into a tube.
- Flat front and back walls. If the CRAYONS lettering on the front or the Squish Facts list on the back rounds out like a pillow, you packed in too much filling. Pull a little stuffing out so the sides stay flat.
- Wrinkle-free crayon window. Wrinkles in the packing tape show up easily over the dark shading behind the crayon tips. Lay shorter strips across the front and smooth them from the middle without pulling.
- Check the green bottom corners. If a bottom edge pops open when you squeeze the box, remember that glue doesn’t hold on tape. Put a fresh strip of clear tape all along the seam from the outside.
Questions
How do you make a paper squishy for school supplies?
Print our template on plain 80–100 gsm (20–24 lb) paper, cover the motif with clear packing tape, and cut out the one-piece box net. Score and pre-fold the dashed lines, hold the yellow tabs with glue while taping every seam from the outside, then stuff lightly and tape the blue-tabbed lid shut. You can also make a squishy storage box to keep your desk crafts tidy.
How do you make a paper squishy at school with a class?
This is a great classroom craft! Print one sheet per student and pre-cut strips of clear tape before you start. Kids can color the black-and-white crayon box page while you help with scoring and taping—plan about 45 minutes from start to finish.
Can I use only glue to assemble the crayon box?
No, glue alone won’t hold on tape-covered paper once you start squeezing the box. The glue stick is only there to tack the yellow tabs in place while your hands are busy; every single seam must be sealed from the outside with clear tape.
What paper and stuffing work best?
Regular printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal because cardstock becomes too stiff to fold neatly once laminated with tape. For filling, use loose pieces of plastic grocery bags for a crinkly feel or fiberfill for a soft squish.
Can I make the crayon box squishy bigger?
At 100% scale, the finished box measures about 2.4 × 3.1 in (6.0 × 8.0 cm), taking 30 to 45 minutes to build. To make a jumbo version, simply print the template enlarged on a bigger sheet of paper—since the whole box is one connected piece, all the tabs and walls will still match up.
More paper squishies to make
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