- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.2 × 2.6 in (10.6 × 6.6 cm)
With its soft cream dough, tiny top pleats, and sweet blushing smile, this little dumpling is ready to be squeezed. You can easily craft your own paper dumpling squishy using our free printable template, which comes in 3 versions (full color, coloring page, and blank) formatted for both US Letter and A4 paper. Pair it with a bubble tea paper squishy to craft the cutest takeout snack combo!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen dumpling template at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the test line in the top corner—it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). Using the coloring page? Color the cream dough and rosy cheeks now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the front and back dumpling pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the center of the happy face outward toward the edges and do not stretch it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This smooth tape layer makes your finished dumpling shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back pieces right along the solid outer black line. Make sure to keep the small white border around the cream dumpling shape, and glide carefully around the curved top arch and the two rounded bottom corners.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge all the way around, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little tape flaps will hold your rounded dumpling together.
5Join front and back
Put the front piece on the back piece with the blank white sides together, lining up the top pleats and bottom corners. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them firmly down. Leave a gap of about 4 cm (1½ in) open at the bottom (the pink line in the picture shows where)—that is your gap for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the bottom gap. Fill the far left and right corners of the dumpling first, then fill the rounded top dome and stop when it feels soft and puffy. Too much stuffing makes the taped seams pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the bottom opening and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger along all edges of the curved arch and base to press the tape down well so it holds securely.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your 4.2 × 2.6 in (10.6 × 6.6 cm) kawaii dumpling and watch the puffy dough puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Carefully prick 1 tiny pinhole in the back of the dumpling.
Free Dumpling 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
- The dumpling feels too hard. If your dumpling feels stiff instead of pillowy, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the bottom gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the cute face. Tape wrinkles happen when a strip is stretched while laying it down. Use shorter strips across the dumpling shape and lay them on smoothly without pulling.
- A curved edge splits open. The rounded sides of the dumpling take the most pressure when you squeeze it. Put a new short strip of tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old ones.
- The colors smeared under tape. Marker ink on the cheeks or dough needs a moment to set before taping. Let your markers dry fully before adding tape; standard printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape to make a paper dumpling squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the curved seams of the dumpling would quickly pop open. Folding the snipped tape border over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a paper dumpling squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best because it folds softly when you squeeze the dumpling. Cardstock makes the squishy stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my dumpling paper squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft plush dumpling, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make a bigger dumpling squishy or a snack set?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale, such as 120%, with both the front and back on the same sheet so they match, or pair it with a fries paper squishy for a cute food set.
Can I make paper squishy dumplings with a class or group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the dumpling coloring page while you help with taping; plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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