- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 3.9 in (9.2 × 9.9 cm)
This happy fish crackers bag features a smiling orange cracker with rosy cheeks, surrounded by smaller crackers and blue ocean waves on a crinkled snack pouch. Grab the free printable chips paper squishy template below, which comes in 3 versions (full color, coloring page, and blank) for both US Letter and A4 paper. At about 3.6 × 3.9 in (9.2 × 9.9 cm), it makes the cutest desk buddy. Pair it with our cheese crackers squishy for a full snack collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your fish crackers bag template at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check that the test line in the top corner measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the black and white coloring page, color the golden fish and blue waves now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two bag pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the center of the big smiling cracker outwards without stretching the tape, because stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy layer makes your snack pouch shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back of the fish crackers bag along the solid black outer line. Take your time following the gentle waves along the left and right sides of the wrapper, and make sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down on strips of regular clear tape, sticky side facing up. Cut the tape so it extends about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Place the front piece right on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together, lining up the blue crimped top and bottom seals. Fold the tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them down. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ inch) gap open on one side (shown by the pink line in the picture) for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the side gap. Fill the far corners of the snack pouch first, then fill the middle behind the big fish cracker until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before overfilling, as too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open side of the bag and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all the wavy side seams and the flat top and bottom edges to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your fish crackers bag squishy and watch the chubby cracker puff right back up. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the bag to let air escape slowly.
Free Fish Crackers Bag 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 snack bag feels hard. Your pouch has too much stuffing inside. Gently open the side gap, take some filling out until the bag feels pillowy, and tape it shut again.
- Tape wrinkles over the fish. Stretched tape creates creases across the wide front of the bag. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently without pulling, smoothing from the center outward.
- A wavy side edge splits. The curved indents on the sides of the wrapper take the most pressure when squeezed. Put a new short strip of tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Orange or blue ink smeared. Bold marker colors need a moment to set before taping. Always let your markers dry fully before adding packing tape; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the bag?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so your snack bag seams would open when squeezed. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff a bag of chips paper squishy with?
Plastic grocery bags give your snack pouch a fun, crinkly sound and light feel! For a softer pillow, use cotton balls or fiberfill, or try small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Is there a black and white paper squishy template chips version?
Yes! The free PDF includes a black and white coloring page version alongside the full-color fish crackers bag, plus a blank outline so you can design your own custom chip or cracker flavors.
What paper works best for this food squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the snack bag stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I make a bigger snack bag or craft with a group?
Yes to both! To make it bigger, print the page at a larger scale like 120% with the front and back together on the same sheet so they match. For a class or group, print 1 sheet per person, cut tape strips in advance, and plan about 30 minutes—you can even add our potato chips bag squishy for more variety.
More paper squishies to make
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