- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 2.6 × 4.5 in (6.6 × 11.4 cm)
Bring back throwback vibes with this pastel purple flip phone paper squishy featuring a smiling aqua screen and chubby cream keypad buttons. You get a free printable template in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline to design your own screen. It measures about 2.6 × 4.5 in (6.6 × 11.4 cm) when stuffed and pairs wonderfully with a pink phone squishy or a laptop paper squishy for a cute desk collection.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your flip phone template at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure “fit to page” is turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank version, color the shell, buttons, and screen face now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back phone shapes only—no need to cover the whole page. Smooth each piece from the middle outward without pulling, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes the lilac casing shine and keeps your paper squishy strong when you squeeze the keypad.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border all the way around. Take your time curving around the top screen half, dipping gently into the middle hinge waist, and rounding the bottom keypad section so both halves match up cleanly.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip little slits into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the curved top and the slight inward dip at the middle hinge.
5Join front and back
Line up the front piece on top of the back with the white unprinted sides together, matching the hinge waist and rounded ends. Fold the sticky flaps over the front edge one by one and press them flat. Leave a small 3 cm (1½ in) gap open on the side (shown by the pink line in the illustration) so you have room to stuff it.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them in through the open side gap. Tuck stuffing up into the top screen dome first, then fill the bottom keypad half and middle hinge until the phone feels soft and plump—stop before it gets tight so the seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the open side and seal the gap shut with one extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire outline, pressing down the curves and the middle hinge dip so every seam is tightly closed.
8Squish!
Your retro cell phone is ready! Give the chubby keypad and smiling screen a big squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want a slower rise, poke one tiny pinhole into the back casing to let the air escape gradually.
Free Flip Phone 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 middle hinge feels stiff. If the narrower waist between the screen and keypad feels too hard, open the gap, pull out a little stuffing, and tape it shut again.
- Wrinkles over the keypad. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them down gently without pulling so the lavender surface stays smooth.
- A curved seam pops open. Place a fresh short strip of clear tape right across the split on the top or bottom curve, overlapping the old tape.
- Smudged screen or button colors. Always let marker ink dry completely before adding packing tape; regular printer ink is ready to tape right away.
Questions
How do you make a paper squishy phone without glue?
You join the front and back with a snipped border of clear tape folded over the edges. Glue won’t stick to tape-laminated paper and would pop open when squeezed, while folded tape flaps hold the phone seams securely.
What paper works best for a flip phone paper squishy template?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal. Heavy cardstock is too stiff to fold cleanly around the phone’s curved top and middle hinge, and it won’t squish nicely.
What can I stuff my paper phone squishy with?
Use torn plastic grocery bags for a light, crinkly feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a plush pillow texture. You can also cut small bits of memory foam if you want a slow-rising squish.
Can I print the phone template bigger?
Yes! Set your printer scale to a larger number like 120%, and keep both the front and back pieces on the same sheet so they stay the exact same size.
Is this a good craft for a party or classroom group?
Definitely. Print 1 sheet per kid and pre-cut the tape strips before you start; kids can color their phone screens while you help with the taping, and the whole activity takes about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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