- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.3 × 9.4 cm)
With sparkly eyes, rosy pink cheeks, and a wavy sheet hem shaded in soft icy blue, this friendly little ghost is way more sweet than spooky. Our free printable halloween paper squishy template gives you 3 versions in both US Letter and A4: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Once stuffed, your ghost pillow measures about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.3 × 9.4 cm). Pair it with our pumpkin paper squishy for a matching spooky-cute desk duo!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen ghost sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure “fit to page” is turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner; it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, add your favorite pastel shading to the ghost’s folds and cheeks now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the two ghost pieces only—no need to cover the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of the ghost outward without pulling or stretching the tape, since stretched tape causes wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your ghost shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and the back ghost shapes right along the solid outer line, keeping the small white border intact. Take your time curving the scissors smoothly around the rounded head and the three wavy ripples along the bottom hem so both halves match up cleanly.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down on strips of regular tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, especially around the curved head and wavy bottom. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Put the front ghost on top of the back, white sides together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down flat along the curves. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ inch) gap open on the smoother upper side—the pink line in the picture shows where—so you have room for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the side gap. Tuck tiny pieces down into the three wavy bottom corners and up into the rounded head first, then fill the middle until the ghost feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets too full so the seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open side and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges around the wavy bottom hem and curved top to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give your kawaii ghost a gentle squeeze and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the ghost so the air escapes slowly.
Free Ghost 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
- Smoothing the wavy bottom hem. The three ripples at the bottom of the ghost curve inward and outward. Make sure you snip the tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper line so the flaps fold smoothly around each wave without bunching.
- Ghost feels too hard. If your ghost feels stiff instead of pillowy, it has too much stuffing inside. Gently open the side gap, take a few pinches out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Keeping the white body bright. Because the ghost is mostly bright white and pale blue, marker smudges show up easily on the coloring version. Let your markers dry completely before taping so the dark eyes and pink cheeks stay crisp.
- Fixing a split seam. If one of the bottom curves splits open after lots of squishing, put a new short strip of clear tape right across the edge, overlapping the old tape on both sides.
Questions
What are more cute Halloween paper squishy ideas to make as a set?
This friendly ghost looks adorable next to a candy corn paper squishy or a spooky bat! You can print a few different designs and pile them into a little Halloween treat basket.
What paper works best for this Halloween paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the ghost too stiff around its wavy bottom and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the ghost?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my ghost paper squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make these ghost squishies with a class or a group?
Yes! Print one sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the ghost coloring page while you help with taping—plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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