- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.3 × 3.8 in (10.9 × 9.6 cm)
Nothing says cozy winter days like a bright red mug piled high with fluffy marshmallows, rich chocolate drizzle, and a sweet kawaii smile. This hot cocoa mug makes the cutest Christmas paper squishy to craft on a chilly afternoon, and you can pair it with a gingerbread man squishy for a festive treat set. You get a free printable template in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your hot cocoa mug template at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the red mug, marshmallows, and chocolate drizzle now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back mug pieces only, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle outward without pulling or stretching the tape, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This smooth layer makes your hot cocoa mug shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back mug shapes right along the solid outer line. Take your time curving around the bumpy marshmallow top and the side handle, and be sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back mug piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little flaps will hold your curved mug and handle together.
5Join front and back
Line up the front mug piece on top of the back piece with the white sides facing together. Fold each sticky tape flap over the front edge one by one and press firmly, taking extra care around the curves by the handle. Leave a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap open along the edge as shown by the pink line in the picture for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and gently push them in through the gap. Fill the far corners first, like the marshmallow mound and the curved handle area, then stuff the round mug until it feels soft and puffy. Stop before overfilling so the taped seams do not pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the edge of the mug and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges, from the base up over the marshmallows and handle, to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Your cozy hot cocoa mug squishy is ready—squeeze the red mug and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the mug so the air escapes slowly.
Free Hot Cocoa Mug 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 mug feels too stiff. If your hot cocoa mug feels hard instead of pillowy, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the red mug. Smooth red artwork shows tape creases easily if the packing tape is pulled tight. Use shorter strips and lay them on across the mug without pulling.
- Seam splits near the handle. The curve where the handle meets the mug gets extra tension when squeezed. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Smudged chocolate drizzle colors. Dark brown and bright red markers need a moment to set before taping. Let markers dry fully before applying packing tape, while printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
What are more cute Christmas paper squishy ideas to make?
This hot cocoa mug is a fun start to a holiday set! You can craft a whole winter collection by pairing your mug with a candy cane squishy, or print a few extra templates to make matching gifts for friends.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the mug?
Not for the edges, because glue does not stick to tape-covered paper and the seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds your mug together best.
What paper works best for a Christmas paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the hot cocoa mug too stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my hot cocoa mug squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft texture. Small pieces of memory foam also work well if you want a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make these with a class or a winter party group?
Yes, just print one sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the hot cocoa mug coloring page while you help with taping, and you should plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
Pin this tutorial
Save it to your craft board so you can find the free template again.