- Medium
- 30–45 minutes
- 3D shape
- about 2.2 × 2.8 in (5.6 × 7.2 cm)
Brew up some desk-side cuteness with a 3D iced coffee paper squishy featuring creamy milk swirls, floating ice cubes, roasted coffee beans, and a green straw printed right on the lid. Your free printable PDF comes in US Letter and A4 sizes with 3 versions: full color, a line-art coloring page, and a blank cup template. Once stuffed, it stands about 2.2 × 2.8 in (5.6 × 7.2 cm) and looks adorable next to a matcha latte squishy.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your iced coffee sheet at 100% on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale bar in the corner; it needs to measure exactly 2 inches (or 50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the ice cubes, coffee beans, and milk swirls now before adding any tape.
2Tape the motif
Cover the entire iced coffee design with wide clear packing tape, making sure to include the lid, the coffee-bean bottom circle, and all yellow glue tabs. Smooth each strip outward from the center without stretching the tape so the curved cup wrapper stays completely flat and glossy.
3Cut it out
Cut carefully along the solid black outer line of the template. Go slowly around the top lid with the green straw and the round bottom piece—both circles must stay attached to the main cup wrapper by their narrow hinges. Do not cut any of the dashed lines.
4Pre-fold every tab
Use an empty pen to score along all the dashed lines, following the gentle curve at the top and bottom of the wrapper. Fold every yellow tab and both circle hinges inward toward the blank white side once, crease them well, and open them back up.
5Snip the bottom tabs
Look at the narrower bottom edge of the iced coffee wrapper and snip only the short solid lines between the yellow tabs, cutting right up to the scored fold line. Leave the wider row of top tabs uncut for now so they don’t get in your way.
6Roll the wrapper
Curl the wrapper into a tapered cup tube with the kawaii face and coffee swirls on the outside. Put a little glue on the long yellow side tab, press it inside to hold the tube shape, and seal the entire vertical seam from the outside with regular clear tape.
7Glue the bottom on
Fold the small bottom tabs inward. Dab glue onto their outer yellow sides (which are now facing up toward you). Swing the attached coffee-bean bottom circle closed onto the sticky tabs and press it down firmly so the base of your cup takes shape.
8Tape the bottom
Because craft glue won’t hold onto slick packing tape by itself, reinforce the base right away. Wrap overlapping strips of regular clear tape all the way around the curved bottom edge to lock the circle smoothly onto the cup walls.
9Snip the top tabs
Now take your scissors and snip the short solid lines between the yellow tabs along the wider top rim, cutting right up to the scored fold line. These split tabs will curve neatly around the rim when you close the lid.
10Stuff it
Stand your iced coffee cup upright and hold the straw lid folded back out of the way. Push plastic bag or fiberfill lightly through the wide open top, filling the narrower base first and keeping it fluffy so the cup stays round.
11Glue the lid on
Fold the top rim tabs inward over the stuffing. Apply glue to their outer yellow surfaces facing up, then fold the round lid with the green straw down onto them. Press firmly around the rim until the lid sits flat.
12Tape the lid
Since glue alone never holds on tape for long, seal the top rim just like you did the base. Place overlapping strips of clear tape all the way around the lid’s outer edge—this tape is what keeps your cup closed for good.
13Squish!
Your iced coffee squishy is ready! Give the cup a gentle squeeze and watch the creamy swirls puff right back into shape. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick one tiny pinhole to let the air escape slowly.
Free Iced Coffee 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 4–7). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Rim looks blocky instead of round. Score the dashed lines along the top and bottom edges with an empty pen and a ruler before folding. This helps the tapered coffee cup roll into a smooth circle instead of bending in sharp corners.
- The straw lid pops open. Glue doesn’t hold on tape once you start squeezing the cup. Put a new strip of clear tape along the whole seam around the lid’s rim to seal it down.
- Cup bulges out of shape. If the coffee-bean base or tapered sides bulge out, there is too much stuffing inside. Take some filling out before sealing so the sides and bottom stay flat.
- Tape wrinkles on the tapered sides. Because the cup is wider at the top than the bottom, long tape strips can bunch up around the rims. Use shorter strips of clear tape and lay them on gently without pulling.
Questions
How do you make a coffee paper squishy hold its round shape?
Score the dashed lines with an empty pen before folding, and stuff the tapered tube lightly with plastic grocery bags or fiberfill. Overstuffing pushes the sides outward, while light stuffing lets the cup keep its neat cafe shape.
Can I build this iced coffee squishy using only glue?
No, glue only holds the yellow tabs in place while you build the cup. It doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper for long, so every glued seam needs a strip of clear tape from the outside.
What paper works best for a paper squishy coffee cup?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock is hard to fold once it is taped and makes the finished cup too stiff to squish.
Can I make a bigger cup or a pink drink paper squishy too?
Yes! Print the page larger on a bigger sheet of paper—all parts are one piece, so the lid and base still fit together. You can also pair your iced brew with a sweet pink drink squishy for a full cafe play set.
Can I make these with a class or a group?
Yes! Plan about 45 minutes, print one sheet per person, and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the iced coffee coloring page while you help with scoring and taping the rims.
More paper squishies to make
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