- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 3.7 in (9.1 × 9.4 cm)
This pastel mint instant camera paper squishy is ready for its close-up, complete with a winking kawaii face inside the round lens, a tiny pink heart, and a fresh photo sliding out the bottom. Our free PDF download comes in US Letter and A4 sizes and includes 3 versions: ready-to-make full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline so you can draw a custom picture on the photo print. Pair it with our flip phone paper squishy for a cute retro gadget collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your instant camera template at 100% on plain printer paper with “fit to page” turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner to be sure it measures 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or want to draw a tiny doodle inside the bottom photo frame, color it now and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two camera pieces with wide clear packing tape instead of taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the center outward without stretching it, since stretched tape tends to wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your mint green camera and winking lens shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back camera shapes right along the solid outer line, keeping the narrow white border intact. Take your time curving around the small pink side strap loops and the step where the instant photo sticks out at the bottom so both silhouettes match cleanly.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back camera piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape so it extends about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into that border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, taking care around the corners of the photo slot. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Align the front camera piece on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides facing each other. Fold the sticky flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly around the camera body and bottom photo print. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ inch) gap open where the pink line shows in the picture so you have room for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through the open gap. Fill the far corners first—down into the bottom photo print and out to the little pink side strap bumps—before filling the round lens area. Stop when the camera feels soft and puffy, because too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges—including the indented corners beside the bottom photo—to make sure the tape is pressed down well.
8Squish!
Your kawaii camera is done! Squeeze the puffy lens and watch it puff right back up. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the camera so the air escapes slowly.
Free Instant Camera 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
- Keep the bottom photo puffy. The instant photo sticking out at the bottom is narrower than the camera body, so push tiny shreds of stuffing down into those 2 bottom corners first before filling the middle.
- Keep the tape smooth. The wide mint camera body and round lens look best without creases, so use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them down gently without pulling.
- Fix a split seam. If an edge pops open around the angled bottom photo corners, place a new short strip of clear tape across the seam, overlapping the old tape.
- Avoid smudging your custom drawing. If you drew a mini picture inside the blank instant photo frame with markers, let the ink dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for this camera squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open when you squeeze it. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for printing the template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) gives the best squish. Cardstock makes the camera stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my instant camera 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 this instant camera squishy bigger or pair it with a phone?
Yes! 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. You can also print it at 100% and pair it with our laptop paper squishy for a cute desk gadget set.
Can I make this craft with a classroom or party group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the coloring page and draw a custom mini photo while you help with taping—plan about 30 minutes.
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