- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 3.5 in (11.4 × 8.9 cm)
Send the sweetest handmade mail with this kawaii love letter! Topped with a glossy red heart seal, sparkly eyes, and rosy pink cheeks, this cute valentine paper squishy measures about 4.5 × 3.5 in (11.4 × 8.9 cm) when stuffed. You get a free printable template in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank design. Pair it with our Mother’s Day heart squishy or sweet heart squishy for an extra lovely gift bundle.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your love letter 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 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank version, color the envelope and heart seal now, and let marker ink dry completely so the dark outlines stay crisp.
2Tape the pieces
Laminate only the two love letter pieces with wide clear packing tape instead of covering the whole sheet. Lay each strip down gently and smooth it from the center of the pink envelope outward without stretching—stretched tape will wrinkle later. This clear layer gives your love letter a glossy shine and makes the paper strong enough for lots of squishing.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back pieces with scissors, following the solid outer line around the rectangular shape. Take your time around the rounded corners so both halves match nicely, and make sure to keep the narrow white border all the way around.
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 this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, paying attention to the rounded corners. These little flaps will wrap around to hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Set the front piece on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides facing each other, lining up the red heart seals. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them flat. Leave a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap open along one side, just like the pink line in the illustration shows, so you have room for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them inside the love letter through the open gap. Poke the first pieces all the way into the far rounded corners of the envelope before filling the middle. Stop when the letter feels soft and pillowy—packing in too much stuffing can make the taped seams pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the open edge and seal the gap shut with one extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly around all sides and corners of the love letter to make sure every piece of tape is pressed down tight.
8Squish!
Your love letter squishy is ready! Give the chubby pink envelope a big squeeze and watch the happy face puff right back up. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the letter so the air escapes gently.
Free Love Letter 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
- My love letter feels too hard. It is packed with too much stuffing. Gently peel open the filling gap, pull a few tufts out of the envelope, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the cute face. Tape wrinkles when it gets pulled tight while you lay it down. Use shorter strips across the envelope and smooth them on without stretching.
- A corner seam pops open. The rounded corners of the rectangular letter take the most pressure when you squeeze. Place a short fresh strip of clear tape right across the split, overlapping the old tape.
- The red heart ink smeared. Marker ink needs a moment to set before tape touches it, so always let your coloring dry fully first. Printer ink on the color template is ready to tape right away.
Questions
How do you make a Valentine’s Day paper squishy without glue?
You only need clear tape to seal this love letter! Glue will not stick to tape-laminated paper, so the snipped tape border folded over the edges is what holds the seams tight.
What paper works best for a printable paper squishy template?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds smoothly around the rectangular envelope edges and squishes the best. Avoid thick cardstock, which makes the love letter stiff and hard to squeeze.
What can I stuff my love paper squishy with?
Torn plastic grocery bags give a fun, crinkly feel, while cotton balls or fiberfill make the pillow super soft. You can also use tiny pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squish.
Can I print the love letter template bigger?
Yes! Set your printer scale to 120% to make a jumbo love letter, and make sure both the front and back print on the same sheet so they match up.
Are these good Valentine paper squishy ideas for a classroom party?
They are a huge hit with groups! Print one sheet per kid, pre-cut the tape strips to save time, and plan about 30 minutes for coloring, taping, and stuffing.
More paper squishies to make
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