- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.1 × 3.7 in (10.4 × 9.4 cm)
This Mother’s Day heart paper squishy looks like a pink heart-shaped gift box tied with a glossy red bow, decorated with 3 blooming pink roses and a sweet smiling face with heart cheeks. Download our free Mother’s Day heart paper squishy template in US Letter and A4 sizes, featuring 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank design. Pair it with a love letter paper squishy for the sweetest handmade gift set for Mom.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your Mother’s Day heart sheet at 100% scale 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 chose the coloring page, color the ribbon, roses, and box lid now, then let any marker ink dry completely before taping.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape across the front and back heart pieces only, rather than taping the entire page. Smooth each strip from the middle of the heart out toward the edges without pulling or stretching the tape, because stretched tape wrinkles later. This layer makes your gift box shiny, sturdy, and super squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back heart shapes right along the solid black outer line. Take your time around the top dip between the two heart lobes and down at the bottom point, making sure you keep the small white border all the way around both pieces.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back heart piece printed side down onto strips of 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 so the little flaps will fold smoothly around the curved heart edges.
5Join front and back
Stack the front heart piece on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together, lining up the top lobes and bottom point. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one at a time and press them down firmly. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open along one lower side, right where the pink line in the picture shows.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them inside through your side gap. Gently work the first pieces up into the two rounded top lobes and down into the bottom point of the heart box, then fill the middle until it feels soft and puffy – too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the open side of the heart and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire outer border, including the top dip and bottom point, to press all the tape down well.
8Squish!
Your Mother’s Day heart paper squishy is ready to gift! Give the cute pink gift box a gentle squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the heart.
Free Mother’s Day Heart 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 top dip splits open. The inward dip between the two heart lobes curves tightly and can pop under pressure. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the dip, overlapping the old flaps.
- The heart box feels hard. Packing too much filling into the rounded lobes and bottom point makes the heart stiff. Open the gap, take some stuffing out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles over the red bow. Pulling packing tape tight while laying it down causes ripples across the shiny bow and rose details. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently without pulling.
- Rose and ribbon colors smeared. Bright red and pink markers need a moment to set before they touch tape. Let markers dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for this heart squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the curved heart seams would pop open; the snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff this heart gift box squishy with?
Use torn plastic grocery bags for a light and crinkly squish, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft plush feel. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
How do you make a birthday paper squishy for Mom too?
If Mom’s birthday is close to Mother’s Day, you can craft a matching birthday cake paper squishy using the exact same print, tape, and stuff method. Pair it with this heart gift box for an extra sweet handmade birthday paper squishy set.
Where can I find a birthday cake paper squishy template to pair with this?
You can grab our printable birthday cake paper squishy template right on the site and print it at 100% scale just like this heart box. To make either squishy bigger, print the sheet at 120% with the front and back on the same page so they match.
Can I make these Mother’s Day squishies with a class or group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance so kids can color the roses and bow on the coloring page while you help with taping. Plan about 30 minutes for the activity.
More paper squishies to make
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