- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 3.5 in (11.4 × 8.9 cm)
This pastel rectangle paper squishy looks like a cozy little pillow with diagonal pink, yellow, and mint stripes, complete with starry eyes and rosy cheeks. Download the free rectangle paper squishy template in US Letter or A4 to get 3 versions: the ready-to-make pastel color design, a line-art coloring page, and a blank outline for your own patterns. Pair it with our pastel square squishy and smiley circle squishy to craft a matching set of geometric cushions!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your pastel rectangle 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 or blank version, color your diagonal stripes and kawaii face now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Laminate the front and back pillow pieces with wide clear packing tape—just cover the two shapes, not the whole sheet of paper. Smooth each strip from the middle out toward the pointed pillow corners without pulling, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy layer makes the pastel rectangle durable, shiny, and super satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back pieces right along the solid outer black line. Take your time curving around the puffy pillow corners and along the gently dipped sides so you keep the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the striped back piece printed-side down onto strips of clear tape so the sticky side faces up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip little slits into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, paying extra attention around the corner tips. These small flaps will wrap around to join your squishy.
5Join front and back
Line up the smiling front piece on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides facing each other. Fold each sticky tape flap over the front edge one by one and press firmly. 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 to add the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and poke them in through the open gap. Push the first tiny tufts all the way into the far pointed pillow corners so the rectangle gets its cute, plump shape. Keep filling until the center feels soft and cushiony, but stop before it gets tight so the taped seams don’t pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps neatly over the open edge and secure the gap with one extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all the straight sides and around every corner to make sure the entire border is sealed tight.
8Squish!
Your pastel rectangle paper squishy is ready! Give the chubby striped pillow a big squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want a slower, extra-mellow rise, gently prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the pillow so air can escape.
Free Pastel Rectangle 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
- Pillow feels too hard. If your pastel rectangle feels stiff instead of pillowy, it has too much stuffing inside. Open the stuffing gap, pull a few tufts out of the center, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the stripes. Tape wrinkles when it gets pulled tight while you lay it down over the wide rectangle. Use shorter strips of packing tape and smooth them from the center outward without stretching.
- A corner seam pops open. The curved pillow corners take the most pressure when you squeeze. Simply press a fresh short piece of clear tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old tape.
- Marker colors smudged. Putting packing tape over damp marker ink will smear your pastel stripes right away. Always let colored markers dry completely before taping; regular printer ink is ready immediately.
Questions
What are some fun rectangle paper squishy ideas for the blank version?
The blank rectangle pillow shape is great for drawing your own pastel stripes, a miniature bed pillow, a cute candy wrapper, or a tiny cracker packet. Just color your design with markers or pencils and let the ink dry fully before taping.
What paper works best for a rectangle paper squishy?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds smoothly around the puffy pillow corners and squishes best. Heavy cardstock is too stiff and won’t give you a soft squeeze.
Can I use glue instead of tape on the edges?
No, glue won’t stick to the slick packing-tape surface, so the pillow seams would pop right open. Folding the snipped tape border over the edges is the best way to hold your squishy together.
Can I make this rectangle paper squishy bigger?
Yes! Print the template at a larger scale, such as 120%, and make sure both the front and back pieces stay on the same sheet so they match. At 100% scale, the finished pillow measures about 4.5 × 3.5 in (11.4 × 8.9 cm).
Can I make this pastel rectangle squishy with a class or group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per kid and pre-cut the clear tape strips ahead of time to make things easy. Plan about 30 minutes so everyone has time to color, tape, and stuff their pillow.
More paper squishies to make
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