- Medium
- 30–45 minutes
- 3D shape
- about 2.4 × 3.3 in (6.0 × 8.5 cm)
This golden-yellow Peanut Butter Puffs box features a smiling breakfast bowl, a happy little peanut character, and cute Squish Facts on the back panel. Grab the free printable template for this cereal paper squishy in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a line-art coloring page, and a blank box for your own artwork. Once taped and stuffed, your mini box measures about 2.4 × 3.3 in (6.0 × 8.5 cm) and looks adorable next to a milk carton squishy.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen Peanut Butter Puffs sheet at 100% on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” option. Check the scale bar at the top right so it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the chocolate and peanut puffs, the happy peanut, and the bowl now.
2Tape the motif
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the entire cereal box net, making sure to cover all the yellow and blue tabs too. Smooth each strip outward from the center without stretching the tape so the golden-yellow front panel and the Squish Facts back stay glossy and wrinkle-free.
3Cut it out
Use your scissors to cut neatly along the solid black outer line of the template, keeping every yellow glue tab and blue tape tab attached. Take your time around the angled corners of the top and bottom flaps, and be careful not to cut into any of the dashed fold lines.
4Pre-fold every tab
Line up your ruler along each dashed line and score firmly with an empty pen, including the long vertical box corners and all tab lines. Fold every crease and tab inward toward the blank white side once, then unfold it again—taped paper is much harder to crease cleanly once the box is assembled.
5Make the walls
Fold the main panels into a rectangular ring with the Peanut Butter Puffs artwork facing out. Dab a little glue onto the long yellow side tab, press it inside the opposite wall to hold the ring together, and secure that vertical corner seam from the outside with a strip of clear tape along its whole length.
6Close the bottom
Spread glue on the 3 yellow bottom tabs, fold the heart-patterned bottom flap inward, and reach inside the box to press the tabs flat against the walls. Leave the top flap with the blue tabs wide open so you can stuff your cereal box through it.
7Tape the bottom
Because glue alone will not hold on slick tape-covered paper for long, reinforce the base right away. Run strips of regular clear tape along every bottom edge from the outside, sealing the entire length of each seam so the cereal box base stays square and sturdy.
8Stuff it
Push small, loose scrunches of plastic bag or tiny tufts of fiberfill down through the open top, starting with the bottom corners behind the smiling cereal bowl. Stuff the box lightly and evenly so the front and back panels stay flat like a real cereal box instead of bulging.
9Close it
Fold the 3 blue tabs inward, then bring the top Peanut Puffs lid down over them to close the box. Seal every top edge from the outside with regular clear tape along its full length so no stuffing can peek out.
10Squish!
Your Peanut Butter Puffs paper squishy is ready to squeeze! Press the front panel and watch the cereal box puff right back into shape. If you prefer a slow-rising feel, prick one tiny pinhole in an inconspicuous spot so the air escapes slowly.
Free Peanut Butter Puffs 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 4–6). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Keep the box front flat. Because a cereal box has wide front and back panels, too much filling makes it round out like a pillow. Remove a bit of stuffing so the sides stay crisp and rectangular.
- Sharp corners on the sides. Score the long vertical dashed lines firmly with a ruler and an empty pen before folding so the narrow peanut-patterned side panels bend at clean angles.
- A corner seam pops open. Glue only holds the yellow tabs temporarily and won’t stick to packing tape on its own. Press a fresh strip of clear tape over the entire length of the outside seam.
- Smooth tape over the logo. Wrinkles show up easily over the dark brown puff graphics and bold lettering. Lay down shorter strips of packing tape without pulling, smoothing each one from the middle out.
Questions
How do you make a 3D paper squishy cereal box stay square?
Score every dashed line with a ruler and an empty pen before folding, and stuff the box very lightly with small pieces of fiberfill or plastic bag. Overstuffing pushes the wide front and back panels outward, while light filling keeps the cereal box crisp.
Can I build this cereal paper squishy with only glue?
No, glue is only used to tack the yellow tabs in place while you put the box together. Because glue does not stay stuck to tape-covered paper, you must seal every seam from the outside with clear tape.
What paper works best for a printable paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal. Heavy cardstock becomes too stiff once laminated with packing tape and won’t squish nicely.
What are some fun cereal paper squishy ideas for a set?
You can print the coloring page or blank version to invent your own flavors, or build a whole breakfast aisle by pairing this box with a fruit rings cereal squishy. Since the template is all one piece, you can even print it larger on a bigger sheet of paper for a jumbo box.
Can I make these cereal boxes with a class or group?
Yes, just print one template sheet per person and pre-cut the clear tape strips before you start. Kids can color the Peanut Butter Puffs coloring page while an adult helps with scoring and taping—plan about 45 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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