- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.3 × 3.8 in (10.9 × 9.7 cm)
Serve up the cutest bowl of noodles with this free printable ramen paper squishy template! The design features a glossy red and black bowl with a happy blushing face, piled high with wavy golden noodles, a soft-boiled egg half, a pink-swirled fish cake, and chopped scallions. Your PDF download includes 3 versions (full color, coloring page, and blank) formatted for both US Letter and A4 paper. Pair it with our gyoza dumpling squishy for a full takeout feast!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your ramen bowl sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the scale line in the top corner: it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page, color the bowl, wavy noodles, egg, and fish cake now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the front and back ramen bowl pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle toward the edges without pulling or stretching the tape, because stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your paper squishy sturdy, shiny, and extra satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back bowls right along the solid black outer line. Keep the narrow white border all the way around, taking your time along the wavy noodle top and the small step at the base of the bowl.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back 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 into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper so the curved bowl edges and noodle bumps get neat little flaps.
5Join front and back
Place the front piece right on top of the back piece with the white sides together. 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 the side of the bowl (the pink line in the picture shows where) for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them inside through your open gap. Fill the far corners first—like the bottom foot of the bowl and the top noodle curves—and stop once it feels soft and puffy. Packing in too much stuffing will make the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the opening and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire bowl rim and base to press all the tape edges down well.
8Squish!
Done! Squeeze your kawaii ramen bowl squishy and watch the noodles puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the bowl so the air escapes gently.
Free Ramen Bowl 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 ramen bowl feels hard. It has too much stuffing inside. Gently open the stuffing gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the red bowl. Stretched tape causes creases on the dark red and black artwork. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them on without pulling.
- A curve along the noodles splits. The bumpy top edge has lots of curves that can pop under pressure. Put a new short strip of regular clear tape right across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Marker colors smeared under tape. Rich reds and golden yellows need a moment to set on plain paper. Always let marker ink dry completely before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do I make a ramen noodles paper squishy?
Print the template at 100% on plain 80–100 gsm (20–24 lb) printer paper, cover both noodle bowls with wide clear packing tape, and cut them out. Join the front and back with a snipped tape border, stuff the pillow softly, and tape the gap closed.
Can I use glue instead of tape on the edges?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so your ramen bowl seams would open when squeezed. The snipped clear tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper and stuffing work best for a paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best, because cardstock makes the squishy stiff. You can stuff it with plastic grocery bags for a crinkly feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make a bigger ramen bowl or a matching set?
Yes! To size it up from the standard 4.3 × 3.8 in (10.9 × 9.7 cm), print the page at 120% with the front and back together on the same sheet so they match, or make a noodle shop set with our ramen cup squishy.
Can I make these with a class or a group?
Yes, plan about 30 minutes for a group activity. Print 1 sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance so kids can color their noodle bowls while you help with taping.
More paper squishies to make
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