- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 3.5 in (11.4 × 8.9 cm)
Topped with a glossy orange salmon slice, a dark green nori band, and a smiling rice base with rosy cheeks, this salmon nigiri makes the cutest desk buddy. Grab our free sushi paper squishy template in US Letter or A4, featuring 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Once taped and stuffed, your finished pillow measures about 4.5 × 3.5 in (11.4 × 8.9 cm). Pair it with an onigiri paper squishy for a full snack plate!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your salmon sushi sheet at 100% on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off “fit to page”. Check the line in the top corner: it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page, color the orange salmon stripes, dark green seaweed band, and pink cheeks now, then let marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two sushi pieces with wide clear packing tape, not the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the center of the nori wrap outwards toward the salmon tips without stretching it—stretched tape wrinkles later. This layer makes your salmon nigiri shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and the back along the solid outer line, keeping the small white border all the way around. Take your time with your scissors as you follow the gentle side dips where the overhanging salmon tips meet the rounded rice bottom.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down on strips of tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the edge all around, then snip this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little flaps will hold your squishy together around the curved salmon dome and rice base.
5Join front and back
Place the smiling front piece on the back, white sides together, lining up the salmon slices and seaweed band. Fold the tape flaps over the edge of the front one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a small gap of 4.5 cm (1 in and a bit) open where the pink line in the picture shows: that is your gap for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the gap. Fill the far corners first—tucking fluff into the overhanging salmon ends and rounded rice base—and stop when it feels soft and puffy. Too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger along the entire sushi outline, especially the little dips under the salmon slice, to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give the plump rice belly a squeeze and watch your salmon sushi puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back so the air escapes slowly.
Free Salmon Sushi 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 sushi feels too hard. It has too much stuffing inside. Open the gap, take some filling out of the rice center, and tape it shut again.
- The tape wrinkles on the salmon. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the wide orange top and lay them on gently without pulling.
- A side edge splits open. The dip where the salmon meets the rice gets extra pressure when squeezed; put a new short strip across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- The marker colors smeared. Dark green and bright orange markers need a moment to set, so let markers dry fully before taping. Printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
What paper works best for a sushi paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds smoothly around the curved rice and salmon shape. Cardstock makes the squishy stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the sushi?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open when you squeeze it. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What are some fun paper squishy ideas for a sushi set?
You can print the page at a larger scale like 120% (with front and back on the same sheet) for a jumbo piece, or color the blank version red for tuna. For a complete meal, make a bento box paper squishy to go alongside your salmon nigiri.
What can I stuff my paper sushi squishy with?
Plastic grocery bags feel crinkly and light, while cotton balls or fiberfill make the rice pillow super soft. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this craft with a class or group?
Yes! Print one sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping—plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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