- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.3 cm)
This pastel rainbow smiley circle has glossy bubble highlights, rosy cheeks, and a sweet curved grin that feels so satisfying to squeeze. Grab the free circle paper squishy template below—the PDF comes in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline to draw your own face. Pair it with our Pastel Square paper squishy and Pastel Rectangle squishy to craft a matching geometric set!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper and make sure “fit to page” is turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, blend soft pink, yellow, green, and blue shades across the round shape now and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape right over the front and back circles rather than covering the whole page. Smooth each strip from the middle of the smiley face outward without pulling, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat gives the bubble print its shine and makes the paper strong enough for lots of squishing.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front smiley circle and the matching rainbow back along the solid outer black line. Turn the paper smoothly as you cut to keep the round shape even, and be sure to leave the narrow white border around the brown outline intact.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back circle printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape so the sticky side faces up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the round edge all the way around, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little tabs let the tape curve smoothly around the circle.
5Join front and back
Line up the front smiley piece on top of the back with the white paper sides facing each other. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one at a time and press them down firmly around the curve. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open at the bottom or side, just like the pink line in the illustration shows, for your stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small fluffy bits and push them through the open gap. Work the first pieces all the way to the opposite curve of the circle, then fill the center until the round pillow feels soft and puffy. Stop before it gets tight so the curved seams don’t pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps neatly over the stuffed opening and seal the gap shut with one extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger all the way around the circular edge to press every tab down tightly.
8Squish!
Your smiley circle paper squishy is ready to squeeze! Give the pastel cheeks a press and watch the pillow puff right back up. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, poke one tiny pinhole in the back so the air escapes gently.
Free Smiley Circle 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 round pillow feels hard. A circle puffs up quickly and gets stiff if it is overpacked. Gently peel open the stuffing gap, pull out a few bits of filling, and tape the edge closed again.
- The tape wrinkles on the face. Use shorter strips of packing tape over the smiley and lay them down gently without stretching. Smooth from the center of the smile outward so no air bubbles get trapped.
- A curved seam pops open. Round edges take extra tension when you squeeze them. Press a fresh short piece of clear tape right across the split seam, overlapping the neighboring tabs.
- Pastel marker colors smeared. Water-based markers need a moment to set before you laminate over them. Let your colored circle dry completely before adding tape; standard printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do you make a circle paper squishy?
Because a circle is curved all the way around, the secret is snipping the 1 cm (½ inch) tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper edge. Those small flaps fold cleanly over the curve without bunching up, giving you a smooth round pillow with no glue needed.
What paper works best for a circle paper squishy template?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best because it bends easily when you stuff the round shape. Heavy cardstock is too stiff and won’t let your smiley circle squish nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the edges?
No, glue won’t stick to the slick packing-tape coating on the front and back pieces, so the seams would pop open when squeezed. Folding the snipped tape border over the edge is what holds the squishy together.
What can I stuff my smiley circle squishy with?
Torn plastic grocery bags give a light, crinkly squish, while cotton balls or fiberfill make it extra soft and plush. You can also use small bits of memory foam if you want a slow-rising effect.
Can I make this craft with a classroom or party group?
Yes! Print one sheet per kid and pre-cut the tape strips before you start. Kids can color the black-and-white smiley page while you help with the taping, and the whole activity takes about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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