- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.9 in (9.3 × 9.9 cm)
This pastel pink spiral notebook paper squishy features rainbow stripes, colorful binding rings, and a sweet smiling label on the cover. Our free printable PDF comes in US Letter and A4 sizes with 3 versions: ready-to-make color, a black-and-white coloring page, and a blank template for your own cover art. Finished, it measures about 3.7 × 3.9 in (9.3 × 9.9 cm) and pairs adorably with our pencil and eraser squishy for a full desk set.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your spiral notebook sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure “fit to page” is turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner so it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank version, color the notebook cover, rainbow stripes, and spiral rings now, and let marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape right over the two notebook pieces, leaving the rest of the sheet untaped. Smooth each strip from the middle of the pink cover out toward the rainbow edge and spiral rings without stretching the tape, because stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your squishy strong, shiny, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back notebook covers along the solid black outer line. Keep the small white border intact all the way around, and guide your scissors smoothly around the wavy bumps along the spiral ring side so the scalloped edge stays neat.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back notebook piece printed side down on strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge all around, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, taking care around the curved corners and wavy ring side, to make little flaps.
5Join front and back
Put the front cover on the back piece with the white sides together, lining up the wavy spiral edge and the rainbow stripe side. Fold the tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down well. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ in) gap open where the pink line in the picture shows so you can stuff your notebook.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the open gap. Fill the far corners of the notebook and the scalloped spiral edge first, then puff up the center until the cover feels soft and pillowy. Stop before it gets tight—too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the open gap and tape it shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger all along the straight notebook edges and the wavy spiral side to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give the puffy pink cover of your spiral notebook squishy a good squeeze and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back cover so trapped air can escape gently.
Free Spiral Notebook 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 notebook feels too hard. It is packed with too much stuffing. Gently open the stuffing gap, take some filling out of the center, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the pink cover. Pulled packing tape causes ripples over wide flat areas like the front label. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently without pulling, smoothing from the center outward.
- An edge splits near the rings. The scalloped spiral side has lots of curves that can lift under pressure. Put a new short strip of regular clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Rainbow marker colors smeared. Always let markers dry fully on the coloring page before taping over the cover. Standard printer ink on the color version is fine to tape right away.
Questions
How can I make a set of school supplies paper squishies?
Once you finish this spiral notebook, you can craft a matching crayon box squishy using the exact same tape-and-stuff method. Plastic grocery bags give a crinkly feel, cotton balls or fiberfill make them soft, or you can use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising desk set.
How do you make a paper squishy at school or with a class?
Print one template sheet per person and cut the clear tape strips in advance before class starts. Kids can color their notebook coloring page while you help with the taping step—plan about 30 minutes for the whole activity.
Can I use glue instead of tape on the notebook edges?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the notebook seams would open right up. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for this notebook template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds cleanly around the wavy spiral binding. Cardstock makes the squishy stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
Can I make a bigger spiral notebook squishy?
Yes, print the template page at a larger scale, for example 120%. Make sure to print the front and the back together on the same sheet so their sizes match.
More paper squishies to make
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