- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.5 × 4.1 in (8.9 × 10.4 cm)
With its warm brown fur, rosy cheeks, little paw pads, and a sweet pink heart held between its paws, this teddy bear paper squishy is pure comfort in pillow form. Download the free printable template in US Letter or A4 to get 3 versions: a ready-to-make color sheet, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our cute panda squishy or bunny paper squishy to build an adorable cuddle squad!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your teddy bear 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 picked the coloring page, color the fur, paw pads, and little heart now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay wide clear packing tape over just the two bear pieces, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle out toward the ears and paws without pulling or stretching, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This smooth layer makes your teddy shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back teddy bear pieces right along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the round ears and chubby bottom paws, and be sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, paying close attention to the curves around the ears and cheeks so the little flaps fold neatly.
5Join front and back
Line up the front bear directly on top of the back piece with the white sides facing together. Fold each sticky tape flap over the front edge one by one and press firmly around the head and paws. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ in) gap open along the side (the pink line in the picture shows where) for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small, fluffy pieces and push them inside through the open gap. Tuck small bits into the far corners like the round ears and bottom paws first, then fill the tummy until it feels soft and puffy—stop before overstuffing, or the taped seams might pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the stuffing gap and tape it shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges—from the ears down to the paws—to make sure the tape is pressed down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give your cuddly bear’s round tummy a gentle squeeze and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back so the air escapes slowly when you squish.
Free Teddy Bear 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 tape wrinkles on the belly. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the wide tummy and lay them down smoothly without pulling or stretching.
- An edge splits near the paws. Place a new short strip of regular clear tape right across the open seam on the curve, overlapping the old strips to seal it tight.
- My squishy feels too hard. If the teddy belly feels stiff instead of pillowy, gently open the stuffing gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Dark brown marker smeared. Rich brown and pink markers take a moment to set, so let your coloring page dry completely before taping; regular printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
What paper works best for a bear paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best because it folds and squishes easily. Heavy cardstock makes the bear too stiff, so it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape for the edges?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would pop open when you squeeze it. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my paper squishy bear with?
You can use torn plastic grocery bags for a light, crinkly feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft, cuddly teddy. Small pieces of memory foam also work great for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this teddy bear squishy bigger?
Yes! At 100% scale the finished bear is about 3.5 × 4.1 in (8.9 × 10.4 cm), or you can print the page at a larger scale like 120%. Just be sure to print the front and back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these with a class or group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance so kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping. Plan about 30 minutes for the activity.
More paper squishies to make
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