- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 3.9 in (9.1 × 9.9 cm)
This cute watermelon gum paper squishy features a wavy green rind wrapper, a bright pink seeded center with a sweet kawaii face, and pink gum sticks peeking out of silver foil at the top. Grab the free printable PDF below, which comes in 3 versions (full color, coloring page, and blank) formatted for both US Letter and A4 paper. Pair it with our sour watermelon gummies squishy for a matching fruity pocket collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your watermelon gum template 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 green stripes, pink melon center, and top gum sticks now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the front and back gum pack pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the center outward without stretching it, since stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy layer makes the watermelon wrapper shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out both the front and back pieces right along the solid outer line. Keep the small white border all the way around, taking your time as you curve around the stepped top edge where the pink gum sticks poke out of the pack.
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. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper around the wrapper and the raised gum tab. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Lay the front piece right on top of the back, with the plain white sides together. Fold each sticky tape flap over the edge of the front one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ in) gap open along one side (the pink line in the picture shows where) so you have room for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the gap. Fill the far corners first—including the top pink gum tab and the bottom corners of the wrapper—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 opening and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges of the watermelon gum pack—including the stepped top shoulders—to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Your finished squishy measures about 3.6 × 3.9 in (9.1 × 9.9 cm). Squeeze your little gum pack and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick 1 tiny pinhole in the back of the wrapper.
Free Watermelon Gum 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 gum pack feels too hard. It has too much stuffing inside. Open the side gap, take some filling out, and tape it shut again.
- Wrinkles across the watermelon face. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them down across the kawaii wrapper without pulling or stretching.
- A top corner edge splits open. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the split edge on the stepped top shoulder, overlapping the old ones.
- Green and pink colors smeared. Let markers dry fully on the coloring page before taping over the watermelon stripes. Printer ink is fine to tape right away.
Questions
Can I use glue instead of tape for a gum paper squishy?
Not for the edges. Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds your gum paper squishy best.
What paper works best for a paper squishy gum template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the gum pack too stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my bubble gum paper squishy with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow, or small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this gum paper squishy template bigger?
Yes, you can print the page at a larger scale, for example 120%. Make sure to print the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Do you have more gum paper squishy ideas for a group or class?
You can pair this pack with our bubble gum tape squishy and print 1 sheet per person with tape strips cut 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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