- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.7 cm)
This happy little watermelon slice features bright red flesh, glossy dark seeds, rosy cheeks, and a striped green rind. Grab the free watermelon paper squishy template in US Letter or A4 to make a pillowy fidget that measures about 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.7 cm). You get 3 versions in the download: full color, a cute coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with a strawberry paper squishy for a full summer basket!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper with “fit to page” turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner to be sure it measures 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the juicy red center, dark seeds, and striped green rind now, then let your marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape right over the front and back watermelon slices instead of taping the whole page. Smooth each piece from the middle outward without pulling or stretching the tape, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your fruit slice shiny, sturdy, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back watermelon slices with scissors, following the solid black outer line around the rounded top point and curved bottom rind. Make sure to keep the narrow white border intact all the way around both pieces so you have a clean edge for taping.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back slice 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 paper edge, then snip into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper line. These little sticky flaps will wrap cleanly around the curved rind and angled sides.
5Join front and back
Place the smiling front slice right on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one at a time and press them down firmly around the top point and bottom rind. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open on one side—just like the pink line in the illustration shows—for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic grocery bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and poke them inside through your open gap. Push the first pieces all the way into the top triangle tip and the side corners of the rind so the slice keeps its shape. Stop when the slice feels soft and puffy, because too much stuffing will pop the seams.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the opening and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the sloped sides and curved bottom rind so every seam stays tightly pressed down and closed.
8Squish!
Your fruity craft is ready to play with! Give the watermelon slice a big squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the slice so the air escapes slowly.
Free Watermelon Slice 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
- An edge splits open. Place a new short strip of clear tape right across the split on the curved rind or side, overlapping the old tape strips to seal it back up.
- My squishy feels too hard. It is packed with too much filling. Gently peel open the stuffing gap, pull out a few pieces of filling, and tape the edge shut again.
- The tape wrinkles on the front. Use shorter strips of packing tape and lay them down gently over the red and green artwork without pulling. Smoothing from the center outward keeps the smiling face crystal clear.
- Red and green markers smeared. Always let marker ink dry completely on the paper before adding your packing tape. Regular printer ink on the color version is ready to tape right away.
Questions
How do you make a watermelon paper squishy?
Print the template, cover the front and back slices with wide packing tape, and cut them out. Join the edges with a snipped clear tape border, stuff the slice with soft filling through a small gap, and tape the opening shut.
What can I make next for a fruit paper squishy collection?
You can craft a whole fruit basket by pairing your watermelon slice with a pineapple paper squishy. Print both templates at 100% so your fruit pieces match in style.
Can I use glue instead of tape on the edges?
No, glue will not stick to the slick tape-covered paper and the curved rind seams would pop open. Folding the snipped tape border over the edge holds the slice together best.
What can I stuff my squishy with?
You can use torn plastic grocery bags for a light crinkly feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillow. Small pieces of memory foam also work well if you want a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make this watermelon slice bigger?
Yes! Print the template page at a larger scale, such as 120%, on plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb). Just be sure to print the front and back together on the same sheet so both halves match.
More paper squishies to make
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