Life is hard. Smush it.

Hey creative friends! You might have seen my post about my third attempt at making a DIY squishy, and I'm so excited about how my latest 'smusher' turned out using cling wrap and tissue paper! If you're like me and love a good crafting challenge, or just need a fun way to de-stress, making your own squishies is absolutely worth it. It’s a super satisfying papercraft project that lets your imagination run wild. For those new to the world of homemade squishies, or if you've tried before and want new ideas, let me share some tips I've picked up. The beauty of DIY squishies is that you can use so many common household items. My favorite combo right now is definitely cling wrap and tissue paper because it gives such a soft, squishy feel, and it's so accessible! Why Make Your Own Squishies? Honestly, it's incredibly therapeutic! Squeezing a soft, bouncy squishy can be a great way to relieve stress or just keep your hands busy. Plus, it's a fantastic creative outlet. You get to design exactly what you want, from cute animals to your favorite foods or abstract shapes. It’s also a budget-friendly craft, perfect for rainy days or just when you need a little creative spark. What You'll Need to Get Started: To make your own cool squishies, you'll generally need: Paper (for your design) Markers, colored pencils, or paint Scissors Clear tape (lots of it!) Cling wrap (this is key for that satisfying squish!) Tissue paper (my go-to for stuffing, but you can also use plastic bags, cotton, or sponges) Optional: packing tape for extra durability, plastic bags for additional stuffing. My Go-To Method for a Cling Wrap & Tissue Paper Squishy ('Smusher'): Design Your Squishy: Start by drawing your desired shape or character on a piece of paper. Think about what kind of 'smusher' you want to create! I usually go for something simple and cute. Remember, you'll need two identical pieces for the front and back. Color It In: Get creative with your colors! Make it vibrant and appealing. This is where your squishy really comes to life. Laminate (the DIY way!): Once colored, carefully cover both sides of each paper piece with clear tape. Overlap the tape slightly to ensure full coverage. This makes your squishy more durable and gives it that smooth, almost laminated feel. Some people use packing tape for this step, which works great too! Cut It Out: Carefully cut out your two squishy pieces, leaving a small border around the edge. This small border will help you seal the squishy later. Start Sealing: Take one piece and lay it down. Place the second piece directly on top, perfectly aligned. Use clear tape to seal the edges together, leaving a small opening (about 1-2 inches) at the bottom or side. This opening is for stuffing! The Squishy Stuffing: Now for the fun part – stuffing! This is where the tissue paper comes in. Gently tear or crinkle pieces of tissue paper and push them into the opening. Don't overstuff, but make sure it's firm enough to hold its shape and feel nice and squishy. This is what makes your 'smusher' so satisfying. If you want a denser feel, you can mix in some crinkled plastic bags. The Cling Wrap Secret: Once stuffed to your liking, take a generous amount of cling wrap. Gently wrap your squishy entirely with the cling wrap, trying to keep it smooth and tight. This gives it extra bounce and helps seal everything in, preventing air leaks and providing that satisfying 'smush' factor. Final Seal: Use more clear tape to seal the remaining opening and any loose edges of the cling wrap. Make sure everything is securely taped to prevent air from escaping, which would make your squishy less, well, squishy! Making Your Squishies Extra Cool: Unique Designs: Don't just stick to basic shapes. Try drawing food items like toast, donuts, or fruit. Cartoon characters or even mini-versions of your favorite objects can be super fun. Add Texture: Before taping the two paper pieces together, you can add small pieces of foam or even textured fabric to the inside for a different tactile experience. Scented Squishies: A little trick is to put a drop of essential oil on a small piece of cotton and add it to the stuffing before sealing. Just make sure it won't damage the paper! Different Fillings: Experiment with other fillings like sponges cut into small pieces, or even bubble wrap for a different kind of 'pop' when you squish. Making DIY squishies is a journey of trial and error, so don't worry if your first attempt isn't perfect. My third one feels pretty cool, and I'm sure yours will too! Keep experimenting with designs and materials like cling wrap and tissue paper, and you'll soon have a collection of amazing, custom-made 'smushers' that are truly one-of-a-kind. Happy crafting!