Squishmallow Coloring Pages (Free PDF Printables)
Picture this: your child’s eyes lighting up as they transform their favorite Squishmallow coloring pages into wearable jewelry, room décor, or even functional household items. What starts as simple coloring becomes a gateway to creativity, fine motor skill development, and hours of screen-free entertainment.
If you’ve downloaded Squishmallow coloring pages (free PDF printables) and wonder what to do beyond basic coloring, you’re about to discover a treasure trove of crafting possibilities. These soft, huggable characters—from Cam the Cat to Wendy the Frog—aren’t just adorable on paper. With the right techniques, they become keepsakes, gifts, and décor that bring joy long after the crayons are put away. If you haven’t yet downloaded your Squishmallow designs, explore our extensive collection of coloring pages for kids featuring thousands of characters and themes—all free to print and perfect for these craft projects.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through 12 creative craft projects that breathe new life into your Squishmallow printables. Whether you’re a parent seeking engaging activities, a teacher planning classroom projects, or a crafting enthusiast looking for fresh ideas, these projects range from beginner-friendly to impressively detailed.
Why Squishmallow Coloring Sheets Make Perfect Craft Materials
Before diving into the projects, let’s explore what makes these printables so versatile for crafting.
Squishmallow coloring pages offer unique advantages over generic coloring sheets. Similar to popular cartoon coloring pages, these character-based designs create instant emotional connections, especially for children who collect the plush toys. Their simple, rounded designs make them ideal for cutting and reassembling. The recognizable characters create instant emotional connections, especially for children who collect the plush toys. Unlike complex illustrations, Squishmallow designs translate beautifully across different mediums—from fabric to shrink plastic to transparent materials.
The psychological benefits extend beyond entertainment. Crafting with these pages develops spatial reasoning as children visualize how flat images become three-dimensional objects. It encourages problem-solving when they figure out color combinations or attachment methods. Most importantly, it provides a sense of accomplishment when they create something tangible from a simple printed page.
12 Creative Craft Projects Using Squishmallow Coloring Pages
1. Miniature Shrink Plastic Charms
Transform your Squishmallow printables into tiny, durable charms perfect for backpacks, zipper pulls, or charm bracelets.
What You’ll Need:
- Shrink plastic sheets (available at craft stores or online)
- Permanent markers or colored pencils designed for plastic
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Oven or heat gun
- Jump rings and chain (optional)
Step-by-Step Process:
Print your chosen Squishmallow designs directly onto shrink plastic sheets. The key here is sizing—remember that shrink plastic reduces to approximately 40% of its original size, so print larger than you think necessary.
Have your child color the designs using permanent markers, which create vibrant, lasting colors. Colored pencils work too but produce softer tones. Before cutting, punch a hole where you’ll attach hardware—this is crucial because punching after shrinking is nearly impossible.
Cut out each design carefully, leaving a small border around the edges. Place the cutouts on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then bake according to your shrink plastic’s specifications (typically 325°F for 2-3 minutes). Watch through the oven window as they curl, flatten, and shrink—it’s fascinating for kids to observe.
Once cooled completely, attach jump rings through the pre-punched holes. You’ve now created professional-looking charms that rival store-bought accessories.
Pro Tip: Create matching sets for siblings or friends by printing the same design multiple times before shrinking.
2. Handcrafted Jewelry Pieces
Expand beyond basic charms by creating complete jewelry sets—earrings, pendants, and bracelets featuring beloved Squishmallow characters.
For Stud Earrings: Follow the shrink plastic method above, but skip the hole-punching step. After baking and cooling, use strong adhesive (E6000 works excellently) to attach earring posts to the back. This creates flat, lightweight earrings comfortable for all-day wear.
For Dangle Earrings: Punch holes before shrinking, then attach earring hooks using jump rings. For symmetrical pairs, print two identical images. Consider printing mirror images for designs that face a specific direction—this creates a more professional, balanced look when worn.
For Pendant Necklaces: Use larger Squishmallow designs and print them at a size that will shrink to pendant proportions (typically 1-2 inches). Punch a hole at the top center, shrink as usual, then thread through a necklace chain or colorful cord.
The beauty of handmade jewelry lies in its uniqueness. Unlike mass-produced accessories, these pieces carry personal meaning and demonstrate genuine creativity.
3. Luminous Window Clings
Create removable, reusable window decorations that cast colorful shadows when sunlight streams through.
Materials Required:
- Transparency film or clear page protectors
- Dimensional fabric paint (puffy paint)
- Black permanent marker or outline paint
- Patience (drying time is significant)
Creation Method:
Slide your printed Squishmallow design inside a clear page protector or under transparency film. Using black dimensional paint, carefully trace all outlines. The secret to successful window clings is creating continuous lines—any gaps will cause pieces to separate when peeled.
Allow the black outline to dry for at least 4-6 hours. Once tacky-dry, fill in sections using colored dimensional paints. Work methodically, ensuring each color touches the black outline without gaps. Overlapping slightly is better than leaving spaces.
Here’s where patience becomes essential: complete drying takes 24-48 hours, sometimes longer in humid conditions. Resist the urge to test them early. When fully dry, the paint peels off the plastic backing as a single, cohesive piece that naturally clings to smooth glass surfaces.
These window clings can be repositioned multiple times and stored between sheets of wax paper. They’re perfect for seasonal decorating or brightening up car windows during road trips. Window clings aren’t just for characters! Educational-minded parents can combine this technique with science coloring pages to create learning displays featuring planets, molecules, or marine life that transform windows into interactive educational tools.
4. Vibrant Tissue Paper Suncatchers
For a quicker alternative to puffy paint window clings, tissue paper suncatchers deliver stunning results with minimal drying time.
Print Squishmallow designs onto cardstock, then cut out the interior sections while leaving a border frame intact. You’re essentially creating a stencil.
Cut or tear tissue paper into small pieces—approximately one-inch squares work well. Apply a thin layer of glue stick within your cutout sections, then press tissue paper pieces onto the adhesive. Overlap colors to create new shades, or maintain distinct color blocks for a mosaic effect.
Once the glue dries (usually 20-30 minutes), cut around the outer edge of your frame. Punch a hole at the top, thread with fishing line or ribbon, and hang in a window where sunlight transforms the tissue paper into glowing, translucent artwork.
Creative Variation: Layer multiple colors of tissue paper to create depth and new color combinations. Where blue overlaps yellow, you’ll see green emerging—it’s a subtle color theory lesson wrapped in craft time.
5. Customized Decorative Plates
Transform inexpensive ceramic or glass plates into personalized décor pieces perfect for organizing small items.
Shopping List:
- Clear glass or white ceramic plates (dollar stores are goldmines)
- Mod Podge (matte or glossy finish)
- Foam brush or regular paintbrush
- Printed and colored Squishmallow designs
Assembly Instructions:
Color and cut out your Squishmallow characters with precision—clean edges make the final product look polished. Arrange them on your plate before gluing to plan your composition. You might place a single large character in the center or create a border design with multiple smaller figures.
Apply a thin, even coat of Mod Podge to the back of each cutout using your foam brush. Position it on the plate, then gently press from the center outward to remove air bubbles. A credit card works perfectly as a smoothing tool.
Once all elements are positioned, apply 2-3 thin coats of Mod Podge over the entire decorated surface, allowing 15-20 minutes of drying time between coats. This seals your design and protects it from fingerprints and minor moisture.
Important Safety Note: These decorative plates are NOT food-safe. They’re perfect for holding jewelry, keys, hair accessories, or other non-edible items.
6. Personalized Gift Bags
Elevate plain gift bags into custom creations that recipients will want to keep and reuse.
Start with kraft paper bags or plain colored bags from craft stores. Print Squishmallow designs onto cardstock for durability—regular printer paper becomes flimsy and tears easily when handled.
After coloring and cutting, apply glue stick to the entire back surface of each cutout, paying special attention to edges and small protruding parts like ears or tails. Press firmly onto the bag, smoothing from center to edges.
Enhance your bags further with coordinating ribbon handles, tissue paper in complementary colors, or hand-written name tags featuring the same Squishmallow character inside. These bags work beautifully for birthday parties, holiday gifts, or classroom valentines.
Budget-Friendly Tip: White lunch bags from the grocery store work perfectly for smaller gifts and cost just pennies per bag.
7. Dimensional Greeting Cards
Move beyond store-bought cards by creating personalized greetings featuring Squishmallow characters.
Basic Method: Fold cardstock in half to create your card base. Glue a colored and cut Squishmallow design to the front. Add hand-lettered or printed sentiments like “You’re Squish-tacular!” or “Hugs and Squishes!”
Advanced Pop-Up Technique: Create dimension by mounting your Squishmallow cutout on foam squares or folded paper springs. When the card opens, the character appears to jump off the page. This technique especially delights younger recipients.
Interactive Elements: Add pull-tabs, spinning wheels, or lift-the-flap features. For example, create a card where lifting a flap reveals a hidden message or different Squishmallow character underneath.
Handmade cards demonstrate thoughtfulness that pre-made cards simply cannot match. They become keepsakes rather than items destined for the recycling bin.
8. Multi-Purpose Room Decorations
Transform bedrooms or playrooms into Squishmallow wonderlands using these versatile decoration techniques.
Gallery Wall Display: Frame multiple colored Squishmallow pages in matching frames for a cohesive gallery wall. Mix and match frame sizes for visual interest, or maintain uniform sizing for a more structured aesthetic. This approach works especially well with a rainbow progression of characters.
Character Bunting: Cut out multiple Squishmallow figures, punch holes in the top corners, and string them together using twine, ribbon, or yarn. Drape across walls, windows, or above beds for cheerful decoration that’s easily removable when themes change.
Embroidery Hoop Mobiles: Attach four or five embroidery hoops together using fishing line or ribbon, creating tiers. Hang colored and cut Squishmallow characters from each hoop using varying lengths of thread. Suspend the entire mobile from the ceiling for a floating, three-dimensional decoration.
Wall Decals: For temporary wall decoration, adhere cutouts using removable adhesive dots or poster putty. This allows children to rearrange their décor without damaging walls—perfect for rental homes or frequently redecorated spaces.
9. Custom Planters and Plant Pots
Bring Squishmallow charm to your indoor garden with decorated planters that make plant care more appealing to children.
Size Considerations: Resize Squishmallow images to fit your planter dimensions. Copy the PDF image and paste it into a word processor, where you can easily adjust sizing. Print at various scales to see what works best before committing to your final design.
Application Process: Color your designs with markers for the most vibrant results on planters. Cut precisely, then apply multiple thin coats of Mod Podge to adhere them to clean, dry planters. Allow each coat to dry completely before adding the next—rushing this process leads to wrinkling.
Waterproofing: Since planters encounter moisture, apply 3-4 coats of Mod Podge for adequate protection. For extra durability, finish with a clear acrylic sealer spray once the Mod Podge cures completely (typically 24-48 hours).
These personalized planters make excellent gifts when paired with easy-care plants like succulents or pothos. They also encourage children to take ownership of plant care when their planters feature their favorite characters.
10. Textured Cotton Ball Art
This cotton ball technique works beautifully with other simple character designs too. Try the same method with farm animal coloring pages to create textured sheep, fluffy chicks, or fuzzy bunnies—perfect for extending this craft activity across different themes.
Preparation Phase: Create custom-colored cotton balls by mixing water, white vinegar (as a setting agent), and food coloring in small bowls. The ratio is approximately 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and food coloring to desired intensity. Dip cotton balls using forks or spoons, then spread them on wax paper to dry—this takes 4-6 hours.
Assembly Phase: Once cotton balls are completely dry, children glue them onto Squishmallow coloring pages, filling in sections with appropriate colors. Using different cotton ball sizes creates texture variation—pull apart larger ones for bigger areas, use smaller pieces for details.
Educational Benefits: This project teaches color matching, spatial planning, and cause-and-effect (more cotton balls mean fuller coverage). The finished product has wonderful dimensionality that children love to touch, reinforcing the accomplishment they feel.
Storage Tip: Store unused colored cotton balls in labeled zipper bags for future projects.
11. Laminated Bookmarks and Page Markers
Animal lovers can expand their bookmark collection by creating complementary designs with dog coloring pages, mixing Squishmallow characters with adorable puppies for a varied reading companion collection.
Print Squishmallow designs sized appropriately for bookmarks (typically 2 inches wide by 6-8 inches tall). After coloring, cut out the characters, leaving a rectangular border or cutting precisely around the figure for a shaped bookmark.
Laminate using a home laminator or self-adhesive laminating sheets from office supply stores. Trim the lamination, leaving a small sealed border around all edges. Punch a hole at the top and thread with ribbon, yarn, or tassel for the finishing touch.
Variations:
- Add inspirational reading quotes using decorative fonts
- Include the child’s name to personalize
- Create sets as classroom gifts or library fundraiser items
- Make double-sided bookmarks featuring different Squishmallow characters on each side
Laminated bookmarks withstand regular use far better than paper versions, making them practical as well as decorative.
12. Magnetic Refrigerator Gallery
Turn your refrigerator into a rotating art gallery with Squishmallow magnets that hold artwork, reminders, and photos.
Materials Needed:
- Colored and cut Squishmallow designs on cardstock
- Adhesive-backed magnetic sheets (craft stores or online)
- Laminating sheets (optional but recommended for longevity)
- Scissors
Construction Steps: After coloring and cutting your designs, optionally laminate them for protection against kitchen moisture and fingerprints. Cut magnetic sheeting to fit the back of each design—slightly smaller than the character works best so the magnet doesn’t show from the front.
Peel the adhesive backing and press firmly onto the back of each Squishmallow cutout. Allow the adhesive to cure for a few hours before using.
These magnets serve double duty—they’re decorative while providing functional organizational help. Children especially enjoy using “their” magnets to display their own artwork or school papers.
Creative Extension: Create magnetic scenes by cutting apart Squishmallow designs into multiple pieces (character separate from background elements) so children can arrange and rearrange storytelling scenes on the refrigerator.
Tips for Successful Squishmallow Crafting
Paper Selection Matters
Not all paper performs equally across projects. Regular printer paper works fine for simple coloring, but cardstock (65-110 lb weight) provides durability for projects involving cutting, gluing, or handling. For projects like window clings, transparency film is non-negotiable. Keep a variety of paper stocks in your craft supplies.
Coloring Medium Selection
Different coloring tools produce different effects. Markers create bold, saturated colors ideal for projects that will be photographed or displayed at a distance. Colored pencils offer subtle shading perfect for detailed work. Crayons work well for younger children but may appear waxy in some applications. Gel pens add metallic or glitter accents that elevate projects from simple to special.
Age-Appropriate Project Selection
Match projects to your child’s developmental stage. Preschoolers excel at cotton ball crafts and simple gluing projects. Elementary-aged children can handle cutting and multi-step processes like suncatchers. Tweens and teens appreciate jewelry-making and room décor projects that reflect their growing independence and style preferences.
Quality Over Quantity
Rather than rushing through multiple projects, invest time in one well-executed craft. Neat cutting, careful color selection, and attention to detail transform projects from “craft table mess” to “display-worthy art.” This approach also teaches children the value of patience and precision.
Looking for More Character Craft Inspiration?
These techniques aren’t limited to Squishmallows! Disney fans can apply the same shrink plastic jewelry and window cling methods to Frozen coloring pages, creating magical Elsa and Anna accessories that complement your Squishmallow collection.
From Printed Page to Cherished Creation
These 12 craft ideas transform simple Squishmallow coloring sheets (free PDF printables) into tangible expressions of creativity and imagination. Whether you’re creating wearable art, functional home décor, or heartfelt gifts, each project offers opportunities for skill development, quality time, and pride in accomplishment.
The true magic isn’t just in the finished product—it’s in the process. It’s in the concentration on a child’s face as they carefully punch holes in shrink plastic. It’s in the excitement when window clings actually stick. It’s in the satisfaction of wearing jewelry they made themselves.
Start with one project that matches your available time and materials. Don’t aim for perfection; aim for enjoyment. These crafts are about the journey, the learning, and the memories created along the way.
Which Squishmallow craft will you try first? Gather your supplies, download those coloring pages, and discover how simple printables become extraordinary creations. Your refrigerator, jewelry box, or bedroom walls are waiting for their Squishmallow makeover.
Ready to start crafting? Download your free Squishmallow coloring pages today and bring these adorable characters to life in ways that extend far beyond the page.
