DIY Squishies: A Step-By-Step Guide

Squishies, also known as stress toys, have become incredibly popular in recent years. These cute and squishy toys are not only fun to play with but also make great gifts for friends and family. However, buying squishies can be expensive and not always accessible, which is why learning how to make your own squishies can be both a fun and practical project.

Making your own squishies is surprisingly easy and doesn’t require any special skills or materials. All you need is some foam and fabric paint, and you’re ready to get started. With a few simple steps, you can transform a plain piece of foam into a cute and squishy toy that you can customize in any way you like. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to make squishies so you can create your own collection of adorable stress toys.

Squishies have become a craze among kids and adults alike. They are soft toys that people can use as stress relievers or simply for entertainment. If you’re someone who loves squishies and is interested in making them yourself, this article is for you. In this section, we’ll give you step-by-step guidance on how to make squishies at home, along with some helpful tips.

1. Materials You’ll Need

To make squishies, you’ll need some basic materials that you can easily find at a craft store or online. These include:

– Memory foam pillows or sponges
– Fabric paint or acrylic paint
– Paintbrushes
– Scissors
– A pencil or marker

2. Choosing the Right Sponge or Pillow

Before you start making squishies, it’s essential to choose the right material for your project. You can use memory foam pillows or sponges to make squishies. Memory foam is perfect because it’s soft, easy to shape, and it retains its shape after being squeezed. You can also get ordinary kitchen sponges to use as a base for your squishies.

3. Sketch Your Design

The next step is to sketch your design on paper. Make sure to draw your squishy at a large scale so that you can see and adjust all the details. You can draw anything you like, from animals to desserts or unicorns. Just let your creativity guide you.

4. Cut Your Sponge or Pillow

After you’ve sketched your design, it’s time to cut your sponge or pillow according to your drawing. Use scissors to trim excess material and give your squishy the desired shape. If you’re making a cake or something with several layers, cut all the pieces separately and then attach them with fabric glue.

5. Paint Your Squishy

After you’ve got your squishy’s shape, it’s time to paint it. You can use fabric paint or acrylic paint, depending on your preference. Fabric paint will give your squishy a softer, more flexible feel, while acrylic paint will make it more durable. You can use paintbrushes to apply the paint to the squishy and add some extra details to make it more realistic.

6. Let the Paint Dry

After you’ve painted your squishy, you need to let it dry completely. This can take several hours, depending on the type of paint you used. Make sure not to handle the squishy while the paint is still wet, or it may smudge and ruin your design.

7. Add Some Scented Oil or Glitter

To give your squishy an extra special touch, you can add some scented oil or glitter. Scented oil adds a pleasant smell to your squishy, and glitter makes it shimmery and sparkly. You can add a few drops of scented oil or sprinkle some glitter onto your squishy while the paint is still wet.

8. Glue on Extra Details

If you want to add extra details to your squishy, such as facial expressions or decorations, you can do so by attaching them with fabric glue. Make sure the glue is completely dry before handling your squishy.

9. Squeeze and Enjoy

Congratulations, you’ve made your very own squishy! Now all that’s left is to squeeze and enjoy it. Squishies are perfect stress relievers, and they’re also fun to play with. You can make a whole collection of different squishies and keep them on your desk or in your bag to show off to your friends.

10. Tips for Making Great Squishies

– Use high-quality materials to ensure your squishies last longer.
– Use fabric paint or acrylic paint to get vibrant colors.
– Experiment with different shapes and sizes to create unique designs.
– Be patient when painting and waiting for the paint to dry.
– Always handle your squishies gently to avoid damaging them.

In conclusion, making squishies at home is an easy and fun DIY project that anyone can enjoy. With some simple materials and a little bit of creativity, you can create your very own squishy toys and customize them to your liking. So get started today and let your imagination run wild!

Section 2: Materials Needed for Making Squishies

Squishies are soft toys that can be used as stress relievers, toys, or decorations. In order to make them, there are certain materials that you will need to gather. Here are the materials needed for making squishies:

1. Memory Foam:

Memory foam is the key ingredient in making squishies. This is the material that gives squishies their trademark squishiness. You can purchase memory foam in different forms, such as sheets, blocks, or cubes.

2. Fabric:

To cover the memory foam, you will need some fabric. Any type of fabric can be used, but it’s best to choose something that is stretchy and soft. Fleece, cotton, or velvet are all great choices.

3. Scissors:

Scissors are needed to cut the fabric and memory foam into the correct shapes and sizes for your squishies. Make sure that your scissors are sharp, so that you can get clean edges.

4. Sewing Machine:

Although it’s possible to sew the fabric by hand, a sewing machine can save you a lot of time and effort. It’s also more efficient and helps you create squishies that have tight and secure seams.

5. Thread:

Thread is needed to sew the fabric together. Make sure you choose a thread that is strong enough to hold the fabric together and can withstand squishing. Cotton or polyester thread is great for this, but make sure to choose the right color that matches or complements your fabric.

6. Stuffing:

Since memory foam is dense, you will need an extra filling to make your squishies more puffy and soft. You can use polyester stuffing or cotton balls for this.

7. Marking Pen or Chalk:

Before cutting the fabric and foam, it’s helpful to mark the patterns on the fabric using a marking pen or chalk. Marking your patterns helps you to know where to cut and where to sew.

8. Pins:

To hold your fabric in place while sewing, you’ll need pins. Use pins to hold the fabric in place while you are sewing the pieces together. Sewing pins give you more control over your fabric.

9. Ruler or Measuring Tape:

It is important to measure and cut the foam and fabric accurately, and for this, you will need a ruler or a measuring tape. Make sure that your measurements are precise for a professional-looking squishy.

10. Fabric Glue or Hot Glue:

If you wish to stick any extra decoration, such as beads or rhinestones, to your squishies, you will need fabric glue or hot glue. Fabric glue is less messy and more flexible and suitable for most types of fabrics. Hot glue is best used for sticking beads and heavier embellishments. Be careful when using hot glue, as it can be hot and may burn your fingers.

These are the materials needed for making squishies. Now that you know what you need let’s move on to the steps to create your own DIY Squishies.

Materials needed to make squishies

Making squishies can be a fun and creative activity for people of all ages. Before you start, it’s important to gather all the necessary materials. Here are the essential materials you will need.

How to prepare the foam

The memory foam or sponge foam is the most important material needed to create a squishy. You can choose from various thicknesses, depending on the size and shape of the squishy you want to make. Here are the steps to prepare the foam:

1. Take the foam and cut it into a desired shape and size using scissors. You can create any shape, such as animals, fruits, or even a custom character.

2. Smooth out the edges of the foam using a sandpaper or an emery board. This will help to make the edges smoother and give it a more polished look.

3. Squeeze the foam to test the squishiness and make sure it feels good to the touch. You can also trim the foam to get the desired amount of squishiness by cutting off a small amount of foam at a time.

How to cover the foam with fabric

The next step is to cover the foam with a felt fabric or other decorative fabrics to make it look like a squishy. Here’s how to do it:

1. Place the foam on top of the fabric and trace the shape of the foam using a pen or pencil.

2. Cut out the fabric along the traced line using scissors. Make sure to leave a margin of about 2 cm to cover the edges of the foam.

3. Apply glue to the foam and stick the fabric onto it. Make sure to smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles as you go along.

4. Trim off any excess fabric using scissors. Make sure to leave a margin of about 1 cm to make sure all of the foam is covered.

How to add color to your squishy

Now it’s time to add color and design to your squishy. You can use acrylic paint or fabric paint to decorate your creation. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose the desired paint color and apply it to the squishy using a paintbrush or sponge brush. You can apply multiple layers depending on how opaque you want the color to be.

2. Once the paint has dried, you can add details with other colors or using a fine-tipped brush.

3. If you make a mistake, don’t worry! You can use a damp cloth to wipe off any smudges or mistakes.

How to add the finishing touches

Finally, you can add the finishing touches to your squishy by attaching any other decorative elements such as gems, glitter, or stickers. Here’s how to do it:

1. Plan out the design and placement of the decorative elements before attaching them.

2. Apply a small amount of glue to the back of the element and stick it onto the squishy.

3. Let the glue dry completely before using your new squishy creation.

Making squishies is a fun and creative activity that anyone can do at home. With these easy steps, you’ll be able to create your own unique squishy that you can use as a stress reliever or simply as a cute decoration.

Thanks for joining the squishy fun!

I hope you had as much fun making your squishies as I did writing about them. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to make these cute toys, so feel free to experiment with your own designs and materials. And who knows, you might end up creating a masterpiece! Don’t forget to share your squishy creations with us and come back for more crafting tips and ideas. See you soon!