Make Squishy Paper Craft Dumplings
Make squishy paper dumplings using paper, stuffing, and glue; decorate and practice folding, pressing, and sculpting skills, safely with scissors and markers to personalize them.
Step-by-step guide to make squishy paper craft dumplings
Step 1
Set up your work area with the materials on a clean table
Step 2
Place the small bowl upside down on a sheet of paper
Step 3
Trace around the bowl with your pencil to draw a circle
Step 4
Cut out the circle with scissors
Step 5
Fold the circle in half to make a semicircle
Step 6
Press along the fold to make a clear crease
Step 7
Apply a thin line of glue along the curved edge and leave a small gap for stuffing
Step 8
Push small pieces of stuffing into the gap until the dumpling feels soft and squishy
Step 9
Pinch the gap closed so the glued edges meet
Step 10
Sculpt the top edge into pleats using your fingers to shape a dumpling look
Step 11
Let the glue dry completely
Step 12
Decorate your dumpling with colouring materials to add faces or patterns
Step 13
Make more dumplings by repeating steps 2 to 12 to practice folding and sculpting
Step 14
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have the small bowl or stuffing?
Use a cup, lid, or jar rim to trace the circle in step 2, and substitute cotton balls, tissue scraps, yarn, or foam bits for the stuffing in step 8.
My dumpling keeps opening or the stuffing falls out—what should I do?
If the glued edges in step 9 won't stay closed, press the seam firmly, add a thin bead of extra glue along the gap, and hold with a clothespin or small clamp until step 11 when the glue dries.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For preschoolers, pre-trace and pre-cut the circles (steps 2–4) and let them stuff and decorate (steps 8 and 12), while older kids can experiment with patterned paper, stitching the seam instead of glue after step 9, or making more detailed pleats in step 10.
How can we make the dumplings more creative or long-lasting?
Try gluing fabric to the paper before step 3 for durability, add googly eyes or sequins during step 12, make a matching set by repeating steps 2–12 in different sizes, and photograph them to share on DIY.org at the end.
Watch videos on how to make squishy paper craft dumplings
HOW TO MAKE A PAPER SQUISHY WITHOUT COTTON | tutorial | applefrog
4 Videos
HOW TO MAKE A PAPER SQUISHY WITHOUT COTTON | tutorial | applefrog
how to make a paper squishy in less than 5 minutes!!
DIY Squishy 🍊 How to make a paper squishy - Step by Step Tutorial
DIY Squishy Craft Ideas | How To Make Squishy With Paper | Back To School
Facts about paper crafts for kids
✂️ Child-safe scissors have rounded tips and still cut paper well, making them perfect for beginners practicing folding and trimming.
🥟 Dumplings are a global favorite — almost every culture has its own version, from Chinese jiaozi to Polish pierogi.
📐 Origami shows how precise folds can transform a flat sheet into 3D shapes — a great skill for shaping squishy paper dumplings.
🧵 Stuffed toys usually use polyester fiberfill for a soft, squishy feel, but small crumpled paper scraps or fabric bits work well for homemade stuffing.
🎨 Washable markers and non-toxic glue keep decorating safe and mess-friendly for kids — and they’re easy to wash off hands and clothes.
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