How to Make a Boba Paper Squishy Pen
Craft a slow-rising boba tea squishy pen topper using paper, colored markers, clear packaging tape, and soft fiberfill attached securely to a ballpoint pen.
- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Scissors
- ✓ Pencil
- ✓ Black fine-liner pen
- ✓ Colored markers
- ✓ Ruler
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ White printer paper or light cardstock
- ✓ Clear wide packaging tape
- ✓ Polyester fiberfill (or makeup sponge shreds)
- ✓ Standard ballpoint pen
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Cut paper and tape away from fingers using sharp craft scissors.
- • Handle packaging tape dispenser blades carefully to avoid finger cuts.
- • Ensure the pen nib remains uncovered and functional throughout the taping process.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (5 Steps)
Draw and Color Boba Cup Templates
Fold a sheet of white paper in half. Sketch a boba milk tea cup shape with tapioca pearls, a cute face, and a straw on the top layer, sized around 2.5 to 3 inches tall. Outline with a black fine-liner and color completely with markers so you have identical front and back outlines.
- • Two identically sized boba cup drawings visible on folded or separated paper
- • Bold black outlines with solid, fully saturated marker fill
- • Drawing the boba cup too large, making it top-heavy for the pen
- • Drawing only one side instead of two matching halves
Laminate Both Halves with Clear Tape
Cover the entire front and back surfaces of both boba drawings with wide clear packaging tape. Overlap tape strips by 2-3 millimeters to ensure complete coverage with zero exposed paper. Press down firmly to eliminate air bubbles and wrinkles.
- • Entire drawing covered in a glossy, smooth protective tape layer
- • No bare paper exposed to touch on either side
- • Trapping large air bubbles under the packaging tape
- • Leaving paper gaps between tape strips
Cut Out the Laminated Pieces
Cut along the outer perimeter of both cup designs, leaving a tiny 1-millimeter clear tape border around the ink lines. Ensure the front and back pieces match in shape and dimension. Do not trim off the bottom mounting tab if you drew one.
- • Two separated, glossy cup cutouts resting cleanly on the work surface
- • Smooth edges with no frayed paper fibers
- • Cutting directly on the ink line, which allows paper layers to separate
- • Accidentally snipping off the straw detail
Tape Edges and Leave Stuffing Pocket
Align the front and back pieces with artwork facing outward. Apply narrow strips of clear tape around the side and top edges, folding the tape tightly over both sides to seal the seam. Leave a 1-inch opening at the bottom for the pen and stuffing.
- • Edges fully bonded with folded clear tape
- • A clear, accessible open pocket visible at the bottom base
- • Taping all edges shut before adding the stuffing
- • Using tape strips that are too wide, obscuring the front artwork
Stuff and Secure to Pen Barrel
Gently push polyester fiberfill or sponge scraps through the bottom opening until the boba cup is puffy but not rock-hard. Insert the top end of the ballpoint pen into the center of the stuffing. Wrap clear tape tightly around the bottom opening and pen barrel to seal the squishy completely onto the pen.
- • Boba squishy firmly mounted to the upper barrel of the pen
- • Squishy slowly expands back into shape after being squeezed
- • Sealed bottom joint shows no loose fluff or open seams
- • Overstuffing, which prevents the slow-rising squishy feel
- • Failing to anchor the tape tightly around the pen barrel, causing the topper to wobble
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Fati Craft World — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Polyester fiberfill? Cut-up makeup sponges or shredded plastic grocery bags
- No Clear packaging tape? Overlapping strips of wide clear glossy tape