Best Soda Paper Squishy Designs: Realistic Can Replicas and Blind Bag Ideas
By Robert Thorne
Constructing a clean 3D soda squishy requires basic supplies: heavy marker paper (at least 120 gsm), alcohol markers or a color printer, 2-inch wide clear packing tape, scissors, a memory foam sponge, double-sided tape, and a sewing pin.
Start by drafting your template. You need three distinct shapes: a rectangular wrap for the can body (roughly 4 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall for a pocket-sized version), and two circles with a diameter matching the cylinder's opening. One circle forms the bottom rim; the other serves as the top lid, where you draw the pull tab, mouth opening, and metal score lines. Color your label with vibrant beverage graphics, whether duplicating familiar Mountain Dew and Sprite color schemes or designing original fictional flavors.
Next, laminate every piece. Lay wide strips of clear packing tape across both the front and back of the paper parts, smoothing out air bubbles with the edge of a credit card. Trim off excess tape, leaving a tiny 2-millimeter tape margin around the edges to lock out moisture. Roll the rectangular body into an open tube and join the vertical seam securely with clear tape on both sides.
Cut your memory foam into a cylinder slightly larger than the paper tube. Squeeze the foam down and slide it inside the cylinder. Tape the bottom circular cap in place using small overlapping tape tabs. Before sealing the top lid, tuck in a small pinch of loose batting to soften the can's shoulders. Tape down the top circle lid firmly around its circumference. Finally, find an inconspicuous spot along the bottom tape seam and press a single sewing pin through the tape. Squeeze the can flat; you should hear a soft hiss of escaping air, followed by a slow, smooth return to shape.
Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.
