Kawaii Apple Paper Squishy

Assembly overview

1. Print both pages; cut six pieces. Choose color OR coloring and print BOTH pages at 100% / Actual Size. Do not Fit to Page. Check each 50 mm square. Before cutting, copy F/B and edge marks 1/2 onto the blank backs. Cut F, B, W1/W2 and L1/L2 once. Color first; keep glue areas blank.
2. Fold tabs; gently curve walls. Fold F/B tabs inward 90 degrees. Curve both walls. Crease each dashed 8 mm end-tab root to match F: W2 turns INTO the top notch at 1; W1 turns the opposite way at bottom 2. Dry-fit before glue; do not flatten the notch. Only the dotted line on the leaf stem is an alignment mark, not a fold.
3. Join W1 and W2 into a ring. Glue each 8 mm end BEHIND the next wall: W1 to W2 at bottom 2, W2 to W1 at top 1. Red outside; all F edges on one rim. Preserve both corner folds and match F before glue sets. Keep tabs clear. Net perimeter is 301.71 mm; overlaps add no extra length.
4. Attach leaf, then front F. Glue L1/L2 blank sides together as one flat leaf and stem. Lay F face-down, top notch up. The leaf points LEFT in this back view, RIGHT from the front. Glue only the bottom 8 mm of stem behind F at mark 1; do not fold it. Glue all 28 F tabs behind F; align wall joins with marks 1/2. Press from the open back.
5. Fill through the open back. Keep the entire back open. Add a small amount of loose soft tissue. Spread gently through the body; keep the stem and B tabs clear. Leave room for B to sit flat. This is one shallow apple, not a ball. Do not overfill.
6. Close with the back B. Fold all 28 B tabs inward and check that they sit flat. Apply a little paper glue to each tab. Place B artwork-side OUT; match the outline and marks. Press gently around the edge without pushing B into the filling. Let the glue set.
7. Tape BOTH complete edges. Seal all of F, then turn over and repeat on B. Center 15 mm clear tape over each seam: at least 6 mm on panel AND wall. Curves: 6-8 mm pieces overlapping 2 mm. Top notch: press 4-5 mm pieces into the dip, overlapping at least 1 mm. At the stem, tape each side and press a small overlapping patch over the stem base; do not bridge a gap.
8. Seal BOTH wall joins; check. At marks 1 and 2, tape BOTH W1/W2 joins along the full 22 mm depth. Center 15 mm tape on each join and overlap the F/B edge tape at both ends. Let glue dry. Check both panel edges, both joins and the stem base; reinforce lifting seams. Body: 96 x 88 x 22 mm; total height about 107 mm. The flat leaf is not a handle. No slow rise is promised.