5+
£Varies by pack
4.5/5
Brilliant – making them is fun and the finished squishies can be played with afterwards
Curious Universe
DIY squishy-making craft kit
5 min read
We expected Squishy Maker Magic to be one of those craft kits that looks simple on the box but turns into a complicated, messy project once you actually start. It wasn’t. We tried both one of the larger Squishy Maker Magic packs and the Mini Axolotl kit, and the whole process was surprisingly straightforward.
Each squishy starts with two sachets of mixture. Pour both into a container, mix them together, add paint if you want to change the colour, then add any beads or decorative extras you want for texture. Pour the mixture into the mould and leave it to set for around four to six hours.
There is a wait before you get the finished result, but taking the squishy out of the mould is easily the best part. Ours came out soft, extremely squishy and stretchy, and returned to their original shape after being squeezed and pulled.
The larger pack we tested contained enough mixture for three rounds, giving us six squishies altogether. The Mini Axolotl pack is intended to make one, although we managed to divide our mixture carefully enough to pour two.
No. That was the biggest surprise for us. There are very few steps and no complicated technique to master: pour, mix, customise, fill the mould and wait. Younger children may want some help with pouring and measuring neatly, but the actual process is simple.
The finished texture is the real payoff. They are very soft, stretchy and satisfying to squeeze, but they spring back into their original shape afterwards. Because children choose the colours and can add beads and other little extras, each finished squishy can also look and feel slightly different.
Squishy Maker Magic turned out to be much easier and more enjoyable than we expected. The setting time means it is not an instant-result activity, but there is enough to do during the making stage and the finished squishy is something children can actually keep playing with. For children who already love squishies, sensory toys or hands-on craft kits, this combines all three particularly well.
The basic process is simply pouring two sachets together, mixing and filling the mould, so it was far less fiddly than we expected.
Peeling the finished squishy out of the mould after it has set is easily the most satisfying part of the activity.
Our finished squishies were very soft and stretchy but returned to their original shape after being squeezed.
Children get the creative activity first and then a finished sensory toy they can continue using afterwards.
