DIY Dumpling vs. Butter vs. Cheese Squishy Making Kits: Which Starter Kit Should You Choose?

Making your own squishy at home sounds simple until three equally cute kits show up in the same shop. The TABASQUISHY® DIY Dumpling Squishy Kit, the DIY Butter Squishy Making Kit, and the DIY Cheese Squishy Making Kit are siblings in the same DIY line. Each one walks you through mixing, coloring, pouring, demolding, and squishing a Taba squishy made from food-grade silicone. That material is not the PU, TPR, or TPU found in many budget squishies, and it gives a softer, more natural slow rebound. These are craft and toy products, so none of them are edible.

If you want a display-ready first make with a guided, step-by-step feel, the squishy dumpling making kit is a happy place to start. Butter suits anyone who loves classic color play and a calm, simple shape, while Cheese invites bold, rule-free creativity (and makes a great gift). When you want to keep casting, A+B refills are the right call, not repair glue.

Below you'll find a side-by-side table, a closer look at each kit, a path for makers who already own molds, a plain-language guide to the two different glues, and practical care tips.

1. Dumpling vs. Butter vs. Cheese: The Side-by-Side Comparison

The differences that matter most are mold shape, how much customizing you can do, and who each kit suits best.

The deep dives below show how each of these feels in practice.

2. Meet the Three Kits: Which Look and Feel Fits You?

DIY Dumpling Squishy Kit: The Cute, Guided First Project

The TABASQUISHY® DIY Dumpling Squishy Kit lets you make Taba-style dumpling squishies from scratch. It is the most guided of the three, and it comes with a real choice at checkout. The Bottom-Flat mold gives you a dumpling that sits nicely on a desk or shelf. The Back-Flat mold gives a flat back and a rounded, puffy front, which is the classic front-facing bao look.

The process takes five easy steps. You pour equal parts (1:1 by volume) of odorless Glue A and Glue B into the measuring cup and stir slowly in one direction. Next, add a tiny drop of pastel pigment for a creamy bun, or stir in the gold powder and glitter flakes for a rare golden dumpling. Then pour slowly into one corner of the mold so the mixture flows into every pleat, and let it cure at room temperature for 2 to 4 hours. Once it is fully set, peel it out, dot on eyes and rosy cheeks with the fine brush, and finish with a dusting of flocking powder or cornstarch.

Quality matters here too. TABA's silicone squishy toys are third-party tested for applicable U.S. toy safety standards, covering material safety, lead content limits, phthalate requirements, and mechanical safety testing.

Visual learners can watch the full process in our Taba squishy at-home guide. This kit suits beginners, desk-display fans, and anyone who likes knowing exactly what comes next.

DIY Butter Squishy Making Kit: Classic Shape, Endless Color Play

The DIY Butter Squishy Making Kit is the artist's pick. The butter-bar silhouette is simple on purpose, so the color does the talking. Go classic butter yellow, soft pastels, tie-dye swirls, or a glitter butter that catches the light on your desk.

Finished pieces are soft, buttery little things that slip into a bag pocket or sit on a cozy weekend craft table just as happily. If you want a make-your-own squishy kit that feels artsy and relaxed, this is the one. Adult supervision is recommended during the DIY process, which makes it a nice shared project too.

DIY Cheese Squishy Making Kit: Bold, Playful, Totally Yours

The DIY Cheese Squishy Making Kit is listed at $69.99 and is built for experimenting. The cheese block has signature hole details, and the kit's whole attitude is that cheese doesn't have to be yellow. Make it pink, blue, rainbow, or glitter-covered, and no two blocks need to match.

That freedom makes it a strong gift for a creative friend or a family crafting afternoon. One reviewer mentioned keeping small squishies in a bag for a little break from the usual routine while waiting around, and a finished cheese block is exactly that kind of pocket-sized pause.

3. Already Have a Mold? The Advanced Maker Path

Build Your Collection with Standalone Taba Squishy Molds

Once a starter kit is behind you, standalone Taba Squishy Molds let you grow the collection with new shapes. The themes include Paw, Chick, Butter Bear, Octopus, Pufferfish, and Star. Picture a themed shelf, a desk scene with a tiny ocean crew, or a set of matching gifts for friends.

Our Taba squishy molds guide walks through the 2026 DIY toy trend step by step, which helps if you're choosing between shapes.

Pair Every Mold with the DIY Squishy Glue A+B Refill Set

New molds need casting liquid, and that's the job of the DIY Squishy Glue A+B Refill Set. Each set includes one Glue A bottle and one Glue B bottle. Follow your kit instructions for mixing. Four sizes cover different making habits:

· The 125mL each (250mL total) size suits beginners and occasional projects.

· The 250mL each (500mL total) size is an everyday refill for returning makers.

· The 500mL each (1L total) size fits frequent makers and bigger sessions.

· The 1L each (2L total) size is for serious DIY fans and bulk projects.

Still deciding whether to make or buy? Our comparison of DIY vs. ready-made Taba squishy lays out the trade-offs.

4. Two Different Glues, Two Different Jobs: Don't Buy the Wrong One

The names sound alike, but these two products do completely different work.

The rule is easy. Making something new calls for an A+B refill, and rescuing something old calls for the silicone glue set. If a finished piece has bubbles, cracks, or soft spots, our guide on fixing bubbles, cracks, soft spots shows how five common DIY mistakes cause them.

5. Make It Smooth: Mixing, Demolding, and Care Tips

A few habits make the biggest difference.

· Pour equal parts (1:1 by volume) of Glue A and Glue B, then stir slowly in one direction for 2 to 3 minutes to avoid micro air bubbles.

· Pour slowly into one corner of the mold so the mixture flows into every detail.

· Let it cure at room temperature. The Dumpling kit takes 2 to 4 hours, and the Butter and Cheese kits come with their own instructions.

· Loosen the edges with the flat of your fingertips, then peel gently, since sharp fingernails can tear the surface.

After it's made, squish it through the bag to keep it cleaner. Wipe it with a damp cloth, or use soap and warm water for a deeper clean. Keep it away from heat, direct sunlight, sharp objects, alcohol, and oils. If it feels sticky, a little baby powder or cornstarch helps.

A soft press, a slow rebound, and a little Soft Power are the whole point.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between the DIY Squishy Glue A+B Refill Set and the Food-Grade Silicone Glue Set?

The A+B set is the liquid you mix and pour into a mold to create new squishies. The Food-Grade Silicone Glue Set is for patching small cracks on a finished squishy. Buy the first to keep casting and the second to rescue a favorite piece.

2. How long does it take for a food-grade silicone squishy to cure and demold?

The Dumpling kit cures at room temperature for 2 to 4 hours. Wait until it is fully set before demolding. For the Butter and Cheese kits, follow the instructions included in the box.

3. What techniques help ensure smooth demolding without tearing the squishy?

Make sure the squishy is fully cured first. Loosen the edges with the flat of your fingertips, then peel slowly, and avoid sharp nails or forceful pulling. Patience here saves the delicate details.

4. How should silicone squishy molds be cleaned and stored for reuse?

Gently wipe or rinse the mold with mild soap and warm water, then let it air-dry. Store it flat, away from heat, direct sunlight, and sharp objects, so it keeps its shape for the next batch.

7. Find Your Match: Which Kit Fits Your Maker Style?

If you like a clear, guided build and a cute piece for your shelf, the Dumpling kit with its Bottom-Flat or Back-Flat mold is a happy first project. Color mixers who love swirls and a calm, classic silhouette will feel at home with Butter. Anyone who wants a rule-free project, or a gift for a creative friend or family crafter, will have the most fun with Cheese.

Makers who already own molds can grab a DIY Squishy Glue A+B Refill Set in the size that fits their pace, and add standalone Taba Squishy Molds as the collection grows. Whichever you choose, you get a soft press and a slow rebound at the end of it. Browse the three kits and start with the one that makes you smile.