Stuffed Olive Costume

This costume is inspired by Georgia Nicholson from 'Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging'. As a warning, it takes a long time to make and involves getting messy. And you end up with a massive olive costume that you don't know where to put. And you won't be able to sit down whilst wearing it. Basically if you're looking for a practical costume, don't make this.


You will need:

• Newspaper (lots)a
• Plain paper
• PVA glue
• Green paint
• Black bin bags

1. Start by filling the black bin bag with scrunched up balls of newspaper. This will be half of the olive so make sure to fill it as much as possible and make the top rounded.
2. Rip up newspaper and plain paper into long strips. Mix PVA with water for papier maché. I don't know exact proportions so do it to a consistency you feel like - the thicker it is, the less time it will take to dry.
3. Dip the strips of newspaper in the glue/water mixture and place them on the bin bag. Leave a gap at the top for your head to fit in.
4. Repeat step 3 with white paper instead of newspaper. I put the newspaper strips on horizontally and the white paper vertically - this might make it stronger but I don't know, do it however you want.
5. Continue layering on newspaper and white paper alternately until you have done approximately 10 layers. Again, you don't have to stick to this but the more layers, the stronger it will be.
6. Once you are satisfied, leave for a couple of days to dry before removing it from the bag. If it is not dry, it will be difficult to remove.
7. Repeat the whole process to make the other half of the stuffed olive.
8. When both halves are complete and dry, poke holes near the top of them using a pencil. Start with 2 opposite each other then 2 in the middle of them and 4 in the middle of them and 8 in the middle of them so you end up with 16.
9. Thread string through the holes to join the 2 halves together. This is tricky and - as you can see from mine - results in a line around the middle of the olive.
10. Papier maché a couple of layers over the join to strengthen it and make it look a bit less silly.
11. If necessary, trim the top and/or bottom so you can fit into it comfortably. Cut arm holes in the front (or sides if you prefer).
12. Finally paint it green, knit a red hat et voila, c'est fini!