The Squishy Stress Ball

Squishy stress toys were one of the most-searched costume ideas on Google this year, and a stress ball turns out to be a very easy shape to wear. Two big discs of cardboard covered in bright crepe paper make the squish, a ring of tape makes the seam, and a sign saying 'Squeeze me' does the rest. About $14 and an hour of work.

TIME

60 min

COST

about $14

SKILL

Some cutting

What you need

• Two large flat pieces of cardboard (about 70 cm across)
• Bright crepe paper or tissue paper in one colour
• Craft glue or a glue stick
• Two or three old pillows or bags of scrunched newspaper
• Rope for shoulder straps
• A black marker and a piece of white card for the sign

How to make it

1. 1

   Draw a big circle on each piece of cardboard with a string and pencil, about 70 cm across, and cut both out.

2. 2

   Cover the front of each circle with overlapping crepe paper, crinkling it so it looks soft and wobbly.

3. 3

   Make two holes near the top of the back circle and thread the rope straps through, knotting them behind.

4. 4

   Tape the two circles together at the sides, leaving a gap at the bottom, and stuff the middle with pillows or newspaper so the front puffs out like a squeezed ball.

5. 5

   Write 'Squeeze me' on the white card in marker and tape it to the front.

6. 6

   Wear leggings and a top in the same colour so only your head and legs show.

Make it better

• Pick one colour and stick to it. A solid colour reads as a stress ball from across the room.
• Bring a tiny real stress ball and let people squeeze it if they ask.
• Two or three friends in different colours make a pile of stress balls.

Questions

Squishy toys such as NeeDoh are trademarks of their owners. This is a generic homemade costume, not made, sponsored or endorsed by them.