Amp Up Your Jewelry With Cotton Tassels!

Kate Puhala
Sep 07, 2013

It’s no secret that we love trying different ways to glam up jewelry basics. From adding studs to bare bangles to completely blinging out a metal cuff, it’s awesome how small additions transform plain pieces into high-fashion statements. For this upgrade, we’ll show you our new favorite way to amp things up: by adding embroidery floss tassels to nearly any piece of jewelry.

While we love rocking the leather tassel look, it’s great to have the option to wear something equally as fun, but much lighter and brighter! These cotton charms are easy to make—we’ll show you the step-by-step first—and even easier to attach to jewelry that you most likely already have, like a gold chain, a beaded necklace, and a pair of drop earrings.

Materials:
– variety of embroidery floss

– gold headpins

– E-6000 glue

– plain jewelry in need of an upgrade like a gold chain, a beaded necklace, and drop earrings

Tools:

– two needle nose jewelry pliers

– round nose jewelry pliers

– scissors

If you’ve got nimble fingers, it’ll be a cinch to make these frilly tassels. To make a small tassel like the size we’ll attach to our earrings, grab onto one end of the embroidery floss and wrap it around two of your fingers a total of 10 times. Of course, if you want a larger tassel, simply double your digits and the number of times you wrap the colorful floss around ’em. Once you slide the loop of floss off your fingers, snip the bottom to create the actual fringe.

Next, grab a gold headpin and slide it under your floss. This jewelry finding will pull double duty in this project by acting first as a tool to help tie off the tassel, then by morphing into the jump ring that will attach the finished tassel to the jewelry (more on that later).

Now, let’s tie off that tassel. Using a piece of embroidery floss that’s double the length of your fringe, tie a basic knot on one side and then the other, being sure to gently tug on your tassel strings so that the fringe stays nice and tight.

Once the knot is tied, don’t snip off the excess string! It’ll camouflage nicely with its fringy friends, so just pull it down and in line with the rest of the tassel.

To get this tassel camera ready, squeeze the tiniest bit of E-6000 onto the last knot you tied to set it in permanently in place. You can use a toothpick to apply the E-6000 to make it easier. Next cut a clean line across the bottom of your formerly shaggy tassel (we thought it was about time for a trim!).

Check out that fantastic tassel! See how the knot ends blend in with the rest of the string? Only one more step to turn this finished tassel into a true charm—shape the headpin into a jump ring!

You can break this process down into three easy parts: curl, slide, and snip. With a pair of round nosed pliers, curl the end of your headpin so it looks more like an eye hook (we didn’t have any handy, but you could definitely substitute that material and skip the “curl” part). Then, slide the tassel into the hook and finally, snip the hairpin so that there’s only enough left to close your finding.

And that’s it! The sky’s the limit on the number of tassels you make, but we recommend whipping up a bunch upfront so it’s a breeze to attach to whatever basic accessory may come your way :)

In the back of our jewelry box, we found a pair of laser cut drop earrings, a medium-sized gold chain, and a basic black and white beaded necklace all in need of dolling up. Once we matched each with our favorite embroidery floss colors, we took our own advice and made a bunch of tassels in one massive swoop. You should, too!

First up, a lovely combo of teal, red, and sky blue tassels with these gold earrings. The laser cut pattern made it way easy for us to attach the tassels on the sides and bottom of each earring.

And done! We love how the tassels call more attention to these delicate earrings—they look almost like gold lace! The tassel placement creates a stunning tiered effect that’s both dramatic and fun.

Next up, our gold chain necklace. We went with a more evening-appropriate palette for this look, and also changed up the sizes of our tassels. While the fuscia and purple ones are the same small size as our earring tassels, this single emerald tassel is twice their size (to make, simply wrap the embroidery floss around four fingers a total of 20 times).

The key to this design is making sure your tassels are placed evenly along the chain. You can either count or bend the necklace in two to make sure your tassels are lined up. Then latch the large green tassel to the very center.

Chain, meet your new best friend! These fringy tassels are the perfect way to soften up the hard look of any plain chain. Plus, this regal color combo is perfect for fall.

Last but not least, the beaded necklace with what may be our favorite color combo yet: pink, yellow, and orange!

As you can see, we made one cool charm out of two small tassels and one large tassel. So instead of making each tassel on a different headpin, make them all on one! This way, you can just mold that headpin into one large jump ring. Don’t forget to slide each tassel over to cover up the closure! Now all that’s left to do is open up your necklace and drop on that tassel trio.

You know we love a good pop of color, and this tassel centerpiece definitely fits the bill. As you can see, it’s the perfect way to accessorize a black blouse. Though we think this piece will be on heavy rotation no matter what top we’re rocking!

Would you dress up your jewelry basics with cotton fringe? Let us know what you think of this playful look in the comments below!

Zendaya And Tom Holland Had An Adorable Matching Moment On Their Latest Date

If I'm completely honest, there are very few celebrity couples I care about the way I care about Tom Holland and Zendaya. Aside from the fact this couple is like a walking friends-to-lovers plotline IRL, and are both power houses on their own, these two actors and philanthropists are just unstoppable together. They also keep their relationship pretty private. Here's the latest news on it.

The Latest News On Tom Holland And Zendaya's Relationship

Image via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

July 2016 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Join Spider-Man: Homecoming

Tom Holland and Zendaya met and became friends when they were cast in the MCU's Spider-Man: Homecoming. Tom had already made an appearance in Captain America: Civil War, but the new Spider-Man movie was a huge deal for both Marvel fans and the couple themselves! Not only did Tom Holland and Zendaya spend time together on set, but they also hung out at the pool together during their free timeand goofed around during San Diego Comic Con.

Image via Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

November 2016 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Are On The Cover Of The Hollywood Reporter

Tom Holland and Zendaya basically broke the internet when they graced the cover of The Hollywood Reporter's Nov. 2016 issue. The shoot was filled with plenty of classic Hollywood throwbacks, but I have always *loved* the blue dress Z wears on the cover. "Over the moon with my first cover," Tom writes on Instagram. "So grateful that I got to share it with the one and only @zendaya. Thanks mate for helping me out."

"Honored to share it with the very best...Spider-Man himself @tomholland2013," Zendaya says in her post. "Thank you for this beautiful cover @THR."

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images

May 7, 2017 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Attend The MTV Movie And TV Awards

At the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards, Tom Holland and Zendaya premiered a clip from Spider-Man: Homecoming...and Tom did a flip onstage and then asked Zendaya to homecoming.

Image via Robert Marquardt/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

July 13, 2017 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Are Reportedly Dating

In July 2017, a source seemingly confirmed what many fans had been wondering for months: that Tom Holland and Zendaya had been dating. Considering the two other sets of Spider-Man leads (Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst and Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield) both dated, it felt like this was one relationship that was bound to happen.

"They started seeing each other while they were filming Spider-Man," the insider tells People. "They've been super careful to keep it private and out of the public eye but they've gone on vacations with each other and try and spend as much time as possible with one another."

"They're both really ambitious and they challenge each other — but, most importantly, they make each other crack up," says another insider. "They seem to have a really similar sense of humor and love joking around together."

Tom Holland and Zendaya actually took to Twitter (now X) to tackle the rumors. "Wait wait...my favorite is when it says we go on vacations together HA! I haven't been on a vacation in years!" Zendaya says, to which Tomreplies, "Does the press tour count[?]"

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

August 8, 2017 — Zendaya Shuts Down Dating Rumors

"We are friends," Zendaya tells Variety. "He's a great dude. He's literally one of my best friends. This past how many months we've had to do press tours together. There's very few people that will understand what that's like at 20 years old."

Image via Noam Galai/Getty Images for New York Magazine

May 8, 2018 — Tom Holland Supports Zendaya's Iconic Met Gala Appearance

Zendaya showed up to the 2018 Met Gala (which had the theme Heavenly Bodies) as Joan of Arc, and it's quickly become one of her most iconic and recognizable carpet looks. Tom loved it just as much as we did and wrote on Instagram, "All hail the queen. Killing it mate."

Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images

July 2019 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Have A Very Chaotic Press Tour For Spider-Man: Far From Home

For Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon did dozens of junkets together, and many of the interviews have gone viral — like Tom and Jacob finally meeting their favorite Watch Mojo hostandthe cast playing games with Jimmy Kimmel. Junkets are always fun to watch, and this one is no exception!

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM

July 2, 2021 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Are Seen Kissing

After years of denying they were dating, Tom Holland and Zendaya really and truly broke the internet when pictures of them kissing in a car showed up on social media. This was such a vital moment that I remember exactly where I was when I found out.

"THEY ARE END GAME DREAM COUPLE," one X user tweeted. "I don't know if I want to be Tom Holland to kiss Zendaya or be Zendaya to kiss Tom Holland," another user joked.

Tom Holland and Zendaya were later seen attending a friend's wedding...and sitting very close to each other.

Image via Tom Holland/Instagram

September 1, 2021 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Make Their Relationship Instagram Official

On Zendaya's 25th birthday, Tom Holland posted the sweetest picture from the Spider-Man makeup trailer on Instagram. "My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays," he says in the caption. "Gimme a call when [you're] up xxx."

Image via Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

November 17, 2021 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Open Up About Their Relationship

In an interview with GQ, Tom Holland opened up about his relationship with Zendaya and how their relationship to fame has impacted everything. "One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world,” he says of their July 2 kiss. “I’ve always been really adamant to keep my private life private, because I share so much of my life with the world anyway...We sort of felt robbed of our privacy.”

“It was quite strange and weird and confusing and invasive,” Zendaya agrees. “I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing and something that you want to deal with and go through and experience and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other."

“Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible," Tom later told The Hollywood Reporter. "We don’t think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers.”

Image via Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

December 15, 2021 — Zendaya Posts A Tribute To Tom Holland As Spider-Man

Before Spider-Man: No Way Home hit theaters, Zendaya posted a pair of photos featuring Tom in his superhero costume on set, and in a costume as a kid. "My Spider-Man," the caption reads. "I’m so proud of you, some things never change and good thing♥️." Adorable!

Image via Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

February 22, 2022 — Tom Holland Says He'd Love To Be In Euphoria

Zendaya shattered records when she became the youngest person to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Rue in Euphoria. Tom also made headlines related to Euphoria when he said he'd be interested in making a cameo in the series. "I would be in Euphoria. I think I would be a really good Maddy," he jokes during a BuzzFeed puppy interview. "I'm a big Euphoria fan. I love the show and I love season 2. I visited a lot while they were shooting it and I really, really enjoyed it...I would love to guest star or just be an extra in it. Or maybe I am and you just don't know."

Image via Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images

April 20, 2022 — Zendaya Talks About Tom Holland's Support During Euphoria

"I think it's great to have that support and love around you, because you need that," Zendaya tells Entertainment Tonightduring Euphoria's Emmy For Your Consideration event. "This isn't an easy job, so it's good to have that to free you up from it every now and then."

Images via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME and Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

June 1, 2022 — Zendaya Celebrates Tom Holland's Birthday

For Tom's 26th birthday, Zendaya posted a rare photo of her with Tom, captioning the post, "Happiest of birthdays to the one who makes me the happiest <3."

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

March 20, 2023 — Zendaya Wears A Ring With Tom Holland's Initials

I am always in favor of cute, meaningful, and minimalist jewelry, and apparently, Zendaya is too! When Zendaya's nail artist posted a video of the actress' new ballet pink manicure, fans quickly noticed the "TH" ring Z was wearing.

Image via Ethan Miller/Getty Images

April 27, 2023 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Go To An Usher Concert

2023 was the year of concerts for everyone, including celebrities! While Zendaya attended CinemaCon to promote Dune 2, she also went to an Usher concert with Tom Holland. "Childhood dreams come true, going to an @usher concert," Zendaya said on her Instagram story (via People).

Images via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images and Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

May 4, 2023 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Attend An NBA Game

Tom Holland and Zendaya had another date night in May, complete with the perfect athleisure, popcorn, and relaxed smiles.

Image via Xavi Torrent/Getty Images

January 12, 2024 — Tom Holland Confirms His Relationship With Zendaya Is Still Going Strong

After Zendaya unfollowed everyone on Instagram ahead of her new movie Challengers (Blake Lively pulled a similar move before her film A Simple Favor, as did Taylor Swift before Reputation), rumors started swirling that the pair had called it quits. When asked whether they had broken up, Tom says (via TMZ), "No, absolutely not."

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

January 14, 2024 — Tom Holland Says He Loves Watching Spider-Man: Homecoming With Zendaya

During the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, Tom Holland told Extra how much he loves rewatching his first Spider-Man movie, especially when he watches it with Z. "Zendaya and I will, every now and then, watch Spider-Man 1 and reminisce about being 19 and making those movies again," he says. "I love those movies, and I love savoring those moments, so I try not to watch them as often as I would maybe like to because it’s so special. It's such a luxury, such a gift to be able to sit down and sort of relive your youth.”

Image via Tom Holland/Instagram

January 23, 2024 — Tom Holland Shows Zendaya Some Love

Since Tom Holland and Zendaya are very private, they don't often post about their relationship on social media. But when Zendaya debuted a new look at Paris Fashion Week, Tom Holland couldn't help but post a pic of Z to his Instagram story with three heart-eye emojis. We share the same sentiment, Tom, what a coincidence!

Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images

February 15, 2023 — Tom Holland Supports Zendaya's Dune 2

The London premiere of Dune 2 was *very* eventful. Zendaya basically broke the internet by wearing a Mugler "Machinenmensch" robot suit (before changing into this chic black dress from Mugler by Casey Cadwallader), a certain actress spoiled her appearance in the movie by showing up to the carpet, and Tom Holland and Zendaya were spotted at the afterparty together. I love the care and attention Tom shows Zendaya (I, too, would be overwhelmed if I was surrounded by paparazzi like in this video of the couple), and I hope they got to unwind after a crazy night!

Image via Tom Holland/Instagram

February 21, 2024 — Tom Holland *Also* Supports Zendaya's Challengers

After the new trailer for Challengers dropped, Tom Holland shared it to his Instagram story, promising the movie looks just as good as we're hoping. "You ain't ready for this one!" he says alongside the trailer.

Image via Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

February 21, 2024 — Zendaya Says Tom Holland Has The Best "Rizz"

When asked who has the best "rizz" (short for charisma) in the Dune 2 cast, Zendaya immediately pivots and makes the answer more personal! "Everybody's kind of got their own [rizz]," she tells Buzzfeed. "I think someone who has beautiful charisma, not on the Dune cast, but...it works for me, is Mr. Tom Holland."

"I'm more shy and kind of quiet, so it takes a little bit more to pull me out of my shell but he's great at just talking to people and getting to know people," she continues. "He's just naturally very good at that. Or as for me, I've definitely had to pull it out of me a little bit. He's got that natural gift."

Image via Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

March 17, 2024 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Watch A Tennis Game

Ahead of Zendaya's spring movie Challengers (in which she plays a tennis pro-turned-coach opposite Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor), she watched the BNP Paribas Open Men's Final at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Alongside Tom Holland and her assistant Darnell Appling, who she frequently calls her brother, Zendaya got comfy in a cream-colored tennis skirt, tank top, and zip-up hoodie ensemble. Spring really is here!! My favorite part of the afternoon is when Tom Holland and Zendaya sang along with Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

Image via James Gourley/Getty Images

April 9, 2024 — Zendaya Raves About Tom Holland

In her Vogue cover story for May 2024, Zendaya talks a lot about how fame has affected both her life and Tom Holland's. “His [career] changed overnight. One day you’re a kid and you’re at the pub with your friends, and then the next day you’re Spider-Man,” she says. “I definitely watched his life kind of change in front of him. But he handled it really beautifully.”

That star power was evident in 2022, when Tom Holland and Zendaya spent the afternoon at the Louvre in Paris...and almost broke the internet. “You just kind of get used to the fact that, 'Oh, I’m also one of these art pieces you’re going to take a picture of. I just gotta be totally cool with it and just live my life,'" Zendaya continues. (She also says that when the museum let them walk around after-hours, "it was like Night at the Museum.”)

This spring, Zendaya can't wait to see Tom Holland in his London production of Romeo & Juliet: "[I] could not be more proud. I’m going to try to see as many shows as I possibly can.”

Image via Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

April 10, 2024 — Challengers Premieres In London

Tom Holland showed up for the London premiere of Challengers, and got to support Zendaya in the sweetest way. In this video captured at the premiere, you can see Tom and Z share a hug and a kiss on the cheek during the evening. Even the smallest gesture can mean a lot during a busy night, and I love how in sync Tom Holland and Zendaya are!

The latest viral clip about Tom Holland and Zendaya also has to do with Challengers. During another Challengers press tour stop, Zendaya's overjoyed to be presented with a bouquet of gardenias. “These are my favorite flowers!” she exclaims. When asked if Tom Holland buys her flowers, she points at the camera and jokes, “I hope he's watching!”

While not every girlfriend necessarily wants a bouquet, every couple definitely has to figure out each other's love languages so they can get to know each other better — and apparently A-listers are the exact same!

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC

August 31, 2024 — Zendaya And Tom Holland Match On A Day Date

After a summer starring in Romeo and Juliet, Tom Holland took a late-summer stroll with Zendaya in Calabasas, California. They also ended up wearing matching white tanks (Zendaya styled hers with trousers and ballet flats, while Tom opted for cargo-esque joggers and white sneakers) for the ultimate twinning moment.

Bero

October 15, 2024 — Tom Holland Launches A New Company With Unexpected Help From Zendaya

After going sober in 2022, Tom Holland announced on October 15 he was launching a non-alcoholic drink company called Bero. “When I got sober, I started exploring the world of non-alcoholic beers and realized there was space for me to fit in,” Tom says in an interview with Forbes. “My first year sober was really difficult, and had I had Bero, I think it would have been easier.”

“Zendaya hates beer, like, absolutely hates beer," he continues. And when she helped with the taste testing, a joke helped guide the overall brand. "She does not drink beer at all, and the first round of testing she was like, ‘Wow, these are really tasty’, and I was like, ‘Well, that's probably not a good sign.'"

And at the launch event for Bero in New York City, Tom and Zendaya wore matching shades of burgundy! Z stunned in a floor-length leather dress while Tom paired a short sleeve sweater with black trousers.

On

October 15, 2024 — Zendaya Reveals Why She'd Never Take A Dance Class With Tom Holland

While speaking to Teen Vogue for her partnership with On, Zendaya reveals she'd probably avoid dance classes with Tom Holland because "he's too good, it would piss me off," she jokes. "I would want to take someone who could be equally as bad as me."

"Kayaking, I would choose Tom because I think that, if I can remember correctly, with the kayak, you have to be in sync with the person," she continues. "And I think it would be hilarious because we are both very controlling and we both want to be in charge. So it would be funny to watch us be like, no, we're going to go this way. No, we're going to go that way. And I think it would be a good story after the fact."

Keep checking back here for the latest news on Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship, and see what Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are up to as well!

This post has been updated.

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DIY The Ultimate Holiday Party Photo Backdrop

Holiday party season is almost upon us, and we could not be more ready for it! Sparkly dresses, fancy work parties, time spent with family and friends celebrating the end of the year? Count us in. Topping the charts of our favorite things about holiday parties are the creative backdrops we’ve been seeing popping up in our social feeds. That’s why we’ve teamed up with NBC’s Making It, a new reality DIY competition series, to bring you a holiday party photo backdrop tutorial that is sure to make jaws drop. Get ready to learn how to hand knit a super fabulous and classy backdrop decked out with colorful pom-poms and tassels!

Let’s get crafty!

Materials and Tools:

  • yarn
  • pom-pom maker
  • roving
  • cable ties
  • large needle
  • scissors
  • retail grid (not pictured)
  • 2×1-foot wood board (not pictured)

Instructions:

  1. Hand knit roving.
  2. Make pom-poms and tassels.
  3. Create garlands.
  4. Add roving to grid.
  5. Add pom-poms and tassels.

For our backdrop, we used a 4×7-foot retail grid, which you can find at most office supply stores.

HAND KNIT ROVING

Begin by wrapping the tail of the roving over your right hand with the working yarn tucked underneath your hand, creating a loop.

Holding the tail in your left hand, pull the working yarn through the loop with your right hand, creating a simple slipknot.

This creates the base stitch of your woven braid that you will continue to pull the working yarn through to create the rest of your stitches. Thread the working yarn through your stitch just enough to create a new loop and pull it tight with the tail.

This may seem daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s actually super fun and a task that we all fight over at the office!

Keep feeding your working yarn through and creating new loops until you have enough to cover your grid. We kept the grid handy as we worked to see how much we needed to make. You got this!

When you’ve reached a good length, cut the working yarn.

Feed the now cut working yarn through your last loop and pull it tight, creating a secure knot. Ta-da! Now on to your next yarn creation.

POM-POMS

If you haven’t used a pom-pom maker before, oh buddy, you are in for a treat! They make making pom-poms SO easy. To begin, make sure that both pieces of the maker are together. Pull out a pair of the arms on one side and wrap yarn around both arms until you’ve filled in the half moon shape, like above. Once it’s filled, snip the yarn and close the arms.

Repeat on the other set of arms, trim the end of the yarn and close the arms of the maker.

With all the arms closed, cut down the center of each side of the arms of the maker. You’re almost done!

Cut a separate piece of yarn and make a tight double knot through the center of the maker.

To free your new fringy friend, pull open both pairs of the arms and pull apart each side of the maker. Give your pom a little haircut to turn him into the perfect fuzzball or leave him shaggy for some extra texture. After you make a few more poms, you’ll be ready to make a garland.

Using your large needle, thread a long piece of yarn through the center of the pom-pom.

Thread the needle through your other pom-poms. Make a fun assortment of garlands in varying colors and lengths for your backdrop. Next up on the yarn decor front, tassels!

TASSELS

We are going to show you how to make three different types of tassels. The best thing about tassels is that once you have the basics, there are millions of ways you can jazz them up. Make ‘em chunky, make ‘em long, or make them teeny, tiny — they will all look cool in your backdrop.

First tassel, or you may call it a faux-tassel. Take an entire skein of yarn and wrap a separate piece of yarn tightly around it, about three inches from the top of the skein. Trim around the bottom of the tassel, creating a fringe-tastic look, while keeping the inside of the skein intact.

To make your next type of tassel, you’ll need to grab something flat, at least two feet long. You can really use anything — a plastic lid of a storage container, a wood block, or a piece of cardboard.

Pull the yarn off of the wood, keeping it in a large oval. Double knot a piece of yarn around the top of all the pieces of yarn. Pinch together the top of the yarn and wrap it with a separate piece to create the “neck” of the tassel. Trim the bottom and you are all set. You can make so many variations of this tassel, and that’s exactly what we did for our backdrop.

You can braid or twist the bottoms of the tassels. Try ‘em all out!

INSTALLATION

Start by weaving the knitted roving in and out of the grid. This does not need to be perfect by any means; just go with the flow!

We left some big loops and empty spaces to fill in in with roving that hasn’t been knit, pom-poms, and tassels.

To attach the tassels, thread the cable tie through the center of the top and secure it to the grid.

Look at the fun texture start to come together by weaving knit and un-knit roving through the grid.

Keep on adding pops of color until you cover your entire backdrop. Now you are all set to gear up for your party!

CHEERS to your super awesome new backdrop!

If you haven’t heard yet, make sure you stop by our annual Holiday House! While you’re there, head to Santa’s Workshop, sponsored by NBC’s Making It, where you can DIY and snap pics in front of this backdrop!

Show us your holiday party photo backdrops by tagging us on Instagram using the hashtag #iamcreative and #MakingIt.

This post was paid for by NBC.

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I Found The Best Drugstore Lipstick — & I Already Bought It 3x In A Row

Move over expensive MAC haul — I've discovered the best drugstore lipstick that rivals my $20+ purchases. I love finding dupes for my beauty lovers who can't continuously drop a huge amount of money on new products that eventually expire. Since I'm 100% against using old makeup, I'd rather chat your eat off about the affordable drugstore finds I'm using consistently these days.

IMO, the best drugstore lipstick is the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lipstick! Coming from one of the OG beauty brands, it's formula was surprising because I almost expected it to fail. It sounds silly, but trying drugstore brands used to be a hit or miss before social media started demanding that all makeup products stop being subpar.

Since this lipstick passed the test, here's everything you need to know about it — including why I l keep buying it and all the other best drugstore lipsticks I love!

What is Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink used for?

Jasmine Williams

Anyone can say that their lipstick is THE BEST, but that's not always true. So, what's the tea on the Super Stay Matte Ink formula? According to the brand's notes on Amazon, here's what you can expect to this lipstick to do:

  • Glide on easily because of the "unique arrow application"
  • Provide a "perfectly matte" finish
  • Remain "smudge-free" for up to "16 hours"

It sounds like a lot of fluff if you've never tried the formula before, so I scrolled through the comment section to see what other customers think.

What are other customers saying about it?

Maybelline

Most of the customer reviews I read through on Amazon are extremely thorough so here are the ones that stood out the most:

  • "I am really hooked on this lipstick! It's very long wearing and it's super gentle on my lips...Let me address some common complaints among other reviewers and why I think they're wrong...Oil takes this stuff off quite easily, so do some makeup wipes...Secondly, I do agree that this product is very sticky. I have found that I can put my Mac lipgloss on over top and now it's not sticky anymore!"
  • "I’ve purchased this longevity wand type lipstick a few times and I like the texture and staying power. Sometimes I put another glossy lipstick over if it seems drying however it stays very nicely for the day."
  • "This is my first time purchasing this brand. When I say it last all day, it doesn't come off until you take it off! Some might see this as bothersome, but having it stay on until I need it off is the greatest thing."
  • My Favorite Review: "I put it on at around 3:30 pm and fell asleep with it on cause it was a busy night, it was still on the next morning. I had to use multiple makeup remover wipes and wash my face with a good makeup remover to get it off."

My Review For Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Lipstick

Jasmine Williams

I used to be terrified of wearing 'nude' lip colors because I thought they would be too much of a contrast against my complexion, but watching a few YouTube tutorials nipped my fear in the bud. I make the 'Seductress' shade work for me by lining my lips with a dark brown liner. Once I did that, I immediately fell for the way it looks on me. It's to the point where I actually can't stop wearing lip combo — it's so easy to apply and takes less than two minutes to set!

How long does Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Lipstick last?

Before I started applying gloss over my nude lip combo, I wanted to test two very important things:

  1. If this matte lipstick could pass the smudge-proof test. I've tried other brands, and they haven't always stayed in place — especially when eating or drinking something — so I was skeptical.
  2. How long it actually lasts, smudge-proof or not. I mean, who among us hasn't gotten home after an evening out to find their lipstick basically nonexistent?

Like one of the customer reviews suggests, this lipstick has come off a little while eating things like pasta or pizza, so it's not 100% "smudge-free." Given that, I only had to reapply this lipstick once throughout an 8-hour day — which isn't a huge deal to me because it takes less than 30 seconds to reapply it. The best way I get it to stay put is by applying lip gloss and a teeny amount of setting spray over it.

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Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lipstick

Lately, I've even been adding the Maybelline Lifter Gloss in the shade 'Stone' as a way to truly lock in the color. It highlights the 'Seductress' shade of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lipstick which is a huge plus for me.

For less than $12, I think it's absolutely worth buying multiple times!

More Best Drugstore Lipsticks

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The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Liquid Lipstick

When I'm in the mood for a universal red lipstick that has the best color payoff, I always turn to The Lip Bar's 'Bawse Lady.' She's a gorgeous blue-red that highlights all undertones without making anyone looked washed out.

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Revlon Colorstay Limitless Matte Lipstick

I discovered Revlon's Colorstay formula while browsing for a deeper lipstick for fall and it does not disappoint! It's another vegan product that has triple hyaluronic acid and upcycled cranberry extract in it so it literally feels like you're not wearing anything on your lips!

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Milani Color Fetish Matte Lipstick

The word 'Fetish' may be off-putting, but don't write this lipstick off because of the name — ha! I typically wear this when I don't want to wait for a liquid lipstick to dry. It's super velvety and also contains hyaluronic acid in it to help keep lips moisturized.

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Nyx Professional Makeup Smooth Whip Matte Lip Cream

Last but not least, Nyx has never let me down in the lip department before. If I'm truly shopping on a budget, I'll reach for the Smooth Whip Matte Lip Cream because it glides on my lips like butter. That's not to say I know what it feels like to rub butter all over my lips, but you get what I mean! It's soft and has a gorgeous color payoff that makes me feel like it's comparable to the best lipstick I swear by.

Have you tried Maybelline's Super Stay Matte Ink lipstick before? Let us know in the comments and subscribe to our newsletter for more beauty finds!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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How To Turn 1 Flannel Shirt Into 6 Halloween Costumes

Dudes — do you own a flannel? Well, we're pretty sure that you do, so behold SIX different ideas for easy costumes for men using that one shirt! You're welcome. Even if you have a different Halloween party every day of the week, you'll have different costumes you can wear to each one. Not only are they made with things you already own, but they're also pretty comfortable if we do say so ourselves.

To make these epic Halloween costumes, we picked up this basic red flannel from our local thrift store for $5 and paired it with a bunch of basic clothes most men already have. Scroll on to see how we made these super easy (last-minute even!) halloween costumes!

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Thanks to Zane for rocking all of these looks!

The Brawny Man Halloween Costume

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Men, get those muscles and those pearly whites ready for this flannel shirt costume! In our eyes, the Brawny Man has everything we're looking for. He’s got that tough muscle bod to swoop us off our feet, the square jaw line to melt our hearts and the perfect dark hair that we just can’t wait to run our fingers through.

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First, shop the (hilarious) Muscle Shirt. Think of it like a push-up bra for your entire torso. Cut off the lower arm section of the muscle suit so you can roll up the flannel sleeves and get down to business. Don't forget to grab a pack of Brawny paper towels to complete the costume!

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Don't panic if you start saying things like, “Oh gosh, is that some dirt over there on your vanity mirror? Girl, I’ve got you. Let me fix that.”

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We're giving this two thumbs' up because it's such an easy costume for men!

Al Borland Halloween Costume

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Remember this 90s sidekick from Home Improvement? Go as him or just any tool-belt-loving fella ;).

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This is a super easy costume for men because if you're a workman, you probably already have the flannel, boot cut jeans, and work boots! The key to getting this look right, however, is all about the accessories. We purchased this basic tool belt from Amazon. Fill it with your tools (or a flask) to really get you in the Halloween spirit.

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We all hate measuring to hang up your favorite framed pieces of wall art. Don’t worry, Al is here to save the day!

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If you don't want to commit to a full bushel of a beard, we understand. We picked up this fake beard and find the look quite comical. You can trim it to get a look that you like best.

Larry The Cable Guy Halloween Costume

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“I'm happier than a tornado in a trailer park!" There's nothing better than a man who can make you laugh. Larry the Cable Guy has a particular kind of humor, but the one thing we can always count on him for is his sleeveless flannel shirts. I guess he must always be running warm.

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Get ready to release some anger, because you’ll need to rip off the sleeves for this look. (Meaning that if you're planning on using all of these costumes, you might want to save this one for last). Pair your sleeveless flannel with boot cut jeans, boots and a trucker-inspired baseball cap.

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This look says, “My cooking is probably subpar, but I can make you laugh while we try to cook together.” ;)

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Larry's signature look is his goatee-mustache combo. We weren't going to subject Zane to actually shaving for this costume, so instead we created the look with a fake goatee stick-on beard and a brown eyebrow pencil. Easy as pie.

The Hipster Halloween Costume

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Does your beer brewing side hobby need your constant attention?

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Zane completely dressed for this costume himself from his own wardrobe. Pair your flannel with a V-neck tee, cuffed slim-fitting jeans and your best pair of leather loafers. Accessories are a must — think thick-rimmed glasses, beanie hat and a cold beer. PBR or Tecate will do the trick, since you are already in the process of creating the perfect beer yourself ;)

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Need man bun styling tips? Or man braids if your hair is long enough.

Marty McFly Halloween Costume

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Okay, real talk – can you believe the year Marty traveled to in his time machine was 2015? How time flies (even if the cars don't).

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Marty’s iconic look is all about the layers, so be sure to add a jean jacket and that signature puffy vest over the flannel. Pair with boot cut jeans and the whitest pair of 90’s (dad) sneakers you own.

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Zach let us borrow his board but you can find an inexpensive skateboard on Amazon too.

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Keep the hair simple. We went for a side part and wind-blown vibes — traveling through time is windy, right?

Wind-blown Man Costume

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We’ve all had those bad umbrella days…All jokes aside, this look was our absolute favorite to create. We are just dying over the fact that no wind or fan was used in creating this photo.

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We had Zane dress in a normal everyday outfit, then added some wind-blown tweaks. You will want to stick wire down the inside of your tie to give it a rippled shape and then safety pin it to corner of the flannel. We also pinned up the bottom corner of the shirt and taped on some wind-blown newspaper ads to the knee of the pants. Most importantly, you’ll want a broken, inside-out umbrella to complete this costume.

And that's a wrap!

How do you feel about these flannel costumes? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to tag us in all your flannel costumes on Instagram!

How do you feel about these flannel costumes? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to tag us in all your flannel costumes on Instagram!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

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