How to Make a Confetti Clutch to Complete Your New Year’s Eve Look

Now that Christmas planning is officially over and the gift giving has come to a halt, it’s time to start planning your New Year’s Eve outfits! We’re huge fans of the glitz, glam and anything sparkly (check out this DIY disco ball skirt) so it’s the perfect time to throw some confetti and celebrate. This year, bring the confetti with you wherever you go with this confetti clutch. This project takes a bit of sewing knowledge, but it’s great for beginners. Grab the party poppers and disco balls, you’re going to need them for this DIY!

Materials:

– clear vinyl

– thin leather fabric

– white thread

– confetti

– zipper

Tools:

– sewing machine

– sewing pins

– ruler

– pencil

Instructions:

1. Cut out two pieces of leather and piece of vinyl in the size you want to make the bag. Leave 1/4 inch for seam allowance.

2. Put one piece of leather and one piece of vinyl on top of one another and sew the zipper, pull-side down, to the top. Take the other leather piece and sew it to the other side of the zipper.

3. Flip over the zipper so the pull is facing upright and sew a top stitch along the edge of the bag.

4. With the bag inside out and the wrong sides of the fabric together, sew 2/3 of the remaining open sides. Use the last open side to pour and sandwich the confetti between the vinyl and the leather.

5. With wrong sides together still, sew the last remaining open side. Turn the whole bag right side out and rock it with your NYE look!

When sewing on the zipper, make sure your vinyl and leather are lined up perfectly so the bag doesn’t end up being crooked. Use pins or tape if you need to to keep the fabric from shifting while sewing.

The top stitch on the outside of the bag is important to help keep the zipper area from bunching up and to keep it lying flat.

Add as much or as little confetti as you want to the inside of the vinyl before closing off the last edge and finishing up the bag!

Put on your sequin dress and get ready for a night full of sparkle!

How hot is this for NYE? Share your NYE looks with us on Instagram using the hashtag #iamcreative.

We truly can't argue with the greatness of bubbly. It's the quintessential celebratory sip, whether served on its own or in a decadent cocktail like this one. It feels like the most fitting drink for Christmastime entertaining and fabulous end-of-year celebrations. That's why you'll be reaching for this super easy Prosecco martini recipe when it comes to that New Years party you're planning. All you need to whip up a great entertaining drinkis your spirit of choice, some lemon, raspberries and of course, bubbles! Don't wait another minute to shake this sip up, everyone will love it.

Ingredients for Prosecco Martinis

  • 8 ounces vodka
  • 1 whole lemon, juiced
  • 8 ounces chilled Prosecco
  • 4 raspberries, for garnish
  • Lemon wedge, for the rim
  • Sparkly sprinkles, for the rim

How to Make Prosecco Martinis

  1. Take four martini glasses and rub each rim with a lemon wedge. Pour the sparkly sprinkles onto a plate and dip each rim in the sprinkles. Set aside.
  2. In a shaker, add in the vodka, lemon juice and ice and shake until chilled. Strain the mixture evenly in the martini glasses.
  3. Top each glass with the Prosecco and add in a raspberry in the glass or as a garnish on a cocktail pick. Serve immediately!

Check out more of our drink recipes for celebrating all year long!

Recipe development and photography by Sarah Anderson.

The internet loves pitting celebrities against each other because people were convinced Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan Markle had a growing rivalry. For a while, we wondered if something was wrong since the growing "evidence" about it seemed to confirm suspicions. But no one could've predicted how quickly the CEO of Goop and With Love, Meghan host would shut down rumors.

Although we didn't see this coming, we're glad Gwyneth decided to poke holes in the "theories" about her alleged feud with Meghan.

Scroll to revisit the rumors that led to Gwyneth Paltrow & Meghan Markle's epic collab

Wait, why did people think Gwyneth Paltrow & Meghan Markle were feuding?

Adam Rose/Netflix

People have been finding ways to rip With Love, Meghan to shreds and have accused Meghan of copying Pamela Anderson's Pamela's Cooking with Love show (via Page Six). PEOPLEalso alludes to a growing call out that Meghan's show imitates Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. However, the source of Gwyneth and Meghan's rumored feud stems from a reel Paltrow posted a few days ago.

Giving us a peek at what feels like a "soft girl" morning, Gwyneth made "gluten-free buttermilk biscuits, not-so-perfectly cooked over-easy eggs, and crispy bacon #boyfriendbreakfast," per her caption and gave her dog sweet kisses. While some of the comments appreciated a glimpse into her life, some people couldn't help but bring up Meghan Markle.

Here's a few of the standout comments:

  • "I was not a Paltrow fan, until today. This is what authenticity looks like. ♥️ the background song (super trolling Meghan Markle) was a nice touch. Gwyneth’s own home (not a rented mansion) actually cooking like we all do and broke a yolk 🤦🏻♀️ Love it. I’m here for it."
  • "Meghan has become the laughing stock of the world. It doesn’t take much to shade her these days😂"
  • "It's bad enough that women are pitted against each other but it's unforgivable when women do it themselves. I thought Gwyneth had more class but I guess she was just acting."

How did Gwyneth shut down the rumors? 

According to PEOPLE's recent article, Gwyneth sat down to chat with her fans via Instagram Stories yesterday to answer a series of questions from fans. One person asked, "Are you comprehending the Meghan Markle beef that social media says you two have?" Gwyneth didn't waste time by saying, "I genuinely do not understand this at all, whatsoever," before asking someone, "Do you understand this?"

As she moved the camera over, Meghan could be seen eating with a smile on her face. Her responses indicated she didn't know what people were talking about either.

Has Gwyneth addressed the similarities between Goop and 'With Love, Meghan?'

In her Vanity Fair interview, Gwyneth didn't hesitate to share how she really feels about Meghan. She said, "[if] there’s noise about certain women in the culture, I do have, always, a strong instinct to stand up for them."

But, what stands out is what the actress and entrepreneur said next. "I was raised to see other women as friends, not foes. I think there’s always more than enough to go around. Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try."

Specifically, her mother, actress Blythe Danner, imparted valuable wisdom to her during her younger days that Gwyneth remembers well. During a moment of jealousy, she made a comment about another young woman to which Blythe said, "Another woman is never your competition" because she knows "what is right for you will find you."

Thank God for moms who raise their daughters to be girls girl!

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The gift-giving holidays have come and gone. The menorah is safely tucked away, and the tree's lights are coming down. The year is done, and it's time to celebrate, but now that you're a mama it's time to nix the late-night New Year's Eve plans. Replace the old night of Champagne-fueled fabulousness with a New Year's Day of family fun. Check out these artsy ideas, treats, and family activities that keep the merriment going year after year!

Reflection Questions

You’ve had an entire year’s worth of moments to remember. That’s 365 days of laughter, surprises, sweetness, and so much more. Print out reflection cards, and use them to ask each other to name their bests, favorites, and most memorables of the year. Start when your kiddo is a baby, and keep going as they grow. In a few years your little one can start giving their own awesome answers. (via Artsy-Fartsy Mama)

Printable Party Hats

Print-and-color hats are so, so, so simple — and the kids will totally get into the craftiness of this New Year’s activity. Keep each year’s hat, adding to the collection. By the time your now-tot is ready to head off to college, you’ll have a stack of hats to reflect upon. (via MyPrintly)

Time Capsule

Reuse an old jar to magically transform it into a time capsule. Gather the family ‘round, fill the capsule with anything that’s memorable from the year before, seal it up, and set it aside for the future. Way, way, way into the future: The longer you wait to open it, the more fun it will be. (via Red Ted Art)

Milk and Cookies

It’s time to leave those frosted Santas and sprinkle-covered reindeer cookies behind. Start a New Year’s cookie tradition (and really, who doesn’t enjoy a tradition that revolves around cookies?) with homemade chocolate chip deliciousness and Champagne flutes filled with milk. Yum! (via Crystal & Co.)

Calling all foodies for this festive — and totally tasty — tradition. The littles love their pizza, but you’re not exactly up for a New Year’s ordered-in pie. So make your own: your own pizza

your own tradition. Each year, come up with a theme or a topping to try. Get kind of crazy and try unexpected recipes, such as a shaved asparagus pizza. Take pics of your mealtime creations year after year. (via Smitten Kitchen)

New Year’s Survey

Make something special that you and your kids can look back on throughout the new year. Help your tot to fill out a “survey” as an annual holiday tradition. Along with taking a look back at this year, you can browse the printed surveys decades from now when your kiddo has kids of their own! (via Simple Fun for Kids)

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Forget about the mimosa bar: It’s time for a new New Year’s Day drink. Set up an annual hot cocoa bar, making your own mixes (and adding your own mix-ins). Create a new signature hot chocolate flavor each year to keep this sweetly steamy tradition going. (via Brown Eyed Baker)

As much as I love a little skincare splurge, I’m at the point where simplifying my routine takes priority. This means simpler products, gentler ingredients, and most importantly, cheaper options. Turns out, checking all three boxes is possible – I’ve just been looking in all the wrong places.

This Reddit thread highlighting the best “old school” beauty products helped me uncover some seriously underrated finds (for not a lot of money) and gather helpful tips about investing in skincare that really works – way better than the luxury-leaning products of today. A lot of the recommendations are also ahh-mazing for preventing or healing signs of aging. Score!

Scroll on to discover the 8 best “old school” beauty products that feel like a total treat for your skin, all recommended by skincare enthusiasts.

Amazon

1. Pond's Cold Cream

Forget the makeup wipes, and forget the micellar water! Operating as both a makeup remover and cleanser, the Pond's Cold Cream has been around for ages – and for good reason. Per Pond's, it "melts away all traces of your toughest makeup, while infusing skin with vital hydration."

This product has a cult following and around 3,000 5-star ratings on Amazon alone, even though you may think it's too "old school." Here's what Redditors had to say about it (it was mentioned over 20 times in the thread!):

  • “I have been a nurse for 15 years and I promise you every single woman over her '90s with great looking skin. I always ask what products they use.... Every single time it's Pond's."
  • “My grandmother started spending her pocket money on it as a young girl in the 1930’s and had beautiful skin until she died in her 90’s.”
  • “My grandmother lived to be 100. In her assisted living the staff asked me how her skin looked so good...what was her secret? I told them Pond's. She always swore by Pond's cold cream.”
A pack of three 3.5-ounce tubs goes for $15 on Amazon, so that's just $5 a tub – a total steal, if you ask me.

Target

2. Pond's Dry Skin Cream

Another Pond's product was touted for its approachable cost and effectiveness: the Dry Skin Cream. While the Pond's Cold Cream works as a makeup remover and cleanser, you can think of this product as a simple moisturizer to follow up with.

“I always come back to Pond's," one Redditor wrote. "It is affordable and one jar lasts MONTHS because the cream is so thick you don't need a lot to put on your face.” Talk about value!

I was using this product as a moisturizer both morning and night and found it to be super thick, but quick-absorbing. My skin always felt supple and hydrated after every use. Suddenly, I'm convinced to drop my current skincare routine in favor of this simple tub!

One 6.5-ounce container goes for just $6 at Target.

Amazon

3. Jergens All-Purpose Face Cream

One skincare enthusiast noted that the Jergens All-Purpose Face Cream is an “even more frugal” version of the cult classic Pond’s Cold Cream.

Meant to provide a deep cleanse and soften your skin just like the ever-popular Pond's option, a little goes a long way when it comes to this cream. You can currently find a 15-ounce tub on Amazon for $15, which will last you forever.

Amazon

4. Pears Face & Body Soap

I had never heard of this soap before discovering it via Reddit. After seeing it described as a "great, mild, glycerine soap," I might just have to give it a go because mildness is the top quality I look for in a soap or cleanser – I never want my skin's natural moisture to be washed away.

In fact, the official product description says the formula is designed to "attract long-lasting moisture to your skin."

The Redditor that brought this $9 (for a 2-pack on Amazon) soap up also said it's easy to find at the dollar store. BRB, headed there right now.

Amazon

5. Nivea Tinned Creme

Already being a big fan of Nivea's lip balm, I need to try this cream that comes in a convenient $10 13.5-ounce tin. Its provitamin B5-infused formula seems like a perfect fit for healing dry skin, which is especially helpful because I live in a cold climate.

While I might have overlooked this product if I was shopping by myself, it was these Reddit reviews that really flipped a switch in my mind:

  • “This is what I use on my face and it's been amazing. I've noticed some of the finer lines on my forehead and neck have been less noticeable and the Nivea is the only thing that's changed about my skincare recently so it's definitely doing something!”
  • “I had been traveling recently and ran out of my night time moisturizer so, bought a tin of old fashioned Nivea and have been using that at night. It is a revelation. It could be just wishful thinking but it really looks as if it has made a difference to some of the lines on my face and neck."

Amazon

6. Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Cream

When it comes to body lotion, I've found success with both cheap and expensive formulas alike. My go-to is the Palmer's Coconut Oil Body Lotion, and this "old school" pick looks like a great, similar option! Knowing that the formula is very simple (includes natural cocoa butter and pure lanolin) encourages me to try it out even more.

“I swear by Queen Helene Cocoa Butter lotion," one Redditor wrote. "A huge bottle is about four bucks at WalMart. I love it because it is on the thinner side and doesn't make me feel slimy and greasy. It's so old school, I don't think they've changed the logo or packaging in decades.”

A 3-pack of 15-ounce tubs goes for $29 on Amazon, putting each one roughly under $10.

Amazon

7. Albolene Cleansing Balm

Like Pond's Cold Cream and the Jergens All-Purpose Face Cream, Abolene is another reliable makeup remover and cleanser that comes in a creamy balm form. It gets the job done gently, thanks to its sulfate-free, phthalate-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free, and dye-free qualities. It's also hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, which is friendly for sensitive or acne-prone skin types!

“I love Albolene for makeup removal, cleansing, and moisturizing!" one Redditor wrote. "My grandmother always swore by it.”

“When I was doing theater, Albolene was the very best for removing tough stage makeup," someone else responded. "Way better than other cold creams, so I would sure recommend it for waterproof or long-wear makeup.”

One 6-ounce tub goes for $8 on Amazon!

Amazon

8. Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer

Dry skin-havers will adore this $9 tin. It's made with only a handful of simple hydrating ingredients to nourish dry spots in all sorts of places: cracked hands, chapped lips, split heels, calluses, sunburns, cuticles, tattoos, and "much, much more," per the brand.

“Bag Balm is a favorite of mine!" one Redditor said. "Good for rough patches of skin like elbows and heels. Cheap, too!”

“Bag balm is absolutely amazing for everything!!" another person noted. "It also works great for hot spots on dogs. That green tin is worth its weight in gold!”

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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.

Jennifer Aniston and Pedro Pascal fans are in a frenzy over a possible budding romance between the A-list singles. The rumors were sparked after the pair reportedly spent three hours on a dinner date together.

This past Saturday, Jennifer and Pedro were seen leaving the Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel, located in West Hollywood, California. The former Friends star and Gladiator II actor were both rocking leather as they spoke by the valet area. Jennifer wore cuffed pants, a white T-shirt, a leather vest, and boots; meanwhile, Pedro looked cool in jeans, a leather jacket, and loafers.

But was it actually a date? Here's what we know!

Scroll to find out what's really going on with Jennifer Aniston & Pedro Pascal...

Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

Photos of the celebs together prompted many social media users to share their approval of a potential partnership. Others pointed out how Pedro could just be appearing on The Morning Show, an Apple TV+ drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

That's because, during the 2024 Critics' Choice Awards, Reese and Pedro discussed the show on the red carpet in a clip that's since resurfaced on X. She told the actor that a "really good part" was open for him on The Morning Show, and he replied, "Pitch it to me now. I'm in. I'll be waiting to hear from my agents. Draw it up. Send me a script. Or just pitch it to me in the room."

As Pedro responded to Reese, Jennifer held Pedro's hand, looked at the camera, and mouthed, "Oh my god." It seems that, just like fans around the globe, even Jennifer is endeared by the Chilean-born actor.

Nonetheless, if it was unclear whether her and Pedro's three-hour dinner date was for business or pleasure, a source told Page Six, "“There is no romance going on between Jennifer Aniston and Pedro Pascal. They respect each other as artists but it’s strictly platonic and they’re not dating.”

So I guess that answers that!

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Jennifer, who is now 56 years old, has previously been married twice. She first tied the knot with Brad Pitt in 2000, and they announced their separation five years later on January 7, 2005. Then, she got married to Justin Theroux in 2015, but they separated in February 2018.

Pedro, on the other hand, has never been married and prefers to keep his romantic endeavors more private. Nonetheless, he reportedly dated Maria Dizzia for a decade and has been linked to other celebrities, including Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey and Robin Tunney, who's most well-known for her role on the show The Mentalist.

Jennifer and Reese's drama series, The Morning Show, debuted on November 1, 2019, and has since had three successful seasons. The project has been so well-received, in fact, that it's earned over 50 award nominations and received an early renewal for a fourth season in April 2023, before Season 3 even debuted.

Still, fans will just have to wait and see if Pedro, beloved for his performances in The Last of Us, Gladiator II, The Mandalorian, and Game of Thrones, will be joining Jennifer on-screen in future episodes of The Morning Show, or otherwise!

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