DIY Lucite Serving Tray, Fall Wreaths, and More Stylish Weekend Crafts

Sep 15, 2017

What are you planning on making this weekend? Show us your project by tagging us on Instagram + using the hashtag #iamcreative!

Christmas Cacti, Rainbow Stockings, and More Holiday Crafts to Make This Weekend

You might not be making toys in your workshop, but with all your holiday crafts, the elves aren't the only busy bodies this time of year! Invite your pod over for a weekend of DIYs to get your #HandmandeChristmas off to a good start. With pillows, wreaths, and ornaments, there's a little something for everyone here.

DIY Paper Poinsettias

Finally! Christmas florals that aren't harmful to your kitties. We think these crepe blooms are even prettier than the real thing. (via The House That Lars Built)

DIY Cornstarch Holiday Ornaments

Kick it old school with a craft you probably haven't done since grade school. The only difference is that now your ornaments will be the freshest around. (via Club Crafted)

DIY Pom-Pom Oven Mitts

A set of these mitts along with a spatula, a tasty cookie mix, and some measuring spoons would make for the perfect last-minute gift. (via A Kailo Chic Life)

DIY Painted Jingle Bell Wreath

With this wreath on your front door, all your holiday guests will be announced with a festive jingle. (via Handmade Charlotte)

DIY Rainbow Christmas Stockings

Keep it Kawaii this month with festive rainbow decor. Santa will be delighted to fill each stocking with the very best stuffers. (via A Bubbly Life)

DIY His & Hers Ornament Wreaths

What better way to display all your personal faves than on a wreath? When you're cramped for space or just don't have time for a tree, a wreath is the perfect alternative. (via PMQ for Two)

DIY Reindeer Drink Stirrers

Looks like Rudolph had one too many cocktails, which is why he's got that adorable red nose. (via Lovely Indeed)

DIY Holiday Wreath Glasses

Photo booth props are the best part of any party, so you better make 'em good! Your BFFs will be fighting to wear these adorable wreath glasses in the group shot. (via Bright & Bubbly)

DIY Ice Skate Pillow

Traditional yet chic, this pillow project is perfect for your glam Christmas decor. (via A Beautiful Mess)

DIY Christmas Tree Cactus

Spread some cheer by adding trim and ribbons to your plants and cacti. You'll get the Christmas vibe without all the hassle of hauling a tree around. (via Sugar & Cloth)

DIY Holiday Wax Sachets

For a handmade gift exchange, these naturally scented sachets are like a candle, but without the flame. (via Hello Glow)

Show us your holiday crafts by tagging us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more inspo!

This post has been updated.

Elle Fanning "Uncontrollably Sobbed" During One Of Dakota's Movies As A Kid

As much as I love celebrity couples, I love celebrity sibling relationships even more. And Elle and Dakota Fanning are two sisters I've grown up watching since I first saw Dreamer in 2005. Considering Elle Fanning is only five months older than me, and I have a sister of my own, this is one relationship that feels particularly familiar. And while Elle has also watched Dakota Fanning act since we were kids, Dakota just revealed seeing Elle onscreen is just as special for her.

Here's why Dakota & Elle Fanning get emotional seeing each other onscreen.

Elle remembers "sobbing" during one particularly emotional Dakota Fanning movie.

“When Elle’s in anything, it makes me feel it deeper,” Dakota Fanning said at TheWrap’s Power Women Summit on December 3. “She never can fully disappear into a character totally for me as her sister. She obviously does an amazing job, but I’m always gonna see my little sister a little bit.”

And Elle is just as touched by Dakota's roles, and remembers "uncontrollably sobbing" after seeing Now Is Good, a movie where Dakota's character was dying of cancer. “Because it was my sister, I had a real traumatic reaction after that premiere and the screening,” Elle says. “Obviously the acting, but it was something felt on a deeper level.”

“I’m doing this job, I’m an actor because my sister started before me and I watched her,” Elle continues. “I wanted to do exactly what my big sister wanted to do.”

And their movies have also made an impact on everyone who watches them.

When Brit + Co caught up with Dakota Fanning at the world premiere of The Watchers, I had to ask about one of her most iconic movies: Uptown Girls. "I love it," she says of TikTok memes and edits giving the movie new life. "It's nostalgic for people who are kind of around my age, who grew up watching that movie, I think it's like a comfort movie for people. And so I love that people are still revisiting it and loving it. And maybe now that everyone's older [they're] understanding different things about it."

Dakota starred opposite Brittany Murphy, who also had roles in movies like Clueless, 8 Mile, and Girl, Interrupted. Brittany passed away in 2009 when Dakota was 15. "I loved Brittany so much and I still miss her," she says. "So anytime that she has, you know, a moment where people think about her is also nice."

You can see Elle Fanning in A Complete Unknown, in theaters December 25, and you can also stream Dakota Fanning's new show The Perfect Couple on Netflix now.

pop culture relationships celebrity

11 Stylish Ways to Transition Your Gallery Wall for Fall

While summer is officially over, beautiful fall foliage is finally cropping up with our favorite palette of reds and oranges, so why not bring the look inside with some gallery wall art? These leaf-filled, rich-hued DIY's will look fab and save you a ton of money for new investment pieces (like that crazy new statement mirror decor trend you've been eyeing).

DIY Autumn Leaf Garland

Hang a cheery garland or two for all the fall get-togethers on your calendar. (via Make + Tell)

Printable "Sweater Weather" Print

New sweaters and new art go hand in hand, right? Luckily this print is free, so you'll just need a frame to make it really stand out. (via Lovely Indeed)

DIY Anthropologie Wall Art

You'll save some cash and have have a lot of fun making this DIY. (via Brit + Co)

DIY Fringe Wall Hanging

Enjoy those beiges and browns in all of their glory before the holiday decor vibes really kick in. (via Studio DIY)

DIY Layered Fan Art Piece

Pieces that jump off the wall at you will always leave more of an impression. And while it's not time to spook your guests with Halloween decor yet, you can hit them with some bold color. (via The House That Lars Built)

DIY Paper Shapes Art

And all at once, summer collapsed into fall... along with its more muted color palette. These amber hues remind us of a pile of leaves. (via Sugar & Cloth)

DIY Mini Purple Fall Wreaths

What's better than a big fancy wreath? Three small ones that you can mix and match and arrange to suit your constantly changing decor needs. (via PMQ for Two)

DIY Wooden Block Mosaic Art

All your project offcuts can find a purpose in this assembled piece. (via A Beautiful Mess)

DIY Modern Fall Wreath

The simple beauty of a hoop wreath with a scroll of text will capture even the strongest of summer-loving hearts. (via Craftberry Bush)

DIY Abstract Geometric Painting

Wild brush strokes that look the way the crisp wind feels? You can't get more autumnal than that. (via Dans Le Lakehouse)

DIY Wall Art Weaving Hack

The larger weavings can be hard to put together, but with this hack you can speed through a big one in no time. (via Paper & Stitch)

Show us your fall gallery walls by tagging us on Instagram + check out our B+C online Illustration classes for more creative inspo!

This post has been updated.

fall decor wall art what to make this weekend art

Hallmark’s First-Ever Dating Show Is Coming So Soon

"What would you do if your entire family, and your hometown, set you up to find love?" That's the question Ashley Williams poses in the first Small Town Setup trailer, coming to Hallmark+ in 2025. And if anyone has the answer, I have no doubt it's Hallmark — if anyone knows about warm, cozy, and sappy romance it's them! Even if you're not a huge reality dating show fan (or if you couldn't stop watching Reese Witherspoon's Love in Fairhope) this is one January TV show you won't want to miss.

Here's everything we know about Hallmark's dating show Small Town Setup, hosted by Ashley Williams.

'Small Town Setup' puts you right in a Hallmark movie.

All six episodes of Small Town Setup premieres on Hallmark+ on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and is hosted by Ashley Williams, who you'll recognize from movies like Falling Together and Two Tickets to Paradise as well as How I Met Your Mother.

Just like your favorite Hallmark movies are all about finding love, Small Town Setup focuses on singles coupling up. The show will follow a single who "has made it in the big city, but has yet to find love." And their concerned parents (definitely a Hallmark trope and an IRL trope...) get the whole neighborhood involved in finding three potential matches.

"When the singleton arrives home for a visit, they are presented with dating options curated by their hometown. After three dates, will they find love in their hometown? Or head back to the big city? All is revealed at a big town hall event, full of heart, warmth, and a few laughs along the way."

Okay, getting the entire town involved in my love life sounds crazy, but the whole community coming together for a town hall event sounds exactly like the kind of sweet and sappy event my life needs. (Listen!! Dating as a 20-something in the city is harder than I expected...)

Throughout the trailer we see our singles looking for love around their hometown, going on small town dates, and finding connection in the most unexpected places. Yeah...I'll be tuning in — especially since Small Town Setup is totally giving Gilmore Girls.

Check out the 11 New January 2025 Movies Viewers Will Adore — and you'll want to add to your calendar ASAP!

pop culture entertainment hallmark tv

13 Yummy Christmas Cookies From Around The World

Heaping plates of Christmas cookies are synonymous with the holidays. It seems that nearly every country around the globe has their own variation on the holiday classic. In fact, some of these regions have been making their version of Christmas cookies for literal hundreds of years.

If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your heritage, or maybe just want a little baking inspiration, check out our picks for the yummiest Christmas cookies from around the world.

The Noshery

Mantecaditos con Guayaba

These may look like ordinary thumbprint cookies, but these almond shortbreads from Puerto Rico are filled with a special guava marmalade. (via The Noshery)

Broma Bakery

Meringues

French meringues are a classic crumbly egg white cookie with a chewy interior. These get an extra European twist with the addition of Nutella. (via Broma Bakery)

Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

Alfajores

Deeply flavored dulce de leche, a caramel made from whole milk commonly found in Spain and many Latin American countries, is the key ingredient in these super pretty sandwiched Christmas cookies. (via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.)

Fancy Peasant

Melomakarona

These Christmas cookies that hail from Greece get their sweetness from a generous soaking of fresh honey! (via Fancy Peasant)

Very Eatalian

Baci di Dama

The name of this Italian treat translates to “lady’s kisses” — how adorable is that? These bite-sized cuties are made with ground hazelnuts and filled with a dollop of dark chocolate. (via Very Eatalian)

Cooking Classy

Linzer Cookies

These Austrian Christmas cookies are typically made with raspberry jam, but feel free to get crazy with a filling of your choice. Plus, the gorgeous windowpane look will make them a prize takeaway at your next cookie exchange. (via Cooking Classy)

Olivia’s Cuisine

Basler Brunsli

If you’re hanging out in Switzerland around Christmas time, you’ll definitely see these chocolate treats around. They’re often described as Swiss brownies due to their deliciously chewy texture. Perfect with a cup of eggnog or coffee! (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

Cilantro Parsley

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Lead image via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

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