Make Amazing Things, Win $5,000 — Here’s How!

Hello fellow DIY-ers! We’re here to announce something seriously exciting. We’ve teamed up with Scotch to inspire all of you to make amazing things! As part of their Make Amazing Contest, we’ve created an entire interior design scheme using a bunch of Scotch products like a laminator, heavy duty shipping packaging tape, and decorative masking, washi and Magic tapes. Yes, MAGIC! Colors, patterns and graphics can all be your oyster with a few simple tape tricks. Check out the video above to see what we’re talking about.

But this isn’t just about us making amazing things. This is about YOU! Show us what you can make using Scotch Brand products for an opportunity to win $5,000! That’s $5,000 for you to make even more amazing things. How cool is that? Head to ScotchBrand.com/MakeAmazingContest for more details.

Now, let’s get to making! Follow the tutorials below to learn how to make your own Color Blocked Tape Vases and Wooden Flashcards. In the coming weeks, we’ll also show you how to make this epic washi tape wall, wrapped book end tables and more.

Can you believe these are made out of tape?!

Color Blocked Tape Vases

Materials:

– Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Packaging Tape

– Scotch Magic Tape

– Scotch Expressions Magic Tape

– Scotch Expressions Washi Tape

Tools:

– Scotch Precision Ultra-Edge Titanium Non-Stick Scissors

– Scotch Titanium Utility Knife – Large

– cutting mat

– straight edge

Using Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Packaging Tape, make a grid slightly overlapping each piece sticky-side down on a tabletop (test this first with a small piece of tape to make sure it won’t ruin your tabletop when removed). Peel the grid off of the table and turn it over, sticky-side up. Add another grid to this side creating a sheet of tape “paper.” How cool is that?! Just think of all the things you could make with taper (tape + paper = taper :)).

Place your tape “paper” on the cutting mat and measure four rectangular pieces that are 3 inches by 10 inches (we made three vases with varying heights). Also cut a 3 inch by 3 inch square for the bottom of your vase. Cut a piece of Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Packaging Tape the same length as your vase. Tape two of the rectangular pieces together making sure to hold the pieces at a right angle. If you don’t, the vase will bow along the seams. Tape the remaining sides together and then add the bottom of the vase. Reinforce the inside edges with Scotch Magic Tape.

Now it’s time to add color! Cut small square and rectangular pieces of colored Scotch Expressions Magic and Washi Tape and add them to the outside of the vase. We created a pixelated look, but you could make stripes or add polka dots — whatever strikes your fancy!

We added in a few paper flowers because, why not? :) Next up, we created a set of chic flash cards inspired by the ones we used to make as kiddos.


– laser-cut wooden numbered flashcards

Wooden Flashcards

– card stock

– Scotch Expressions Washi and Magic Tapes

– Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches

Tools:
– Scotch TL906 Laminator

– Scotch Designer Multi-Purpose Scissors

If you don’t have access to a laser cutter, you can do a similar method using wooden veneer paper or thick woodgrain card stock with a utility knife.

Laser cut your wooden numbered flashcards (if you don’t have access to a laser cutter, you can make these out of card stock). Cut a piece of card stock that will fit into the lamination pouch. Leave a small margin on each side. Then add Scotch Expressions Washi or Magic Tape to the card stock evenly covering the entire piece. Place the piece of card stock into the lamination pouch and send it through the laminator.

Trim the laminated pouch so that it fits the back of the wooden flashcard, and then tape the laminated card stock to the back of the flashcard tape-side down. When you flip it over, you should see the tape through the die cut number.

How fun are those? They really bring the room together ;)

Now it’s time to see what you can do! Head to ScotchBrand.com/MakeAmazingContest to learn all about how you can enter the Make Amazing Contest for a chance to win one of three $5,000 cash prizes. Happy making!

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


Outer Banks season 4 part 1 gave us everything we had hoped for: action, adventure, and plenty of JJ and Kiara couple goodness. And a return to the OBX allows this senior season to recapture the first season's magic. “There’s all this action and adventure, but it’s really about the bond between the friends,” co-creator Shannon Burke tells Tudum.

After premiering on October 10, the series is still holding the number one spot on the Netflix Top 10. And the good news is we're only halfway through the season! The less-than-great news? We have to wait a little longer before we can watch the second five episodes. Here's everything you need to know about Outer Banks season 4 part 2.

Is Madelyn Cline's Sarah Cameron pregnant?

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

After the part 2 trailer dropped, fans immediately wondered if Sarah will announce a pregnancy. After all, Kiara's shock is exactly how I've responded to my BFF's telling me they're pregnant...And now that we know season 5will be the final installment of the show, I'm more convinced than ever this theory could be true.

The central plot and drama of each season has focused on a different character since the pilot: season 1 was about John B., season 2 was about Pope, season 3 revolved around Kiara, and now season 4 places JJ at the center. That means season 5 will probably focus on Sarah like never before — and creators Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke told Tudum that the feature-length finale sets up season 5 perfectly. TLDR; I'm expecting us to get some serious Sarah Cameron drama!

Madelyn Cline actually told People that she's excited to see Sarah and John B. get some good news for a change. "We've had enough [drama]. We have 3 seasons worth," she joked. "I feel like they have been fighting each other quite a bit and I've been tired of it. Because I'm tired of people coming for me."

Is Outer Banks season 4 in two parts?

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Yes, Outer Banks season 4 is dropping on Netflix in two parts, and part 2 will arrive on November 7. While this isn't the same effect as watching episodes weekly, it still provides time for fans to talk about their theories, and even rewatch the first part before the second premieres!

What is the release date for Outer Banks season 4?

Netflix

Outer Banks Season 4 Part 2 Release Date

Outer Banks season 4 part 2 will premiere on Netflix November 7. Part 1 is available to stream now.

How many episodes are there in Outer Banks season 4 part 2?

Netflix

Part 2 will have five episodes, meaning Outer Banks season 4 will have 10 episodes total. Here are the part 2 episode titles!

  • “The Town Council”
  • “Mothers and Fathers”
  • “Decision Day”
  • “The Storm”
  • “The Blue Crown”

Who's in the Outer Banks season 4 part 2 cast?

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Outer Banks Season 4 Cast

The cast of Outer Banks includes Chase Stokes as John B., Madelyn Cline as Sarah, Madison Bailey as Kiara, Jonathan Daviss as Pope, Rudy Pankow as JJ, Carlacia Grant as Cleo, Drew Starkey as Rafe, and Austin North as Topper. We'll also see Fiona Palomo will star as Sofia, J. Anthony Crane as Chandler Groff, Pollyanna McIntosh as Dalia, Brianna Brown as Hollis Robinson, Rigo Sanchez as Lightner, Mia Challis as Ruthie, and Cullen Moss as Shoupe.

What's going to happen in part 2?

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Outer Banks Season 4 Part 2 Plot

Outer Banks season 4 part 1 ends with Pope and Sarah trapped in a crypt, Cleo and John B. recovering from a fight with Lightener, and JJ reeling from the revelation his birth father is a Kook. So, needless to say, part 2 is starting off with a bang.

Jonathan Daviss promises we'll see “explosions, craziness, Pogue activity" when part 2 drops next month. "A lot going on the cliffhanger, a lot of revelations happening, those things will be continued to be explored," he tells The Hollywood Reporter.

“I think it’s an identity crisis in Part Two," Rudy Pankow says of JJ's discovery. “Like, who am I? Where do I stand? What kind of person am I now? Are my friends gonna judge me? And who do I look up to now? I think that’s how it’s going to play out.”

But Madison Bailey is certain that Kiara will be there for JJ no matter what. “They are two people who are so independent that that’s why they work together and just being themselves and giving the space for the other person to be themselves," she says. "So, as long as there’s never a hold-up on that, then I think they’ll be alright.”

What has the cast said about Outer Banks season 4?

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

Fans have been making JJ x Kiara edits to Taylor Swift songs since the show premiered in 2020, and Madison Bailey just revealed the ultimate Jiara song comes from Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: “‘But Daddy I Love Him,’ that’s literally Kiara,” she tells Elite Daily. “I think Kiara’s just trying to keep up, honestly. She knows her boy is crazy. And does she stand by him? Yes.”

Meanwhile one relationship that has yet to be healed (if it ever will be) is Rafe and Sarah. After their father's death at the end of season 3, Madelyn Cline is convinced Rafe blames Sarah. “I think she feels a lot of guilt," Cline admits to The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s all very heavy and way too heavy for just a single conversation. It’s something that has to happen over time.”

“I think [Rafe's] accepting some responsibility," Drew Starkey adds. "I think he realizes how alone he is, and he wants to mend bridges and build connections again. So yeah, I don’t think he’s ever been able to fully express [himself], and he’s still struggling to express that in a certain way.”

Who is JJ's real dad?

Jackson Lee Davis/Netflix

JJ's biological father is Chandler Groff, who married Wes Genrette's daughter Larissa. That means JJ has been a Kook this whole time — and he's related to Frances Genrette, the man responsible for Blackbeard's death.

Is there going to be a season 5 of Outer Banks?

Getty Images for Netflix

Yes, Outer Banks is coming back for season 5, which will also be the last season of the show. "With a little sadness, but also excitement, we're putting Season Four behind us and turning to Season Five, in which we hope to bring our beloved Pogues home in the way we imagined and planned years ago," Josh & Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke say in an official letter. "Season Five will be our last season, and we think it will be our best yet. We hope you'll join us for one more paddle out to the surf break."

And the fact the creators have “always known from the beginning what the last scene would be”makes me more excited than ever.

The season 5 announcement comes after the seven-city Pogue tour that included Brazil; Seattle Washington; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; Toronto, Canada; and Santa Monica, California. The cast revealed the show had been renewed for season 4 during last year's event.

Stay tuned for the latest Outer Banks season 4 part 2 updates. Stream part 1 on Netflix now, and read up on Outer Banks' Rudy Pankow Just Shut Down Those Viral Breakup Rumors for more info on the cast.

This post has been updated.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

Foodies – you know 'em, and you love 'em. They're the ones that always bring food to the function, making sure everyone's well-fed. They're constantly breaking a sweat in the kitchen when they're whipping up those elaborate dinner recipes that you just can't stop craving. This season, return the favor of those curated dinner parties and lively happy hours by giving your favorite foodie one of these unique foodie gifts. From kitchen accessories to home goods, apparel to cookbooks, your food-loving pal is going to love these tasteful picks.

Our favorite foodie gift ideas for 2024:

Lisa Says Gah!

Lisa Says Gah! Holiday Nail Art Stickers

Winter nails will never be the same after they get a tasty treatment from these food-themed nail stickers. We're obsessing over the martini glasses!

Amazon

More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen: A Cookbook by Molly Baz

This bold book by cool cookin' girl, Molly Baz, encourages risk-taking in the kitchen and a pure "cooking for fun" mentality, which we could all use a heaping serving of, no?

Amazon

The Pasta Tarot: A 78-Card Deck for Delicious Divination

Your local astrology-loving foodie will instantly want to noodle with this super fun deck. The cards' themes are rooted in the authors' queer Italian American identities, offering an insightful and unique take on tarot.

Marianna Fierro

Marianna Fierro Olives Print

For the big brine fan, behold this bold olive art print. Bonus points for gifting this pick with a frame for them to hang in the kitchen!

Areaware

Little Puzzle Thing Rainbow Jelly Puzzle

Though you could snag this 12x12-inch puzzle in French fry form, we just can't get enough of this vintage-esque rainbow jelly!

Amazon

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat

Salt, fat, acid, and heat are the four main building blocks of creating an excellent dish. If your foodie friend is seeking more guidance, Samin Nosrat lays out the process simply and deliciously.

Dusen Dusen

Dusen Dusen Oven Mitt

Bet they've never had a standout oven mitt like this one! It's 100% cotton and 100% eye-catching. When kitchen gear gifts can double as decor like this, you've nailed gift-giving.

Boy Smells

Boy Smells Banana Pudding Candle

This dessert-inspired home scent is so good, you may just wanna eat it. Seriously – it smells like something's baking, even though all you did was strike a match.

Amazon

Jellycat Amuseable Happy Boiled Egg

We owe a lot to eggs – omelets, deviled eggs, cakes, cookies – the list goes on and on. This soft, palm-sized plush is an adorable tribute to the great egg!

Amazon

Brainstream Al Dente Singing Floating Pasta Timer

This pasta timer (AKA Mr. Al Dente) sings whenever your pot of pasta's done cooking. It may be a more gimmicky foodie gift, but it can really spare you from throwing noodles at the wall.

Anastasia Inciardi

Anastasia Inciardi Prints Sticker Sheet

These snacky stickers are the ultimate water bottle or laptop decoration for the famed foodie in your life.

Amazon

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Maldon salt has unknowingly become the top salt choice for the Cool Kids™️ in the kitchen. The chunky flakes are perfectly balanced in flavor. Sprinkle some on a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and you'll never go back. ​

Amazon

What's for Dessert: Simple Recipes for Dessert People: A Baking Book by Claire Saffitz

Take it from baking queen Claire Saffitz for tips on creating a sweet little treat.

Hedley & Bennett

Hedley & Bennett Smock

If they practically live in the kitchen, an apron or smock is a must for eliminating stains and messes. This one comes in a ton of different colors to suit any chef in your life!

Pon the Store

Pon the Store Cocktail Napkins

For the foodie who can't resist a good cocktail, these printed napkins make for the perfect complement to a drink – plus, they set the tone for a night full of sippin'.

Material Kitchen

Material Kitchen The Salt Sphere

This super sleek sphere serves to store salt and other essential seasonings.

Williams Sonoma

Staub Ceramic Stoneware Petite Tomato Cocotte

Tomato confit will get even tastier once it's made inside this tomato-y piece of cookware.

Match South

Match South Waffle House Candle

This double-wicked candle emits the smells of warm spices and syrup, eliciting nothing other than the sweet nostalgia of going to Waffle House. Burns well with freshly-cooked waffles, of course!

Uncommon Goods

Taiyaki Maker

With this iron mold, they can bring the iconic Japanese street food, taiyaki, to brunches and breakfasts.

We've got gift ideas coming your way all season long. Sign up for our newsletter for more inspiration!

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.

Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Whether it helps you empathize with other people better or it simply gets you to read a genre you never thought you would, new books hold so much power. That was my experience reading Emily Henry's People We Meet On Vacation the first time. I had never loved rom-coms before I was introduced to Emily Henry, and suddenly my world became so much more fun and romantic than it was before. And on July 9, the author announced her newest book Funny Story would be getting the movie treatment! Here's everything we know about the upcoming adaptation.

  • Emily Henry published Funny Story in April 2024, and the movie adaptation was announced in July.
  • The book follows Miles and Daphne, who decide to fake date after getting invited to their exes' wedding.
  • Emily Henry herself is writing the screenplay!

Who's in the Funny Story cast?

Dia Dipasupil/Amy Sussman/Getty Images

We don't have an official cast for the Funny Story movie yet, but my pick for Daphne is Lily Collins. And for Miles? Like most of the internet, I'm hoping we see Dylan O'Brien as Miles! He has the earnest, free spirit that make Miles so special — and he's totally down to do the movie if he gets the chance.

"I'm a fan of Emily Henry's, I've had friends who've turned me on to her books and I know a lot of them are now just beginning to get brought to the screen," he says on an episode of the Silence on Set podcast. "[Starring in Funny Story] is certainly not a no for me, I love the rom-com space, I've always wanted to do a rom-com and I feel like we're finally entering a little bit of a Renaissance with that...[But] I have no emails. Unless I've missed one."

Is there a Funny Story movie?

Amazon

Yes, we're getting a movie inspired by Emily Henry's Funny Story! The story follows children's librarian Daphne, who is stuck in her ex's hometown when he breaks off their engagement to get together with his childhood best friend Petra. With nowhere left to turn, Daphne moves in with Petra's ex Miles. Their friendship starts on shaky ground, but it doesn't take long for Daphne and Miles to come up with a plan to get back at their exes — if they don't fall for each other first.

Who's writing the script for Funny Story?

Emily Henry/Instagram

Emily Henry is writing the script for the Funny Story movie! She knows the material better than anyone so this script is going to capture the magic of the book perfectly.

Who else is involved?

Donald Tong/Pexels

While Funny Story doesn't have a director yet, we do know that Lyrical Media’s Alexander Black & Natalie Sellers and Ryder Picture Company's Aaron Ryder & Andrew Swett will produce.

When did Funny Story by Emily Henry come out?

Emily Henry/Instagram

Funny Story was released on April 23, 2024.

Let us know who you want to see in the Funny Story movie, and check out news on all The Emily Henry Books Being Turned Into Movies for more!

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.