What a Bright Idea! 10 Ways to Add Neon Signs to Your Decor

Jul 08, 2013

Here at Brit + Co we’ere big fans of both color and typography, and if there’s a fun way to combine them—even better. Which is why this marquee sign DIY is one of our favorites, and why we’re currently obsessing over neon signs as decor. No longer just for bar signs (though those are still going strong!), you can find several ways to add a little glow to your home. Be sure to check out the incredibly thorough tutorial on how to make your own sign, too!

1. The Kiss Was Beautiful: We love the love note inspired signs by multimedia artist Tracey Emin. Each sign is written in a scrawl you can imagine someone leaving on a paper napkin or the back of a grocery list. (via Tracey Emin Studio)

2. DIY Neon Sign: Using EL (electroluminescent) wire you can easily make a neon sign in any shape or phrase you desire. What would yours say? (via The Poopers)

3. YOLO: You get two trends in one with this white neon sign. It makes a great reminder to get out there and enjoy yourself. (via Alex Amend Photography on Houzz)

4. Who Dares Wins ($700): Ready to actually buy a sign for your home? Go ahead and be daring and order this ready-to-hang sign.

5. You Are Here: We love the fact that the background of this glowing sign is a map. All that’s missing is the pushpin with your location. (via daveotuttle on Flickr)

6. Neon House Numbers: Such a smart idea to light up your house numbers in neon. You’ll just want to check with your neighbors to make sure they don’t mind the glow, or only turn them on when you’re expecting guests or a food delivery. (via Mark Brand Architecture on Houzz)

7. Sssppp: Why yes, this is the most perfect neon sign ever for a champagne cellar. Yes, you read that correctly. A champagne…cellar. Now you know what’s on the “future home wish list” of every single one of us at Brit HQ. (via Jute Home)

8. Lucky Neon Light (£295): This light comes with a bit of assembly required, but luckily it’s just snapping the letters together and hanging it on your wall.

9. Heineken Bar Sign: And of course there’s always the “classic” way to do neon, the traditional bar sign. We’d recommend using one of these over the bar in the basement. (via Urban Abode on Houzz)

10. Neon Letters Kit ($74 each): Spell out anything you want with these letters that simply plug together. Just be sure you order the right transformer to avoid watching your lights flicker out.

Would you ever put a neon sign in your home? What would you want it to say and would you buy or DIY? Tell us in the comments!

Here’s Why Everyone Thinks Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding Invitations Have a Typo

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been plenty busy prepping for their May 19 wedding, with Kensington Palace taking us along for the ride as it offers up deets on everything from the couple’s cake (lemon elderflower, FYI), to their invitations, which publicly debuted this Thursday. While the cards were regal to be sure, with the three-feather badge of the Prince of Wales and gold ink featured in die-stamping, there was one detail in particular which had shrewd eyes doing a double take, as there seemed to be a typo, and a rather large one at that.

As those looking close enough might have noticed, the space allotted for Prince Harry’s name seemed to read as something else entirely: “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales requests the pleasure of the company of ______ at the marriage of his royal highness Prince Henry of Wales with Ms. Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday, 19th May 2018 at 12 noon followed by a reception at Windsor Castle.”

Wait just a minute… Prince Henry?!

That’s right! Fret not, though, royal enthusiasts: Printmaker Lottie Small knows her stuff. The younger son of Princess Diana and Prince was actually given the name Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor at birth. Despite the fact that we’ve know him as Prince Harry since… well, forever, it’s merely a nickname that reportedly stuck in childhood.

Markle, by contrast, did NOT opt to use her real name, which isn’t Meghan at all, but rather Rachel (Meghan is her middle name). Her title was kept formal, however, with the “Ms.” reportedly chosen to reflect the fact that she is a divorcée.

Other chatter surrounding the invites seemed to stem from the fact that its tone differed slightly from that of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s.

As some have pointed out, Lord Chamberlain was commanded by the Queen to request guests’ presence, where Prince Charles merely requested it.

The reasoning is anyone’s guess, but some speculate it may have to do with the royal rank of the two princes.

Did you know Harry’s real name wasn’t Harry? Sound off over @BritandCo.

(Photos via Victoria Jones + John Stillwell/WPA + Chris Jackson/Getty)

Why Timothée Chalamet Abandoned “Good Friend” Austin Butler’s ‘Elvis’ Method For Bob Dylan Role

Austin Butler as Elvis, Selena Gomez as Linda Rondstat, and now Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan — there will never be enough biopics for me! (The real question is when are we going to get a Taylor Swift movie?). When pictures from the set of the new Bob Dylan movie, A Complete Unknown, hit Twitter, I had to do a double take because Timothée Chalamet looks so much like the musician I couldn't believe my eyes! You can watch the A Complete Unknown trailer here.

Timothée is going to be joined by Met Gala queen Elle Fanning, as well as Top Gun superstar Monica Barbaro. Here's everything you need to know about the movie — and our favorite Bob Dylan songs to listen to while you wait for its release.

Keep reading to see the latest updates from Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

Timothée Chalamet stars in A Complete Unknown, coming to theaters December 25, 2024.
He's joined by Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro.
The movie follows Bob Dylan's career in the 1960s as he rises to fame and later shifts from folk to rock'n'roll.

Did Timothée Chalamet take inspiration from Austin Butler’s Elvis?

Timothée Chalamet recently revealed that while he originally wanted to approach A Complete Unknown by taking direct inspiration from Bob Dylan, he quickly changed his tone...so to speak. "Somebody once said to me, you can't make a movie about a painter because it's not interesting to watch paint dry," he says in People's exclusive video. "Bob has that element because he's not one of these forward-facing musicians."

While Timmy saw Natalie Portman a sequence in Jackie "step-for-step exactly what Jackie did," and paid attention to "all this stuff that I saw my good friend Austin Butler crush it with on Elvis," he quickly realized "I gotta do none of this because this is not my style."

"Bob did not have a vocal coach," he continues. "He had two bottles of red wine and four packs of cigarettes. There's no way to impersonate that." One of my favorite things about biopics is seeing how a well-known actor portrays a recognizable figure. And you can see Timothée Chalamet's interpretation of Bob Dylan in theaters December 25!

Monica Barbaro Sings Her Heart Out

twitter.com

We got a look at Monica Barbaro as singer-songwriter Joan Baez, who was one of the first major artists in the 1960s to record Bob Dylan's music!

I was super impressed to learn Timothée showed up and sang live for the film. "It was important for me to play and sing on set because it was in the spirit of the movie to do it live," he says in a video from People. "Many of the artists through American pop culture that had the balls to turn their back on what was expected of them, that moment started with Bob. His words are relevant; 'Times They are A Changing' ' is relevant, 'Blowin' in the Wind' is relevant."

Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet In "A Complete Unknown"

twitter.com

Elle Fanning totally embodies the late '60s vibe in this fall outfit. The bold maroon blazer, the long straight hair, and the striped turtleneck — I love it all! Elle is starring this Bob Dylan movie as Sylvie Russo, a university student and artist Bob falls for in the '60s.

twitter.com

Thanks to some onset leaks, we also got a glimpse of the movie's version of The Freewheelin'! Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet look incredible as Sylvia Russo and Bob Dylan. I'm a sucker for any kind of recreation, so seeing this new version of the classic record cover is incredible!!

The First Pictures From Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan Movie

twitter.com

Timothée Chalamet has totally transformed into Bob Dylan on the set of A Complete Unknown. And when I saw the pictures of Timothée carrying the guitar my jaw dropped!! He completely engrossed himself in Wonka and Dune 2 and I'm so excited to see him do the same for this Bob Dylan movie.

What is the movie about Bob Dylan called?

H. Thompson/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Amy Sussman/Getty Images

A Complete Unknown Plot

Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan movie is called A Complete Unknown. The movie filmed around New York City in the spring of 2024, and James Mangold is serving as director (you might recognize his name from Logan, Girl, Interrupted, and Walk the Line). The movie will cover the period during the 1960s when Bob Dylan shifted from folk to rock'n'roll, changing the face of pop culture (and culture in general, TBH), forever.

"When that movie finally comes out, people are going to be shocked because you're going to think you're hearing Bob Dylan sing," vocal coach Eric Vetro tells PEOPLE. "[Timothée Chalamet] just has this uncanny ability to not impersonate, but really breathe life into it. He's embodying Bob Dylan and what he was like at that age."

Who else is in A Complete Unknown with Timothée Chalamet?

Amy Sussman/Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images/Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute

A Complete Unknown Cast

The A Complete Unknown cast is incredible! Alongside Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, we'll see Top Gun: Maverick's Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, and Nick Offerman as Alan Lomax.

When is the Bob Dylan movie coming out?

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

A Complete Unknown Release Date

A Complete Unknown will hit theaters on December 25, 2024. And since Timothée Chalamet has been seen in turtlenecks, hats, and jackets on set, this sounds like the perfect cozy movie to me!

I always need some brand new music to listen to once the weather gets chilly, and I will for sure be listening to anything Timothée records.

What song did Bob Dylan write for a movie?

Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1

Bob Dylan wrote "Things Have Changed" for the 2000 movie Wonder Boys, which starred Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, and Katie Holmes. This Bob Dylan song ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Original Songand the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song!

"Knockin' On Heaven's Door," which is arguably the singer's most popular track, was released two months after the 1973 premiere of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid as a part of the film's soundtrack.

What are some other Bob Dylan songs to listen to?

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

I totally agree that one of the best Bob Dylan songs is "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," but "Blowin' In The Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin'" are also great songs to listen to if you're a new Bob Dylan fan. So far, "The Times They Are A-Changin'" is my personal favorite song.

His style is the perfect blend of rock and folk that reminds me of summer picnics and walks in the woods. His sound also reportedly inspired Taylor Swift's Folklore!

What are you most excited to see in Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown? Check out our Facebook for more movie news!

This post has been updated.

pop culture entertainment movie

12 Typography Instagram Accounts That’ll Inspire You to Start Lettering

We are beyond excited that cursive is making a comeback in American elementary schools. As we fondly recall our younger years of diligently practicing our signature (and our crush’s), we thought we would challenge ourselves by trying to regain our skills in the art of lettering — whether that means trying our hand at fauxligraphy (AKA calligraphy without all the fancy tools) or even iPad lettering.

No matter if you’re a typography newbie or a seasoned lettering pro, one of our favorite things to do when we’re trying to learn a new skill is to follow a TON of experts on social media for inspiration. So whether you’re looking to make your mark in hand-lettering or prefer using digital tools instead, here are 12 beautiful typography-themed Instagram accounts that’ll inspire you to create.

View this post on Instagram
So apparently today is Pineapple day🍍 Who knew? This is for today's #GoodtypeTuesday led by by @goodtype Drawing on the train is not easy..
A post shared by Olga Muzician | Lettering (@olgamuzician) on Jun 27, 2017 at 5:39pm PDT

1. @olgamuzician: This Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-based designer is a lettering queen you *must* have on your Instagram feed. Although she started off as a painter, she has since transitioned into graphic design and lettering, and we couldn’t be more impressed with her work so far. Heck, she even does murals and chalkboard lettering throughout NYC!

View this post on Instagram
I was so excited to stumble upon the @janedavenport watercolor palettes yesterday at @michaelsstores - even better I had a coupon!!! How could I not try it out with this prompt from my #calligrabesties #funfirstmay challenge - with @tjt.design @chrystalizabeth @tiffyinspirations ❤️💛💚💙💜 . . . #type #brushtype #penandink #handfont #moderncalligraphy #calligraphy #brushcalligraphy #handwriting #brushlettering #brushlettered #brushletter #letter #handlettered #typography #handlettering #lettering #handtype #brushtype #brushscript #dndchallenge #togetherweletter #rockyourhandwriting #bujo #bulletjournal #bulletjournaljunkies #brushpenlettering #brushpen #watercolorlettering
A post shared by DawnT (@cre8tivesun) on May 29, 2017 at 1:40pm PDT

2. @cre8tivesun: If you’re a fan of bold colors, you’ll want to check out this boss lady ASAP. We love that she posts a ton (sometimes multiple times a day!) of eye-catching, Pinterest-approved designs that are sure to inspire you to launch your own lettering side hustle.

View this post on Instagram
First proper attempt at this style and I like how it turned out! Horcrux for day 22 of #HPDaily! . . . . . #letteringpractice #letteringchallenge #dailylettering #moderncalligraphy #calligrafriends #handletteringpractice #practicemakesprogress #letteringleague #typespire #horcrux #halfbloodprince #tombowdualbrushpens #beveled #beveledletters
A post shared by Ali LePere (@alilepere) on Jun 22, 2017 at 1:28pm PDT

3. @alilepere: Calling all Harry Potter fans! Ali LePere’s Instagram account is a great follow for lovers of the wizarding world. As a self-proclaimed Hufflepuff, she regularly makes stunning masterpieces out of wizarding phrases and often experiments with different styles, colors, and textures to keep things interesting.

View this post on Instagram
Decided to do something different instead of watercolor wreaths!
A post shared by ❥ 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚜 (@melowrites) on May 29, 2017 at 4:41pm PDT

4. @melowrites: While this hand-lettering enthusiast is known for her gorgeous watercolor wreaths, she also dabbles in new forms from time to time. If you love florals and beautiful hand-drawn typography, she’s definitely one to follow.

View this post on Instagram
🍉🥝🍎🍋Fruitopia🍓🍌🍑🍒 I LOVED these drinks back in the 90's! I hadn't thought about them until I saw this prompt. Fruitopia & New York Seltzer were my favorite things to drink! 😊
A post shared by Gina • Feather Park Lettering (@featherparklettering) on May 30, 2017 at 4:26am PDT

5. @featherparklettering: Join calligraphy and watercolor artist Gina from Feather Park Lettering on her inspirational creative journey to lettering bliss. She often plays with different mediums and themes to create her amazing designs.

View this post on Instagram
Just create something everyday!😊✏️✨ . . 93/365 of my project #365daysoflettering #letteringbyora
A post shared by ORAARTS — Ora Orawan Siripin (@oraarts) on Jun 24, 2017 at 3:20am PDT

6. @oraarts: Ora is a freelance graphic designer and lettering artist based in Bangkok, Thailand. She mostly works in black and white, and her inspiring designs often mix different lettering styles to create one cohesive piece. You can visit her Etsy shop for instant download prints of her awesome designs.

View this post on Instagram
If you like pina coladas 🍹☀️ #100daysofnicoleytype 68/100 #the100dayproject #100dayproject #pinacoladas #cocktail #summer #ifyoulikepinacoladas #illustration #illustrator #digitalart #digitalillustration #type #typography #typographypractice #drawingtablet #wacom #doodleaday #dailyart #doodleaday #nicoleydesigns
A post shared by nicoleydesigns (@nicoleydesigns) on Jun 22, 2017 at 1:27pm PDT

7. @nicoleydesigns: In need of a daily dose of cute type? Look no further! Nicole Yates creates digitally illustrated cards, notebooks, and prints, which are all for sale on her Etsy shop. We think her Instagram account is absolutely lit.

View this post on Instagram
S #36daysoftype #36days_s #catchingup #delaypost #typographylove #typographychallenge
A post shared by Monica Rojas (@atypecal) on Apr 2, 2017 at 4:54pm PDT

8. @atypecal: Graphic designer and lettering lover Monica Rojas may be relatively new to Instagram, but her awesome aesthetic is definitely #creativitygoals. We especially love her take on the 36 Days of Type series — she’s using everyday objects to give each letter and number it’s own ambitious makeover.

View this post on Instagram
Glip glop: "It's like the n-word and the c- word had a baby and it was raised by all the bad words for Jews." -- Day 25 of #rickandmortyletters with @letteringwithtran and yours truly! . . #lyssletters #createtucson #typography #rickandmorty #adultswim #danharmon #glipglop #lettering #handtype #handlettering #dailytype
A post shared by Alyssa Robinson (@arobinsonart) on Jun 25, 2017 at 3:20pm PDT

9. @lyssletters: With gorgeous lettering and illustrations popping up on her feed all the time, it’s no wonder why lettering queen Alyssa Robinson is majorly popular with the Instagram lettering community. She often participates in lettering challenges, so watch her bio for a sneak peek of what she’s going to be creating next.

View this post on Instagram
Nasty > Nice #nasty #type #typography #drawing #handlettering #letters #lettering #draw #illustration #handtype #women #ladiesgetpaid
A post shared by NSFW Letters (@nsfwletters) on Jun 8, 2017 at 4:40pm PDT

10. @nsfwletters: WARNING! This Instagram account definitely includes its fair share of NSFW content. But with a tagline of “Pretty inappropriate words by a lady who letters,” that’s kind of the whole point. It showcases her gorgeous personal style and a seriously colorful aesthetic. We’re definitely here for this fearless lettering rockstar.

View this post on Instagram
Over Yeezy, Yeezy, Yeezy. -Facts, 2016 G.O.O.D. Times Visit Kanyegg.com for more bad yolks, pimpin' cups.
A post shared by Danielle Evans (@marmaladebleue) on Jun 13, 2017 at 12:14pm PDT

11. @marmaladebleue: Foodies, this one’s for you! Designer and lettering artist Danielle Evans has gained international recognition for her use of food typography. With clients including Target, Disney, and Bath & Body Works, she’s obviously a lady boss you need to follow. Just be warned: Evans’ Instagram account is almost guaranteed to make your tummy rumble.

View this post on Instagram
It's always enjoyable to break the routine and do something different. These past few days in Amsterdam have been awesome and I can't wait for more trips like these in the future! Speaking of doing things differently, what do you think of these letters? I tried a few new techniques here which I will be exploring more very soon!
A post shared by James Lewis (@jamesllewis) on Jan 18, 2017 at 7:49am PST

12. @jamesllewis: James Lewis is a freelance lettering artist based in the UK. He often uses craft paper as a canvas to help his designs stand out from the rest. Combining his graphic design skills with his passion for letterforms, there’s almost always something new to envy on his feed.

Do you know of any typography rockstars we should be following on Instagram? Tweet us @BritandCo.

(Featured photo via @nicoleydesigns)

instagram roundup instagrams to follow typography instagram

Renée Zellwegger & Leo Woodall Prove Age Gaps Are Sexy In 'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' Trailer

If you're a rom-com fan who also can't get enough of Jane Austen's books, you've probably seen the Bridget Jones movies. The story (which is loosely based on Pride & Prejudice) follows the titular Bridget Jones, a 30-something who sets out on a mission to improve herself over the course of a year while she looks for a partner. And, in true romantic movie form, she keeps a diary the whole time. Not only can we rewatch the original trilogy as many times as we want, but we're also getting a fourth movie! Here's everything we know about Bridget Jones 4.