Branch Out: Turn a Log into Cute Ombre Coasters

Chelsea Mohrman
Jan 30, 2014

You know those moments when you score a freebie that no one else sees any potential in but you? (Jean scraps! You shouldn’t have!) Well, here we go again. This time, the coveted material we’re going gaga for is a log. That’s right, as soon as we laid our eyes on this chunk of wood we thought this would make an amazing coaster set. Yes, we really do think like that—remember, it’s our job at Brit + Co. to bring out the creative potential in everything (and everyone!).

As far as DIY coasters go, this project is only difficult in that you’ll have to source a bandsaw in order to cleanly cut the wood (unless you feel like you can channel Paul Bunyan’s lumberjacking skills—then use a hand saw). See if you can sweet talk your local hardware store into using theirs, or check with your dad. Dads seem like they should have a bandsaw. After that, the rest is way easy!

Materials:
– paint brushes

– acrylic paints
– water based polyurethane in satin finished
– wood log (approximately 6 inches in diameter)

Tools:

– bandsaw or hand saw

Instructions:

1. Cut your wood log into four to six coasters, each approximately 1/2 inch thick.

2. Paint the top of each coaster and let dry (we went for simple circular shapes in an ombre color scheme).

3. Cover the entire coaster (sides and all) in polyurethane and let dry.

4. Mix up a drink and give your new coasters a try!

Once you’ve successfully located a bandsaw, carefully cut four to six circular pieces of wood, each about 1/2 inch thick. These will serve as your coasters. While they’re pretty gorgeous au natural, we’re gonna add a few coats of paint to them to make ’em pop. Be sure to use a dry cloth to wipe off any excess wood chips before you begin.

Now paint away—anything from geometric shapes to bold color blocks, or the simple circular pattern that we went for. To get this look, start from the center of the coaster and work your way outwards, leaving some of the light wood unpainted so you can still tell it’s the real deal. We went with a different shade of blue or green for each coaster to give the set an ombre-like effect.

Then once the paint is dry, cover every surface of the coaster with a thin layer of polyurethane—sealing them protects the wood from water damage, which makes the coasters super durable and perfect for everyday use. Make sure your coat is even and try to brush down any excess milky white spots you see.

Let the polyurethane dry. You can prop the coasters up at an angle on a piece of wood so that they are not fully laying on a surface that the polyurethane might stick to. If needed, add an extra coat of polyurethane or touch up spots you may have missed once the first coat dries.

Then pick them up off the floor and set them proudly on your table. You did it! See, it was pretty easy to take a log and turn it into something that look like it came straight from the home goods section of Anthropologie. Seriously, we wood do it again ;)

Now it’s time for you to sit pretty while the coasters do all the work—cheers to that!

What materials have you upcycled lately? Tell us about your DIY projects in the comments below.

Stay Cozy In This DIY Dip-Dye Flannel Shirt

There’s nothing like a soft flannel shirt to keep you warm in the cold. They’re not only super comfy, like wearing PJs in public, but they’re also a closet staple that works for both men and women. We decided to give our softest flannel shirt a new look this season with a dip-dye DIY. Once you get the hang of fabric dyeing, you’ll want to transform your whole closet with a colorful dip dye. The possibilities are endless!

How To Make Your Own Dip Dye Flannel Shirt

Materials and Tools:

  • flannel shirt
  • fabric dye
  • plastic bucket
  • gloves
  • stir stick
  • cup or jar

Instructions:

  1. Make sure your shirt is laundered to remove any factory residue and prepare it to properly absorb dye.
  2. Follow the package instructions to mix up your dye solution.
  3. Fill your plastic bucket with water according to the package instructions and half of your mixed dye solution.
  4. Wet your flannel shirt and dip it into the dye solution where you want the dye to start.
  5. Follow the package instructions, and every few minutes pull the fabric out of the dye bath about an inch or so. We followed the instructions and moved it every 10 minutes for a total of 60 minutes.
  6. Add the rest of the dye solution to the bucket and keep pulling more fabric out every few minutes until you’ve removed it completely.
  7. Rinse the shirt in warm to cold water until the water runs clear.
  8. Once dry, the dye will lighten in color, so don’t worry if it looks too dark to start.

If you can’t find the color you want, try combining a few colors of fabric dye.

By only using half of the dye solution to start and adding the rest later, we can create a soft ombre effect.

You can choose a dye that complements the colors in your shirt or go wild with colorful combinations.

Pretty in plaid!

For more fashion and beauty DIYs like this dip dye flannel shirt, follow us on Pinterest!

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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Hold Up, Did Rebecca Yarros' First 'Onxy Storm' Excerpt Just Tease Violet Sorrengail's True Identity?

Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.

We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.

We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

Amazon

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

Did she announce the name of book no. 3?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!

Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?

Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing

Onyx Storm

Yes!

TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.

Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"

Are you excited for the release of Onyx Storm? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

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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DIY Basics | Ombre Wine Bottles

You know we can’t get enough of spray paint and repurposing, and what better thing to repurpose after a weekend of Halloween mischief than all those empty wine, liquor, and beer bottles? Here’s a quick and easy way to create an ombre wine bottle centerpiece – all you need is a few cans of spray paint!

We went for a candy corn motif but any color combination would do the trick!

Materials:
– orange, white, and yellow spray paint

– empty wine bottles, labels removed

– cardboard (for your spray painting space)

– optional: pumpkin, leaves, twigs, candy corns

First, get those labels off your wine bottles. Soak bottles in hot water and then labels should be pretty easy to peel off.

Set your spray paint area. Always spray paint outside, if you can, or in an extremely well-ventilated area.

First, spray paint the bottle white. Then orange in the middle. And lastly, yellow! That’s it!

If you want a little more style, add another layer of white on stop to create a drip effect over the orange. This would look pretty perfect with some wine cork candles.

Let try for an hour or so. Then create a fun fall centerpiece!

How have you repurposed old wine bottles or other containers? Have you checked out our Beer Bottle Bud Vases? Talk to us in the comments below – we love to hear from you.

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WHICH Movie Had Kate Winslet "Sh—ing" Herself?!

Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.

Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.

  • Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
  • However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
  • The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."

Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!

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Here's A New Look At Florence Pugh's Return As Yelena Belova

Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.

Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.

Marvel Studios/YouTube

Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!

We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.

Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”

What is the plot of Thunderbolts?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Plot

Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Jesse Grant/Disney

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.

Who's on the Thunderbolts team?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Cast

Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"

Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”

Jesse Grant/Disney

The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”

“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”

Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.

Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

This post has been updated.

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