Host Your Own Paint And Sip Night With These Easy Tutorials

Step 1: Gather Your DIY Birthday Card Supplies

Before embarking on your DIY birthday card adventure, gathering all the necessary supplies is essential. A well-prepared crafter is a confident crafter! So, let's make sure you have everything you need to bring your imaginative card ideas to life.

1. Start with colored cardstock or paper as the foundation of your cards. Choose a variety of vibrant hues to suit different themes and moods. Scissors are your trusty sidekick, enabling you to precisely cut out shapes, create borders, and trim your cardstock.
2. Grab glue or adhesive tape to hold everything together securely. Opt for a glue stick for a mess-free experience or double-sided tape for a clean and seamless finish.
3. Round up all the art supplies you have, from markers and colored pencils, or pens. These magical tools will be your gateway to adding personalized messages, whimsical doodles, and vibrant colors to your DIY creations.
4. Stock up on a dazzling array of embellishments for an added dose of flair and personality. Let your creativity soar as you explore the boundless possibilities of stickers, sequins, ribbons, twines, buttons, beads, and more. Watch your creations come alive with vibrant colors, textures, and eye-catching details. With these delightful elements at your fingertips, there's no limit to the magic your birthday cards can be infused with.

Step 2: Choose Your Card Design

The card design will function as the first impression that sets the tone for the entire experience. A well-designed card can evoke emotions ranging from joy and excitement to nostalgia and warmth, leaving friends and family in awe of the thoughtful gesture.

Handmade Watercolor Design:

Express your artistic side by creating a handmade watercolor masterpiece for a genuinely one-of-a-kind birthday card. Start with a blank cardstock or watercolor paper as the base, and let your creativity flow. Use watercolors to paint a vibrant and personalized design, such as flowers, balloons, or a recipient's favorite hobby or color palette. Add a heartfelt birthday message inside to complete the card.

Pop-Up Surprise:

Add an element of surprise and delight to your card with a pop-up feature. Cut out a simple pop-up mechanism using cardstock or colored paper and attach it to the inside of the card. Then, unleash your creativity by designing and cutting out fun shapes, such as cakes, candles, or balloons, and attach them to the pop-up mechanism. When the card is opened, the surprise element will make the birthday celebration of your loved one even more memorable.

Quilled Creations:

Quilling is a paper art technique that involves rolling and shaping thin paper strips to create intricate designs. Use quilling techniques to create beautiful and delicate patterns, flowers, or even personalized messages on your birthday cards. Experiment with different colors and shapes to bring your design to life and make it truly unique. The recipient will appreciate the time and effort put into crafting such an elegant and artistic card.

Hand-Stitched Greeting:

Consider incorporating those skills into your DIY card if you enjoy sewing or embroidery. Use a needle and thread to create hand-stitched designs or patterns on fabric or cardstock. You can stitch the recipient's name, a birthday message, or even cute motifs like balloons or cupcakes. The texture and charm of a hand-stitched card will make it a cherished keepsake.

Interactive Slider Card:

Create an interactive slider card to take your birthday card to the next level. Use cardstock to make a slider mechanism that reveals a hidden message or image as it is pulled. Write a heartfelt message or attach a memorable photo that slides out when the recipient pulls the tab. This interactive element adds a playful touch to your card and makes it truly engaging.

Step 3: Write A Clever Message

1. "Happy birthday, queen of the hashtags! May your day be as fabulous as your Instagram feed."
2. "You're the avocado to my toast, the squad to my goals. Happy birthday, superstar!"
3. "It's your birthday, so let's turn up the 'Lit' level and celebrate like it's 1999... or 2023!"
4. "Birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake. Enjoy your special day!"
5. "May your birthday be filled with good vibes and a bottomless brunch. Cheers to another fabulous year!"
6. "Sending you birthday wishes with all the heart emojis. You deserve all the love and happiness today and always."
7. "Happy birthday to my favorite extremely online friend. May your Wi-Fi always be strong and your battery never die."
8. "Time to celebrate another trip around the sun. Let's make this year even more epic than the last!"
9. "You're not getting older, you're leveling up! Happy birthday, gamer!"
10. "Happy birthday, trendsetter! May your day be filled with selfie-worthy moments and viral-worthy adventures."

Step 4: Add The Perfect Finishing Touch

As a bonus, consider creating a DIY envelope to complete the package. Choose decorative paper or repurpose materials like magazine pages or fabric scraps to craft a unique envelope that adds creativity and thoughtfulness to your handmade card. Personalize it by adding hand-drawn designs, stamps, or calligraphy for an extra special touch.

So, there you have it! DIY birthday cards offer endless possibilities for fun, creativity, and the chance to unleash your imagination. With just a few simple steps, you can create customized and sincere cards that will bring joy to your loved ones on their special day. Remember, the beauty of DIY is that there are no limits or rules. Let your creativity run wild, experiment with different techniques, colors, and textures, and, most importantly, have fun. Happy crafting!

We're thrilled to kick off our new Jetset Journeysseries, where we turn the best U.S. cities to explore this year into our own personal playgrounds. This is not just a travel guide but a way to spark your creativity and your wanderlust for weekend and week-long travel. Pack your bags , join us here every week, and get jetsetty this summer.

You’ve got 48 hours in New York — you don’t wanna do the typical tourist trap amusements, but you also don’t wanna skip out on some absolute Big Apple classics. With some much to consider, it can feel hard to know where to start. Lucky for you, I’ve got your back. As someone who’s lived here for years — and is very picky about how she spends her precious time, might I add — I’ve got the best tips for how to stay, eat, and experience NYC like a local.

Where To Stay

My number one recommendation when staying in New York? The William Vale in Williamsburg. Not only are the views captivating, but this luxury experience is right in the heart of one of the coolest neighborhoods in all five boroughs.

You may wonder, “If you live in the city, why should we listen to you about what hotel to stay in?” As a frequent patron of the exquisite rooftop bar — Westlight, if you’re already wondering — I got to know the hotel well over the years. My husband and I fell in love with the vibe so much that we decided to stay their for our wedding weekend with all our family and friends.

You’ve got plenty of room options, depending on your needs. You can choose from regular rooms, suites, and a garden suite — all with the option to upgrade to a room with a view of the city, AKA a “Gotham” room. Having stayed in both a suite and a regular room (had to make a return visit for my one year anniversary 😘), I can safely say that they’re both amazing options…just definitely opt for the city views, if possible. It really is breathtaking to wake up to the Empire State Building, whether you’re a local or just visiting.

What To Eat And Do: Day 1

You’ve just checked into your hotel at around 3:00pm, and you’re looking for a little snack and a quick drink. If you’re not already itching to check out Westlight at the hotel, make your way over to Brooklyn Brewery for a classic beer and (potentially) a tour of the facilities! The atmosphere is really chill, and it’s neat to see where (and how) the magic happens. If you’re looking to go even more local — and walk a little further — I would recommend checking out Talea as well! It’s owned and operated by women (yay!), and the Al Denté Pilsner is a perfectly crisp afternoon drink!

Once you’ve had your fill of laid-back libations and freshened up for the latter half of your first evening, I’d go ahead and get to the main attraction: dinner. One thing about me? I’m always craving Italian, and Williamsburg is one of the best places to get it. If you’re able to snag a reservation (they release on Resy seven days in advance), I would swing over to Misi. You may have heard of Lilia, their sister restaurant, on TV before, but Misi is often much-preferred among locals. While you can’t go wrong ordering, I’d definitely grab some whipped ricotta crostini, spinach and mascarpone filled tortelli, and the sheep’s milk ricotta-filled gnocchi.

I know it’s only day one, and there are plenty of decadent dessert options at Misi…but I would opt for a gelato elsewhere. Gelateria Gentile is some of the best gelato you can find in the city, and it’s perfect for a little sweet treat to sum up your first day in New York. I love the mandorla and my husband loves the crema antica, but you can’t go wrong with any flavor.

What To Eat And Do: Day 2

You can’t come to New York without grabbing a bagel, and Black Seed has some of the best. I’d grab a toasted sesame bagel with the lox and dill cream cheese, an iced coffee, and be on my way! While you can always take a car, hopping on the subway is honestly a breeze from Williamsburg. Make your way over to the Bedford Ave L train station, hop on a Manhattan-bound train, and you’ll be there in no time! Take this train all the way to 8th Ave (just five stops).

Once you’re off the train, make your way to Chelsea Market. If you’re wondering why a local would go to a touristy place like Chelsea Market, hear me out: Los Tacos Numero Uno. The line is long, but when I say these tacos are worth the wait…I really mean it. Plus, there’s plenty of shopping at awesome spots like Artists & Fleas to occupy your time until you’re ready to actually eat those tacos for lunch.

After snacking and snaking your way through the market, I like to take a stroll through the High Line park. The gardens are lovely in the warmer months, and it’s a nice way to get some fresh(ish) air above all the city traffic as you make your way uptown. The park ends right at Hudson Yards, so if you didn’t get your shopping fill before — or you’re craving a little tapas from Mercado Little Spain food hall — you can check that out, too!

This evening, I’d make time to see a Broadway show, so timing is gonna be important. You could honestly see anything and have a good time — the beauty of live theatre! — but I would recommend checking out Hadestown if you can. The storytelling and music is incredibly inventive, and it’s moved me every single time I’ve seen it. On a Saturday night, that show will start at 8:00pm, so you’ll wanna grab an earlier dinner at around 5:30pm beforehand.

There are plenty of restaurants in the Theatre District, but not all are created equal. Don’t get me wrong, Carmine’s and Tony’s Di Napoli are yummy and reliable, but you just had Italian last night! Let’s get a little classic New York Chinese food. Head over to Dim Sum Palace and order dumplings and shumai to your heart’s content! I’d certainly pair this with a lychee martini, but to each their own!

Dinner and the show are done, but I just know you’ll have plenty to talk about. Grab a post-show drink over at Glass House Tavern — you might even see a Broadway star or two there! I may or may not have seen Glee’s very own Alex Newell singing at the bar with their friends a couple years ago…

What To Eat And Do: Day 3

I totally love a savory breakfast moment, but pastries are an absolute must on vacation. Get up early and take a car (or the L to the G train) to Radio Bakery. The pastries here are everything you’ve ever wanted — maple and sausage croissants wrapped up so you get the perfect bit every time, earl grey morning buns that are just the right amount of sweet, and the ever-elusive vanilla custard croissant that’s not always there, but is always delicious. Need I say more? Once you’ve enjoyed your pastries and a little coffee, make your way back to the G train and ride it all the way to the Bergen St stop.

Yesterday was wonderfully Manhattan-filled, but I’d opt for another Brooklyn moment in Carroll Gardens. If I could own an apartment anywhere in the city, it would be in Carroll Gardens. It’s a quaint area with great food, great bars, and great people. I’d grab an iced coffee at D’Amico (it’s seriously some of the best coffee in NY) and walk around the neighborhood to make stops in local antique shops like Yesterday’s News. Then, because I’m always thinking about what I’m gonna eat next, I’d go on over to Frankie’s 457. The sweet potato ravioli in parmesan broth and cavetelli with hot sausage in browned sage butter are must-haves in my house. Wrap up your meal with their delicious tiramisu, and you won’t be sorry!

Given that this is likely Sunday, and you’re headed out this evening, I’d grab a car and make my way back to the hotel. If you feel like you need one last little snack for the road, snag a slice from Fini Pizza (definitely the white slice) or Joe’s Pizza (classic cheese). And voila! You’ve had a pretty perfect 48 hours in the greatest city in the world! Cheers!

Main image: Shutterstock

Follow along for all your travel needs with our Flights of Fancy series and Jetset Journeys series.

Is there a movie about the book Verity?

Yes, a movie based on Colleen Hoover's Verity is officially on the way! The movie's in development at Amazon MGM Studios (the studio behind Florence Pugh's A Good Person and Zendaya's Challengers). Hillary Seitz is currently writing the script for the film, and Eat the Cat's Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund are producing.

What is Verity about?

In Verity by Colleen Hoover, Lowen Ashleigh is a writer struggling to make ends meet. That is, until she's offered the job of a lifetime by Jeremy, husband to the ultimate it-girl author, Verity Crawford. The thriller writer is no longer able to finish the remaining books in her series, and Jeremy wants Lowen to pick up where she left off. While Lowen is over the moon to step in (both into the job and their huge family estate), a secret manuscript and family secrets lead Lowen to realize Verity's hiding a lot more than she's letting on. B+C editor Haley Sprankle says this is one of the craziest books she's ever read, and I know this is definitely going to be one of the craziest movies we've seen!

Who's in the Verity cast?

Since the movie is just now in development, we don't have an official Verity cast list yet. But considering It Ends With Us is starring beloved actors like Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Jenny Slate, I'm confident the cast of Verity will feature some incredible names.

Popular fancasts for Verity include You's Victoria Pedretti or The White Lotus' Alexandra Diddario as Lowen, Rosamund Pike or Margot Robbie as Verity, and Shia LaBeouf or Theo James as Jeremy. Without a doubt, the cast of Verity needs to be warm and welcoming at first glance, but also have an unexpected edge that reveals itself as we move through the story.

One Reddit user points out that the characters need to offer "just toxicity but also feigned innocence," and each of these actors do exactly that, which makes them incredible picks for the movie. If Blake wasn't already in It Ends With Us, I know she'd do a great job because she proved her thriller acting chops in A Simple Favor!

When did Verity come out?

Colleen Hoover self-published Verity in 2018, and in 2021, the book was acquired by Grand Central Publishing. It sold more than one million copies in 2023, and has more than 340 thousand Amazon ratings and over two million Goodreads ratings. Talk about a hit!

What movie is similar to the book Verity?

If you love thriller books like Verity, then I'd recommend checking out other relationship-centric thrillers like Gone Girl, Rebecca, and A Simple Favor. For period drama fans, I cannot recommend Will Poulter and Lucy Boynton's Why Didn't They Ask Evans enough!