Hi there, craft buddy! I’m thrilled to have you here on my website, and I can’t wait to share all my fun projects with you. My name is Whitney Cernak and I’ve loved creating for as long as I can remember. What got me into sharing that love with folks online was my creative lull after my 2017 wedding. I had spent so much time and effort DIYing my wedding, that I needed a new outlet – so Whiskey & Whit was born on YouTube in the fall of 2018. Fast forward to today, I’ve been running Whiskey & Whit full-time for nearly 4 years, and it’s truly been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done!

Well, next to being a mom to my 4-year-old son Finn, and newborn son, Henry. If you watch my videos, you’ll hear about Finn a lot, (and now that he’s born, Henry too!) so much of what I do here at W&W is built around my family. Oh, and I can’t forget about my husband and college sweetheart Alex (who isn’t a big internet guy so you won’t see him often, and that’s ok!) and our rescued black lab, Sebastian – I’m fully outnumbered and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Whiskey & Whit is a home for creatives who love decorating their home and a fun budget craft project. Typical content includes DIY tutorials, Cricut crafts, affordable home decor finds + styling, themed parties and entertaining, and wood build projects for all skill levels. Whiskey Craft Buddies are the creatives who craft along with Whitney each week and we’re so glad you’re here! Bottom line: I’m on a DIY mission to empower ANYONE to get crafting, decorating, building, & Cricut-ing!

Whitney has a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Communications & Interactive Media Studies from North Central College in Naperville, IL. She’s also held a variety of marketing positions in sports organizations and national food distribution companies.

You May Have Also Seen Me…

Since taking Whiskey & Whit full-time, I’ve been honored to teach workshops and participate in media interviews to share my knowledge.

Education

Interviews

Education

  • Bachelors Degree: North Central College, Naperville, IL (Double Major in Broadcast Communications & Interactive Media Studies, Minor in Journalism)

You can find more information on me, as well as, some Whiskey & Whit FAQs here.

How did I get into creating content in the first place?

If I had to trace my crafting passion to a specific moment, I’d say it all started back in 2009, right after I graduated high school. That’s when I first fell in love with creating content, especially video. I went off to North Central College in Naperville, IL, a suburb of Chicago, to study Broadcast Communications. There, I not only honed my skills but also met my husband, Alex.

I spent two exhilarating years working in TV news and running the campus radio station during my junior and senior years, before stepping into the world of hyper-local news in Naperville. Eventually, I made my way up to anchor, which was a thrilling ride!

But life had other plans. The next big step meant moving far from family, friends, and Alex—something I wasn’t ready to do. So, I took a detour and started working at a small, private golf club outside Chicago. The world of corporate marketing was a whirlwind, but it was a crash course I needed. Working on the gamut of golf events from local, NCAA, and even an LPGA event – it was such a fun ride and I made great friends. Gaining confidence that I did have the marketing and communications skills to run successful campaigns and events was HUGE – something I still use today with my W&W business.

I also had the opportunity to work for the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois helping so many people from kids to adults with disabilities learn the game of golf – that brought me so much joy!

As I outgrew that role in 2016 and started to look for something new, I found something I was so excited about. The job, a Marketing Coordinator at a food distributor specializing in natural and organic products, was just the thing and I started the role in January of 2017.

It felt like a step back going from a Manager with a direct report to just being an individual contributor, but it came with a better paycheck (and health benefits!) and sometimes you’ve got to make those trade-offs. I was getting married that year and wanted to buy a house so away I went.

It was one of the best decisions I could have ever made! Over my four years there, I worked on a primarily female team (which was awesome, girl power!) and I had a boss that believe in me. She championed me and helped me learn and grow in a heavily male dominated field.

From 2017 to 2021, I climbed the corporate ladder at that company. I quickly went form coordinator, to manager, to senior manager, ending as the Marketing Director with a large team.

Some of my favorite parts of my job were meeting and sampling new and exciting brands in the natural and organic food space, helping put on large tradeshows throughout the year to help connect retail grocery stores with those cool brands, building PR and social media initiatives for the company, helping modernize their website, and organizing customer advisory councils to get valuable feedback on ways the company could serve them better.

I traveled the country, and my first solo travel trip was in 2017 to New Orleans, LA for one of those tradeshows – and it helped me learn I was beyond capable of doing big things on my own! I will always look back on my time at that company with fond memories and gratitude for all it taught me and the experiences it afforded me.

But once I reached the top, I felt a surprising emptiness. Having my son Finn (during the COVID-19 pandemic, no less) was a turning point for me. I realized that while I had achieved the title and compensation I’d once dreamed of, my true fulfillment came from being with my family and pursuing my passions. And, at the core of it, I longed for freedom: the freedom to be my own boss, the freedom to take time away when I needed/wanted that, and the freedom to be more present with my son I was only seeing a few hours per day when he needed me most.

It was a full 180 shift and if I’m being honest, it made me question so much of the life plan I was so convinced was the best for me just a few months earlier.

In February 2021, it all came to a head and I decided to leave my Director role, ultimately for my mental health. I took a leap, dove head-first into growing my YouTube Channel, and expanded to include this blog! To this day, I thank my husband all the time for his belief in me and for seeing I really needed a change. We decided to give it 6 months and by month 3, Whiskey & Whit was off and running and I’ve never looked back!

Looking back at my journey from news reporter and anchor to corporate communications, I’ve always been driven by a love for creating visual content and helping people craft homes they adore on a budget. My passion for DIY, storytelling, and content creation led me to where I am today, and I’m so grateful for that path!

What does “Whiskey & Whit” mean?

Let’s tackle the #1 question I get asked: Where on earth did the name Whiskey & Whit come from, and what does it have to do with crafting? Well, the truth is, it doesn’t have much to do with DIY directly, but I’ve woven it into my brand and crafting style and it’s here to stay!

Here’s the backstory: Whiskey & Whit kicked off in 2016 as a custom sign and gift business. I was in the thick of wedding planning for 2017 and needed some extra cash. Enter the Cricut machine—my new best friend! (thanks Mom + Dad for this awesome gift!) I started whipping up signs, ornaments, shirts, and more. By Christmas, I’d racked up over $4,000 in sales!

But before diving into this crafty journey, I needed a name. At the time, whiskey barrels were all the rage in wedding decor, and my mind was perpetually buzzing with wedding plans. Initially, I played around with a wine-themed name (since wine is more my style and it starts with a “W” for that all-important alliteration I love). But something about whiskey intrigued me—it felt gritty and unique, and I hadn’t seen a name like it before.

Then, I stumbled upon a quirky tidbit: dreaming of whiskey might be a sign of financial windfalls ahead. Who could resist that kind of omen when trying to build a successful business? I decided to add “& Whit” to the mix. “Whit” is short for my name, Whitney, and it’s also a nod to my quick wit and sense of humor. And funny enough, I’m not a fan of when people call me Whit, but that’s ok if you do. And just like that, Whiskey & Whit was born—and it’s stuck with me ever since!

Take a look around, I’m so glad you’re here!