Hey hey! On this site you’ll find DIY tutorials, wood builds, Cricut Tips & Tricks, home decor finds + hauls, money-saving hacks, and occasional updates on my life, marriage, and journey in motherhood. Below is more info on Whitney (that’s me!), the DIYer behind Whiskey & Whit including my background and what led me here.
I’m on a DIY mission to empower ANYONE to get crafting, decorating, building, & Cricut-ing!
What does “Whiskey & Whit” mean?
First, let’s get my #1 asked question out of the way because you’re probably wondering. Where did the name Whiskey & Whit come from – and what does it have to do with crafting? Well, you’d be right, it doesn’t have much to do with DIY, but I like to think I’ve made it synonymous with my brand and my style of crafts.
You see, Whiskey & Whit started in 2016 as a custom sign and gifts business. Needing money to pay for my 2017 wedding, I bought a Cricut and got to work. I sold signs, ornaments, shirts – all the things and made over $4,000 that Christmas.
To start that business, I needed a name. And at the time, whiskey barrels were HUGE in wedding decor and that’s what was on my mind 99.9% of the time – typical wedding planning. And I originally started with wine in the name (because that’s more my drink of choice and it starts with W for the alliteration), but I kept coming back to the grit associated with whiskey – plus the fact that I hadn’t seen a name like that around before.
I then read that if you see yourself drinking whiskey in your dreams, it can hint towards some big financial gains coming your way. And who would argue with that? I was trying to grow a successful business.
I then added the “& Whit” first because of my name (Whitney) and the second because I like to think I have a quick wit and can be funny. So Whiskey & Whit was born. And it stuck!
When did Whiskey & Whit get started?
After my friends saw what I created for my big day – and to sell – they started to ask for my help planning their events and I decided to start a YouTube channel in the fall of 2018 to share my tips with more crafters. That was honestly just because I was stressed out working a corporate job and I had a big creativity crash after my wedding. NEVER did I think it would grow as it has.
What started with some (terrible quality) Shop with Me and Haul videos, has turned into a channel with more than 200,000 subscribers (or Whiskey Craft Buddies as I like to call them). From 2018 – 2021, I did Whiskey & Whit on the side as I climbed the corporate ladder at a North American food distributor.
When I became a mom, everything changed…
In March 2020, 10 days before the global pandemic forced us to stay home, I became a mom. As someone who has always struggled with anxiety, my life’s greatest time was also the darkest. Postpartum Depression hit me hard and my corporate job just wanted more and more from me. And that meant more time away from my new baby.
And in February 2021, it all came to a head and I decided to leave for my mental health. I took a leap, dove head-first into growing my YouTube Channel, and expanded to include this blog!
When did your creativity start?
Woah, where do I even begin? It’s always hard for me to explain exactly who I am, not because I don’t know, but because I’m so many things. I’ve always been a DIYer at heart, I got that from my grandmothers (my mom will tell you it’s not from her). And I’ve always been the one to say “I can make that” when anyone wants to buy something. If we’re trying to trace my crafting passion back to something, I’d say my passion for creating content, video specifically started in 2009 when I graduated from high school.
I attended North Central College in Naperville, IL (a suburb of Chicago) to study Broadcast Communications. That’s also where I met my husband, Alex. I worked in TV news and helped run the campus radio station for two years before graduating and taking a job in hyper-local news. After a few years, I worked my way up to anchor. So exciting! But then I decided to change direction after a few years because the next step was to move away from my family, friends, and Alex and I wanted to be with them more than I wanted to be on TV.
So I went to work for a small, private golf club outside of Chicago where I learned A LOT. Corporate marketing isn’t for the faint of heart, but I needed the trial by fire. After outgrowing my position, I applied for a Marketing Coordinator job at a food distributor for natural and organic products. It was technically a step back, but it paid more so I jumped at it.
From 2017 – 2021 I rose through the ranks at that company, with my final title being Marketing Director. But once the title, compensation, and job that I always wanted were mine, I felt empty and unfulfilled. And as I mentioned earlier, having my son was a tipping point. I’m so glad I took the leap of faith and it’s wonderful being able to craft with you!
Boiled down, I’m a Midwestern girl who loves decorating her home, power tools, Cricut crafts, and long walks down the aisles of Dollar Tree. While I love the business I’ve built, my #1 role is being a wife + mom – family is everything.
From my past life as a news reporter/anchor to my more recent experience in corporate communications, I love creating visual content and helping you create a home you love on a budget. My love of DIYing, combined with my love for telling stories and creating content, led me here, and I’m so thankful it did!
Take a look around, I’m so glad you’re here!
Let’s work together!
If you’re a brand interested in working with us on a project, or a fellow content creator wanting to collab, please send me an email at partnerships@whiskeyandwhit.com to get the conversation started.