This week I'm making a paper doll necklace for my favourite crochet designer, author and yucky stuff eater, Twinkie Chan and teaching you how-to make your own, featuring all your favourite accessories.

When I first came up with the idea of making a paper doll necklace, I knew I'd need to find a star with an awesome wardrobe. Twinkie Chan was the perfect candidate with her awesome line of crocheted accessories Yummy You. It's not every day that you get to dress someone up in a sushi scarf, fried egg brooch and put a blob of ice cream on their head!

"This paper doll necklace is so cute and fun and has so many possibilities for customization and personalization of your own! This would make a great gift. You could make a paper doll necklace of your friend's celeb crush! I also really loved that Cat included a "closet." What an adorable detail! Thank you so much!"

Can you tell my readers who you are and what you do?

Hi, I'm Twinkie Chan! I'm a crochet designer in San Francisco specializing in fun, unique, food-themed accessories like cupcake scarves and cheeseburger fingerless mitts. I have an Etsy shop for my handmade items as well as a licensed brand called "Yummy You! by Twinkie Chan" that I created to make my handmade designs more affordable and accessible.

When you were a kid - what did you want to be when you were older?

I actually wrote out a little timeline recently!! Mermaid (but a boy in my school told me I couldn't be one because they have BLUE blood) --> waitress (I thought their outfits were cute) --> veterinarian --> farmer (my BFF's father had inherited a farm in Iowa at the time, and we were obsessed). Then later in highschool, I wanted to go into biotech/genetic engineering, as I loved science. But in college, I wanted to be a fiction writer, since my major ended up being English with a creative writing emphasis!

What are your best and worst habits?

Best: I'm a very self-motivated worker, and I love to take on challenges! Maybe too many! Worst: I have terrible eating habits and don't exercise! I just love cookies and brownies so much!

How would you describe your style and who are you ultimate style icons?

Everyday at home, I'm honestly a real t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. But if I'm going somewhere, I'm all about bright colors, cute pastels, ruffles, peter pan collars, bows, polka dots, hearts, super girlie stuff with influences from Japanese street fashion and the girls department at Target! I don't think that age should determine what colors we are supposed to wear. As far as style icons, I'm gonna go there and say Zooey Deschanel. That's right, I said it! I think she is super cute, classic, and always looks put together with a quirky/vintage twist!

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would you choose and, if you could join any band which would it be?

For one day, I'd want to be someone with a farm, who subsists off the land! If I lived on a sheep farm, I could spin my own wool from scratch!

Can I go back in time and be a Spice Girl? Twinkie Spice?

Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

In my head, I love Fiji, even though I've never been there. I love the idea of the tropics and nature and bright colors and strange creatures. But I also don't like hot climates, and I'm also very allergic to bug bites, so I think perhaps it's best that I never really go! :P At the end of the day, I just really love being at home, snuggling with my doggies!

Do you do any crafts and what do you like to make?

I love crocheting, but I would love to learn how to sew and make clothes. I also like to hand-paint on t-shirts and tote bags, make jewelry sometimes, decoupage on journals and storage containers, and generally like to glue stuff to other stuff.

Where do you find inspiration?

I just think inspiration is everywhere! I don't have one particular place. This is going to sound hippiedippie, but I think maybe inspiration is a state of your own mind, and not a place you go or something you have to find. I think you just need to be open, and you'll always see neat, beautiful things in your everyday life.

What would your dream day look like?

It would probably have to start with having more than 24 hours. I wanna eat lots of junky, yummy food with all my friends and loved ones, go to Disneyland with perfect weather, watch a drive-in movie in our pajamas, make s'mores around a fire, watch movies from the 80s in our sleeping bags, and fall asleep at sunrise in a big pile of puppies.

Finally, if you could have three wishes, what would they be?

Health and happiness for everyone. And one silly one for me: the ability to stop and start time, like Evie from "Out of This World"!

Check out Twinkie Chan's blog or pick up some of these accessories she's modelling from Yummy You!

Being invited to your first fashion week is exciting but can also be quite intimidating. When Tom and I received press passes for our first London Fashion Week in 2009, we were sure it was a mistake and that they'd realise that as soon as they clocked eyes on how unfashionably we were dressed and snatch the passes back. Eventually we realised that we had as much right to be there as anyone else and so do you! So here are my tips and tricks for surviving your first ever Fashion Week:

1. Manage your expectations

First of all, I'm going to let you in to a little secret and destroy the illusion that fashion week is nowhere near as glamorous as it seems in the movies and magazines. In reality, it's a lot of standing around, caffeine-fuelled early mornings, rejection by the bucket load, and, if you're doing it right, a lot of work. The front row seats are few and reserved for celebrities and industry experts who have worked their way to the top through years of hard work. More than likely, you'll spend your first season crammed at the back between hundreds of other bloggers and journalists, stretching to get a good view of models over a sea of cell phones and cameras. If you're lucky, you might get a spot on a bench near the back, which feels like heaven after hours of standing. But don't get disheartened, as magical things can happen if you're in the right place at the right time and we've still got the paparazzi photos and goodies bags to show from the time we were rushed forward to fill a couple of empty front row seats at the Savoy.

2. Apply for a press pass

It's best to apply for your pass well in advance, when registration first opens for your best chance of being approved. If you still haven't heard back as the week approaches, feel free to chase up the press office to check on your application. They're really busy and it's no surprise that an application might get lost in the sea of requests. You're blog will need to have the right credentials to be approved for a pass, so if you might need to get a little more creative if you're not a big enough publication yet. Get in touch with magazines, local papers and zines and offer to provide their coverage, as they often get extra passes and will appreciate a free reporter. If it's okay with the editor, you can then share the coverage on your blog and you'll have something to show the Fashion Week Press Team on next season's application. If you're not lucky enough to get a pass this season, you can still be part of the event by watching shows online and providing reports and feedback on your blog. Once you've built up a reputation as a fabulous fashion reporter, they'll come begging you to attend next season.

3. Request invitations

Sadly, securing a Press Pass doesn't guarantee entry to shows and you still need to request invitations from each of the designers individually. You should be able to find contact information for each of the press teams via the fashion week website or press room. At London Fashion Week you're provided with a mail merge files, so you can send one email to all of the press teams in one go. It's best to be polite and not too pushy when requesting an invitation. Let the publicist know why you should be invited and what coverage you'll provide in return. If it's a designer you really love, add a personal touch to let them know you're a fan, as this will make your request stand out from all the template-written applications. And finally, make sure to include any essential information like traffic stats and your address, so that they can send out your invite.

4. Plan out your schedule

With dozens of shows running at the same time, it's impossible to see everything, so it's important to prioritise the shows that you're most excited about along with the ones you have invitations for. Study a map to get an idea for where venues are located and research how long it will take to get between shows when planning what you'll attend.Shows rarely run on time and won't start until the front row celebrities take their seats, no matter how "fashionable late" they are, and it's important to arrive early to get a good place in the queue, so you'll need to schedule in extra time at either side of. Though the actual shows only last for a matter of minutes, you can expect to queue anywhere up to an hour beforehand and you might still be turned away if the show is overcapacity, even if you have an invitation.

5. Dress the part

Planning out what to wear can be one of the most daunting tasks of all but Fashion Week is far more about individual style than wearing expensive designer brands. You'll see attendees dressed in everything from the latest designer couture to old season high street brands, so don't worry about getting looked up and down if you show up in your usual attire. Professional and comfortable always works best for me and if you're crafty, it's also a great opportunity to show off something you've made and if you're lucky, a few journalists might ask for a quick photo.

Though heels might help you get a better view of the catwalk when stuck at the back of a packed room, you're going to be spending a lot of time on your feet queuing for shows and running between venues. I'd suggest packing a pair of flats for the day and you can still slip in to your killer high stilettos for the evening parties. It's also a good idea to stick an extra tote in your bag, as you'll pick up all kinds of flyers, magazines and press releases throughout the day. Don't worry about it if you're attending London Fashion Week as you'll be treated to a lovely Mulberry tote when you pick up your pass.

6. Get in to shows without an invitation

Don't give up hope if you don't receive an invitation to a show you were hoping to see. Head along to the venue early and ask the publicist in charge if there are any Standing Tickets left. They'll often have a few extra on hand or have had some cancellations earlier in the day. You'll also win brownie points by not being arrogant enough to demand a seat. If it's still a no, stick around anyway as they'll often let in a few stragglers when everyone else has taken their seats. The front row and seated tickets will be let in first, followed by standing tickets and then it's a free for all. It can get pretty pushy a this point, so make sure to hold your ground and if you get the go ahead from security, walk in quickly without hesitation and grab a good spot. Shows early in the morning, late in the evenings and during the work week tend to be less busy, so there's more chance of getting through the door, sometimes even if you don't have a press pass.

Top Tip: Though most shows will take place at the official Fashion Week show space, bigger designers will host their events at landmark venues and secret locations. Check Twitter just before the show, as attendees will often tweet their invitation and you can head along for some celeb spotting.

7. Be polite

You'll no doubt witness a lot of "don't you know who I think I am" moments at Fashion Week, so that staff and security really appreciate it when you're polite. Sadly there can be a lot of snobbery in the fashion world but there's nothing more satisfying than seeing someone who has arrogantly push in without a ticket get turned away while you patiently wait in line. You can tell who the really important people are by a gold star or special coloured sticker on their invitation.

8. Have fun and make friends

Fashion Week is a fantastic time to network and make new friends. Strike up a conversation in the Press Room or while waiting in line for a show. Complimenting an outfit or accessory is a good ice breaker with fashionistas. Be generous and give away any spare tickets for shows you can't attend. There are lots of perks during the week, like free hair cuts and makeovers that remain unadvertised, so having good relationships with people in the know is everything. If you're still standing at the end of the day, the evenings are filled with fashion parties all over the city offering free drinks, goodie bags and a glimpse of celebrities. You may need to RSVP for the more exclusive ones but keeping an eagle eye on Twitter should help to keep you in the loop.

I hope you're feeling a little more confident about attending. Have fun and don't worry, each season is a learning experience and you'll feel like right at home in in no time. Any questions? Just leave me a comment!

• These old photos of Detroit mashed-up with the modern day are so eerie.

• Lauren on CO+K made a Grumpy Cat Brooch.

• This Dad's guide for how-to do a ponytail made me giggle.

• The Sadness Of Pain Au Chocolat is so sad.

• This video of an African Bull Frog playing on an iPhone is amazing. Make sure to watch until the end!

• I wasn't sure if I agreed with these 21 Brilliant British People Problems until I read this one (which I do all the time).

• This Obama sushi is so cool.
• They've mad a real life Pixar lamp and I want one so much.
• Richard Branson's Top 10 Tips For Making Lists.

Which interesting links have you spotted?

When I first started Cut Out + Keep, asking for anything from anyone terrified me. I'd humbly write and rewrite emails asking brands to sponsor contests, sure that they would laugh or be offended for thinking my little site was worthy of their products. As time went on, and we hosted more and more giveaways, my confidence grew and I stared to realise that these brands weren't grudging us at all for asking for free things. In fact, we were providing them a service by giving away their products and they were thankful for the promotion.

Last month we hosted our biggest ever giveaway on the site, where fifteen huge brands sponsored prizes for our first ever annual Secret Santa competition, sending one freebie to us and one to fifteen lucky winners on the site. Members submitted over 600 Christmas craft tutorials to enter and we watched in amazement as a fish-eye camera, gigantic die-cutting letterpress, jewellery, dress and piles of other amazing prizes started arriving on our doorstep. Once upon a time, I used to think that companies would expect you to pay them to give away their products and today I know they'd be willing to pay you for the opportunity. With the mystery dispelled, let me talk you through the tips and tricks I've learned to make your first giveaway the best giveaway ever!

1. Work with companies you love

When you're up and running with your blog, it's likely that you'll receive some unsolicited emails from companies who have nothing in common with you or your audience wanting to sponsor giveaways or send you free things in exchange for promotion. It can so tempting to say yes because they're offering you something for free, but if you work with unsuitable brands too often it can start to damage your brand and lose the trust of your readers. To make sure your giveaways are of the highest quality, ask yourself what kind of prizes you'd like when working out who to contact and make a rule to only give away prizes that you'd love to win yourself. When Tom and I were planning out the Secret Santa contest, we headed out for ice cream with a notebook and asked each other what the most exciting prizes we'd want to find under the Christmas tree would be, which led to a gigantic list of potential sponsors to take home and contact.

2. Don't fear rejection

Don't be discouraged if you receive a few (or a lot) of no's, as it's just part of business. Instead, use rejection as motivation to contact even more potential sponsors. When preparing the Secret Santa competition, we contact around 60 brands to end up with our final 15, giving us a 25% success rate. A lot of people didn't reply, some had already planned out their holiday promotions and we were too late, and a couple didn't feel like it was the right fit. Just remember, it's not the end of the world if you do get a rejection. By emailing, you've put yourself on that companies radar and you'll come to mind the next time their planning out a suitable promotion.

Here's a breakdown of the response to our Secret Santa requests from my Chase-Up inbox.

3. Keep it fair for everyone

Running a successful blog is all about keeping good relationships with brands and your audience, so it's important to make sure that everyone gets something out of the features you run. A successful giveaway should bring a brand exposure while offering your readers the chance to win a fantastic prize. You also want to make sure you're getting something out of hosting the contest, whether in payment, products or exposure. In terms of our contest, the brands received exposure for their products via our gift guide, newsletter and social media; our members had the chance to win awesome prizes; we got some awesome supplies for our office; and the site itself gained over 600 awesome Christmas tutorials which is fantastic for our readers. Everyone was a winner!

4. Make it fun to enter

There are so many websites and blogs running giveaway out there that it can be tricky to stand out from the crowd. Adding a personal quirk or a twist to the giveaway theme, question or entry-criteria will keep your readers interested. Audience participation is everything on CO+K, so we ask our members to craft projects to certain themes to enter our contests and we often ask the sponsors to pick the winners, to get them more involved. To make our Christmas contest even more exciting, the prizes were a secret (even to us) which made it fun for the sponsors picking out what they would send. Make your giveaways unique and you should get a lot more entries!

5. Keep busy with promotion

The final key to a successful giveaway is to promote it far and wide. Sponsors will expect to see lots of entries, so be prepared to put as much work in to promoting the contest after it's launched as you did setting it up in the first place. Include it in your newsletter and promote it on your social media. Be careful that you don't get too pushy though, as you don't want it to feel like you're hawking products and pestering your audience. Don't be afraid to ask the sponsors to help promote the contest too, as this can be a great way to bring new readers to your blog.

I hope this article has helped to clear up the mystery and confusion when it comes to hosting giveaways online and that it's given you the confidence to give one a go for yourself. The great news is that once you've hosted your first successful giveaway, you can use that as a case study to show new sponsors why your blog is the perfect place to host one. Giveaway are a great way to build relationships with brands, while increasing engagement on your blog and rewarding your readers, so that everyone's a winner. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

1. Mull some wine

Mulled wine and mulled apple juice are my favourite drinks to warm up with on a cold winter's night, so I plan to have a constant supply bubbling away.

2. Write a Christmas song

I'm getting tired of the same Christmas songs which are played every year, so this year I want to write my own!

3. Wear holly in my hair

I love hair accessories and nothing makes a better Christmas hairpiece than holly. I'm going to mixing between real holly and my felt holly hair clip.

4. Go window shopping

I hate going in to shops in December but I love to see all of their pretty lights, so I skip the crowds and the Christmas music by going window shopping at nights.

5. Sew a party dress

There are so many parties in December, so it's the perfect time to sew and show off a new dress. I'm envisioning lots of bows and sparkles. I might even attempt the neck-tie dress which has been on my To-Craft List for ages.

6. Hang paper chains

Paper chains may be the easiest decoration to make but they look so lovely and cheerful. I'm going to grab some pastel paper, scissors and a stapler to make miles of them to hang all over the house.

7. Drink eggnog

I love eggnog and Dave sent me his recipe last year, so I'm going to attempt to make my own.

8. Send cards

I still love snail mail and will keep up my tradition of sending cards to long lost friends this year.

9. Make presents

Each year, I try to make more and more presents, rather than buying things in the shop and this year, my list of things to craft is longer than ever. My sewing machine is going to be kept very busy.

10. Write my resolutions

I haven't had a chance to think about my resolutions yet, but setting ones for 2012 worked well. When the busyness of Christmas is over, I'm going to plan out my goals for 2013.

What's on your to-do list for December?