Handmade Hilarity

Our Sweet Sixteen Mix Just Released!

We just unveiled a big prop mix on a small budget, featuring sixteen props manufactured in the U.S.A.! This brand new mix of mustaches and smiles is sure to brighten up any event! Each prop is a reproduction of Whisker Works’ original hand-sculpted designs molded in a high-quality, BPA-and-phthalate-free plastic.

After a year in development, we’re proud to finally share this “Sweet Sixteen” mix, with twelve mustaches and four smile designs brimming with personality and at a price that’s sure to please, just $39! They’re our most popular designs and are made for anything from a party with friends, to weddings and even reunions. They come in a semi-gloss soft-finish plastic on your choice of wooden dowels or stainless steel rods.

Bulk orders of the new set are welcome, with quick turnaround at competitive prices. The larger the order, the nicer the per-piece price, as low as $1.05.

Check out the new props here and read more about our manufactured props here!

Sweet Sixteen 01 bulk 16 Styles 02 A
Whisker Works Prop Display

Filed Under: Whisker Works Tagged With: bulk, mustaches, on sticks, photo booth, props, smiles, wholesale

Ways to Rock Prop Displays

19 Jan by Amber Leave a Comment

Congratulations! You’ve got a lot of photography props to spice up your photo booth! Now what do you do with them? Of course you, the person who picked them out and bought them, know what they’re for. Will the people posing for photos? That’s where presentation comes in. The better a job you do displaying your props, the easier it is for your models-to-be to pick out something fun to hold or wear. When they can see it, they can consider it.

Most importantly — spread them out! Prop piles don’t make for smiles. Try out easy do-it-yourself stands like a finished board with a grid of holes for dowels to stick into. A fancier alternative is a pre-made cap for a fence post (with nice curvy edges) that you can find at home improvement stores. Add a little stain and drill a few tiny holes, and you’re set!

You’ll likely have a table to display your props. Bigger is better. If you’re economizing on table spice, though, go up — just like skyscrapers in a city. Tiered shelving helps to elevate and show off what you’ve got. Just a handful of props? How about a nice vase, charming old-look metal bucket with sand or gravel, or even a vintage-look soda bottle?

The fun of having photo props is in getting to share your style, not just in the props, but how they’re displayed. If you have a theme for your event, your display should reflect that! An old steamer trunk brimming with funky accessories says “I’m chic,” just as a collection of charming glass mason jars says “I’m stylishly sensible.” Don’t overlook the role furniture plays in attracting people to your photo spot, and getting them to grab a prop and have some fun!

Photo credit: Whisker Works

Photo credit: Epod Photo Booth

Photo credit: Behind the Curtain Photo Booth Co.

Photo credit: Caroline Prietz Photography

Photo credit: Pinterest

Stacy Larsen Prop Display Photo credit: Stacy Larsen Photography

Photo credit: Style Me Pretty

Share your prop displays with us! We’d be delighted to see your unique arrangements. Send an email to Amber@HandmadeHilarity.com.

Filed Under: Creative Tutorials, Inspirational Ideas Tagged With: arrangements, booth, displays, photo, photobooth, prop

Whisker Works celebrates 6 years!

11 Jan by Amber Leave a Comment

It’s a big week for us over here at the mustache factory – we’re celebrating 6 years of our funny business! We’d like to thank you for supporting us and our whiskers by having special discounts this week only.

You have until Sunday, January 17th to visit WhiskerWorks.com and take advantage of the following discount codes:

$5 off a $20 purchase using code “6Years”
$10 off a $35 purchase using code “Whiskers”
$15 off a $50 purchase using code “Anniversary”

Plus get free shipping on orders of $50 or more to a U.S. address, or free shipping on orders of $100 or more to all other countries.

6thAnn_Post Carly Jones Art

Filed Under: Whisker Works Tagged With: anniversary, coupon code, discount, mustaches, photobooth, props, sale, whisker works

Chalkboard signs do the talking in three new series

7 Jan by Amber Leave a Comment

Looking to express yourself in a more literal way? Sometimes a mustache or silly glasses might not be enough. Thankfully, Whisker Works has some new hand-held signs with silly statements to help get your point across! Following the success of our original series of party signs, we’ve launched three new themes of 10 signs each: weddings, reunions and parties.

There are snarky one-liners, including “I’m leaving after this photo.” and sentimental notes, such as “Friends Forever.” All the signs feature the popular chalkboard-style motif, with a twist. A variety of fun chalk-like fonts and colored boards make these signs lively and photogenic. Our wedding signs are a perfect complement for reception photo booths, where you know folks are in a good mood and ready to let loose. Thank you bride and groom for the “BEST WEDDING EVER!” or call out the guy who nobody seems to recognize as a “Wedding crasher.”

Each sign measures 8 inches by 10 inches and is made of thick, durable and flexible high-quality plastic with a matte finish to reduce glare. Each sign is double-sided with a different expression on each side. Purchase them as themed sets or individually to suit your interests. Full sets come in a burlap drawstring prop bag. They’re made in America, as are all Whisker Works products, and are ready to party!

Party Mix:

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Reunion Mix:
WW_Signs_Bundle_Reunion_Button

Wedding Mix: WW_Signs_Bundle_Wedding_Button

Navas Click Stop Photo Booth 01

Photo booth images courtesy Navas Click Stop Photo Booth.
While supplies last, we have our original phrases on clearance, available here.

Filed Under: Whisker Works Tagged With: messages, party, photo booth, phrases, plastic, props, reunion, signs, wedding, whisker works

Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s our Black Friday preview

25 Nov by Amber Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whisker Works’ Black Friday deals start soon, and the best part is you can shop without leaving home!

Visit WhiskerWorks.com for the following Black Friday bargains:

1. Select props will be discounted by up to 50%! Explore a bountiful variety of our mustache props, glow-in-the-dark whiskers, carrot noses, and many others at half price! Plus we’ll discount our printed signage, posters and our popular photo booth phrases!

2. Save 20% on all handmade props not already discounted by using code “Thankful20“.

3. And finally, receive FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more to a U.S. destination! Free shipping on orders of $100 or more to all international destinations.

Now these are deals to smile about!

Whisker Works’ Black Friday sale begins at 12:01 a.m. on Black Friday (11/27) and continues through midnight on Cyber Monday (11/30). Styles on sale will be marked on the site and not necessarily those in photos above.

Share your photos with us on Instagram! Tag @WhiskerWorks – we’d love to see our props in action!

Filed Under: Whisker Works Tagged With: black friday, cyber monday, discount, holiday, photo booth, props, sale, thanksgiving

Happy Fall, Y’all

23 Sep by Amber Leave a Comment

Hooray for fall! Having endured another long and hot summer, it’s time to celebrate cooler weather, the vibrant kaleidoscope of leaves changing color, and the harvest of farm crops in preparation for the coming winter. The autumn season officially begins today, Sept. 23, at least for those in the northern hemisphere. It’s a perfect time for a fall-themed photo booth, so let’s take a look at some inspiration!

Earthy themes abound at this time of year, as people decorate in celebration of the harvest. Pumkins are in season now, and make their iconic annual appearance on porches and tabletops, typifying that harvest aesthetic. Though pumpkins are a key ingredient for Halloween-focused photos, they’re great for autumn-themed photos, too, along with hay bales from farm fields now golden brown. Stack them in your farm-themed booth, use them as a bench seat, or scatter them as a bed of hay.

Corn still in the husk, maybe even still on the stalk, makes a great decorative element in a fall photo booth too, along with another staple of the harvest — the hay barn. Mock up your own barn backdrop from pieces of old lumber, perhaps from a discarded wooden pallet. Leaves — both abundant and free — are perfect decorative elements. The more colorful, the better. Other materials to consider: gourds of all kinds, old farm implements such as pitchforks, and simple, classic burlap. The key: warm colors, rustic charm, and fun!

Credit: Fannetastic Food

Credit: Style Me Pretty

Credit: Flickr

Credit: Ruffled Blog

Credit: Jessica Ann Boutique

Credit: Urban Life

Filed Under: Inspirational Ideas Tagged With: autumn, backdrop, booth, fall, halloween, harvest, photo, photobooth, pumpkins

Anchors Aweigh!

21 Aug by Amber Leave a Comment

When the simple wackiness of a photo booth experience isn’t quite what you’re going for, a theme may be just the thing — especially if the party/wedding/friends-for-the-weekend event already has a theme. The nautical aesthetic has a timeless appeal, and lends itself well to retro-styling for both props and backgrounds, if not entire wardrobes. Thoughts of the ocean conjure legends and lore, and the spirit of adventure that you’ll have a great time embodying in wistful and whimsical photographs.

There are opportunities to create scenes for children, where a handmade look will accentuate the charm of your little models, and a variety of ways to handle grownup-oriented photo scenes. Looking for a romantic setting? A boat built for two could be just for you. Looking for something funny? A boat built for two could be just for you… and six of your closest friends.

The key when building a photo booth backdrop that makes the effort worthwhile is to make a backdrop that sets the tone, props that provide inspiration to smile, laugh, gesticulate or otherwise pose, and decorative details that sell the moment. This isn’t a roll of wallpaper hanging behind you. It’s a stage upon which you and your friends and loved ones may create moments worth saving.

Props from Whisker Works that can really help put you in the seafaring spirit include the Beard (a staple of old-timey and modern sea captains alike), the Captain mustache (clearly), and the Engineer, as it is decidedly swarthy. If you’re going for the “I’ve been adrift for a few weeks but only grew a mustache” look, that’s the Naturalist for sure. Other choice elements include an oar, a captain’s hat, and possibly a parrot if you’re going for a Caribbean motif.

Photo credit: Weddings Illustrated

Photo credit: The Digital Orange

Photo credit: Alicia Mujo Photography

Photo credit: Frosted Petticoat Blog

Photo credit: Diaper Style Memoirs

Photo credit: Coastal Creatives

Photo credit: Wedding Dream

Filed Under: Inspirational Ideas Tagged With: anchors, beard, booth, captain, DIY, ideas, nautical, ocean, photo, photobooth, photography, pirate, props, sea, whisker works

Get Your Party Started!

18 Aug by Amber Leave a Comment

Sass up your booth with these new props from Whisker Works! Just introduced today, these plastic photo booth messages will sure to be popular at weddings and events.

Each sign measures 8″ x 10″ and is made of thick, high-quality plastic with a matte finish to reduce glare.

There are 5 signs to choose from, each displaying two phrases. Purchase all 5 signs and you’ll receive a 10% discount AND a free burlap carrying bag. Find them HERE.

Plastic • Durable • Made in America

Filed Under: Whisker Works Tagged With: booth, made in america, messages, new, photo, phrases, plastic, props, signs, whisker works

Baseball Releases Wild Mustaches, Captured on Film

29 Jul by Amber Leave a Comment

Justin Burwinkel, a Doctor of Audiology with an eye for photography, spent Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, enjoying all the festivities. Lucky for us, he also brought along some mustache props that he uses for wedding photography! The results are an absolute delight – a collection of smiling faces at Cincinnati landmarks, sporting Whisker Works ‘staches. We’re tickled. Mustaches were the theme of this year’s All-Star Game, as noted in our previous post.

Justin’s broad photographic portfolio definitely demonstrates a keen eye – especially from a man who spends most of his time improving others’ hearing. There’s a clear passion for the art in his work. From images celebrating rustic charm, to stunning portraits in scenic outdoor settings, to dreamlike wedding photos, Justin captures emotion and communicates it in a way that makes you truly appreciate the art form and the artist behind this work.

Take a look at the photos from Cincinnati, and please browse through Justin’s gallery over at justinburwinkel.com. You’ll enjoy the view.

Thank you, Justin!

Filed Under: 'Stache from the Past, Whisker Works Tagged With: all-star, american league, baseball, cincinnati, game, history, mustache, ohio

Cincinnati Goes Mustache Crazy For All-Star Game

1 Jul by Alex Leave a Comment

As baseball’s All-Star Game approaches, the city of Cincinnati has gotten in the spirt in part by decorating its downtown with eight-foot handlebar mustache benches. Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds — originally the “Red Stockings” — were a team full of mustachioed players, and the city’s new decor reflects that heritage.

Huge mustache-shaped benches scattered around downtown Cincinnati, Ohio will help get guests in the spirit of things as the city plays host to the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 14th. The Reds, the team hosting this year’s big game, went mustache crazy to promote the team, the sport and the city.

Along with the 8-foot, 850-pound handlebar mustache benches decorated in a variety of styles, the team is promoting a mustache-focused logo and otherwise advertising that baseball and mustaches were once so intertwined it would take an experienced barber an afternoon to make sense of it all. City skycrapers near the baseball stadium are getting in the act, too. Already the nearby Scripps Center features an imposing mustache and old-timey baseball cap at the top of the building. Nearby another landmark tower will feature a 30-foot projection of a historic mustachioed player.

Mustaches absolutely dominated baseball in the late 1800s, as exemplified by John Ward of the New York (now San Francisco) Giants. Sadly, by 1895 mustaches had fallen out of fashion, and were essentially vanished by the early 1900s.

There once was a time when playing baseball mustacheless was unheard of. Nose neighbors dominated the sport’s facial fashions in the late 1800s before abruptly vanishing by the 1910s — save for the outlying team manager. Some say batters with mustaches interfered with the pitcher’s concentration. Others said the pitcher’s mustache was at fault, mesmerizing otherwise talented and focused batters. The players formed an agreement that none would wear mustaches during the regular season. At first, mustache-enamored fans revolted, only gradually re-warming to the game we know today as America’s national pastime.