How to create funny t-shirts

Don't open up a cafepress store if you are just starting out, unless you think your hard work is only worth the pittance they decide and you are fine with them modifying your design and putting them on products they were not designed for. In a few short months cp has gone from the most popular print on demand company to the most hated. I still have a store there only because I put so much work and effort into it, that I didn't want to see all my effort wasted.

1. Put your designs on appropriate products. Don't be one of those spammer types who puts some unfunny slogan you did in paint or wordart or something on every product there is without bothering to size it or check it's appropriateness. Don't clog he system with unfunny drinking shirts on baby clothes. Everyone hates that person, not just print on demand shopkeepers but customers who give up after searching page after page of products with someones clipart and times new roman I'm proud to be a Swedish-Armenian phonebooth inspector design.

2. Have some talent. I know this sounds harsh but if you are not funny you have no business making t-shirts. Go become an accountant or something. Trust me you will make much more money that way, in fact I wish I had math skills, but I don't. If you don't have any design talent whatsoever stick to slogan shirts. They sell better than you might think.

3. Remember funny thoughts that happen to you throughout the day. Take a notebook with you at all times, because you never know when inspiration will strike. At Starbucks, by the pool etc...

4. Check out other shops, what are they doing? Do you think you could do better? Don't copy them but get inspired. It seems like there are a lot of shops out there that have an I'm kind of a big deal Anchorman movie quote shirt, so I did a rebuttal: the I'm kinda sick about hearing about you're a big deal shirt.

5. Don't be too raunchy. I'm not easily offended just think this trend has been done to death. Plus if it's not raunchy but it has humor a college student or teen would like its more likely to be purchased as a gift by the parents and they are the ones with the money.

6. Get inspired by pop culture. Watch the classics: Animal House, Caddyshack, John Hughes movies, etc. Think outside the box, don't directly lift quotes but try to allude to the movie in some way, make sure people get the connection without the copyright infringement. If you don't get any ideas at least you had fun watching some movies.

7. Write what you know. If you are a sci-fi fantasy fan then go for a little geek humor. Or do some shirts about your day job. Just remember you don't need to make a shirt for every profession on the planet (Doctors do it better, Accountants do it better, Movie Theater Ushers do it better...)

8. Be nostalgic. You are not the only one who grew up in the 80's or the 70's or the 60's. People love remembering the fun times they had back in the day. Your shirts can help them think back to those happy times.

9. Don't be afraid of current events. Some people advise you to stay away from celebrity tees. I say go for it. Yes the trend will die in a couple of weeks or months, but you can always mark it down then take it down. Just don't spend a lot of time on your Save Britney shirt. Watch Best Week Ever for ideas or go to the gossipy websites like tmz.com.

10. Put up a lot of designs. Your site is not a graphic design portfolio. It doesn't have to represent your best work, in fact some of your weaker ideas may become your hottest seller. Everyone has different taste. If you think an idea is not your best then just do a text only design and see what happens.

11. Don't be afraid of cliches. We have all heard them a thousand times before but cliches can be funny if you put your own spin on them. For example a couple of years ago I found a shirt at target that says I am having an out of money experience.I get a laugh whenever I wear it.

12. Have a decent design program. I use photoshop, it's an old version but it works. You don't need to have a professional program but ms paint or something that came free with your printer or digital camera is probably not going to give you professional looking products. This is necessary even if you only do text based shirts.

13. Get some fun fonts. There are loads of places where you can get free fonts that are OK to use on print on demand products. Use them, but remember you don't always need to use a fun font. Sometimes they can be hard to read or distracting. Try to make them fit the slogan.

14. Have fun. If you're not having fun coming up with slogans then maybe it's not your particular talent. Switch your store to a focus on dog breeds or inspirational quotes. Those stores probably make more money anyway.

15. Don't be afraid to rework a design or just take it down if you are embarrassed by it. If your first design was that Swedish-Armenian phonebooth inspector design, and now you know better you can definitely go ahead and remove all 24,000 examples of it.

Go buy yourself at t-shirt at
the T-shirt fort

Doing all your own stunts is so 2002. Don't try it at home. Funny stick figure on fire shirt is perfect for anyone with a sense of humor and a lack of common sense.


I found my passion and they're not hiring. This design is for all those times you tried reaching for the stars and found your self empty handed. Wear it with pride to your dead end job.


It's the 1984 all valley karate championship. Watch out! Legs will be swept. Inspired by a classic 80s movie, Kids from Encino and Reseda can both agree on loving this design. Wear it to a go-cart park or under your shower costume.


Who needs pick up lines when you have a trumpet. You have skills and are a total player. Tell everyone in the band about it with this design. It's something to toot about.


Poor guy, he died doing what he hated. Do you hate to exercise? Do you believe the local gym is secretly a portal to hell? You are not alone. Sweating sucks. Tell the world with this design