How to create funny t-shirts

1. Get a premium cafepress account if you can. I was going to start off with a basic one but then I found out you were limited on the number of designs you could make. If you do a premium one you can do an almost unlimited number of designs and put them on appropriate products. For example do you really think anyone is going to buy a clock about the latest celebrity in jail?

2. 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...

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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...)

7. Don't write what you don't know. I heard that math shirts are hot, but I wasn't so hot at math (maybe that's why I design t-shirts). If you can't think of anything in a topic, just find another one you do have a passion about.

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 cafepress 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.

Thats all for today kids.
Go buy yourself at t-shirt at
the T-shirt fort http://www.cafepress.com/tshirtfort