Catchphrase Couture: Custom Tees

If you think about it, a lot of folks on your gift list have a catchphrase or some statement that they would be proud or amused to wear...the trick is to make their tee shirts into a reality.

There are a lot of websites devoted to creating tee shirts...here are three options to get things started:

1. CafePress offers excellent products and wonderful customer service, but it helps to have a little graphics expertise (can you convert a file to PNG format? I know you can...). They do a lot more than tee shirts (which we will get into shortly).

2. CustomInk features user-friendly design software that allows you to easily create custom tees (and much more) with very little computer know-how, but some items require purchases of 6+ items. Worth looking into.

3. Simply Colors specializes in custom tees and onesies in luscious colors for babies and toddlers. Very cute stuff, and easy to make online.

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Fit to a tee...

Tee shirts are an easy, practical, personal gift -- especially for kids, teens, athletes, and anyone who thinks Hanes = comfiness = fashion.

So...know your giftees' color preferences, know their sizes, know their sense of humor...then get creative!

I like tee shirts that are a little obscure or ironic. If someone is a fan of the TV show Gray's Anatomy, for example, don't just go to the ABC website -- instead, get him or her a tee shirt from a Seattle coffee shop or restaurant. Your friend who is planning a trip to Australia might appreciate a shirt from an Australian pub or rugby team. The UCLA fan might love something that refers to Bruins or Johnny Wooden or Westwood...see what I mean?

My favorite source for random, seemingly customized tee shirts is CafePress.com. Just enter your key words there, and I bet you will find some choice gift options.

If you can't find the perfect tee shirt for your giftee, jot down any ideas or catch phrases and we'll talk later about ways to create (actual) custom tees.


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