Creating and Wearing T-Shirts to Raise Awareness
“Walk for Bust!”
“You don’t scare me: I’m a cancer survivor”
“New and Improved: Now Cancer Free”
You’ve seen the catchy slogans dot the street whenever tens of thousands of women march to raise awareness for breast cancer. It’s hard to miss the messages from survivors and supporters. Even if a woman is wearing her shirt while shopping alone at the grocery store, that t-shirt sends a message to all shoppers to do their part to help. That could mean participating in a local event, making a donation or a reminder to all women to do a simple breast check.
The shirts not only raise awareness to people driving and walking by, they unite and empower participants. A transformation takes place when a patient, survivor, or caretaker puts on a t-shirt that says, “Beating Cancer, Priceless” or “Squeeze a boob: Save a life.” Some shirts make us laugh while others are provocative and feisty. They send clear messages about beating cancer, raising awareness and the camaraderie that goes with being a survivor.
The best part is that most of the money raised from the sale of Breast Cancer awareness shirts actually go toward helping patients, research for a cure and prevention education. You can buy shirts from organizations like the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. You can also sell your own designs to make money for local and family organizations or to send a pool of cash to the big national groups in the name of your friends and family.
There are a lot of resources to buy t-shirts online. It’s typically easy and inexpensive to create and buy t-shirts over the internet. And, you can do the designing and shopping from the comfort of your own home. You can choose from a wide variety of shirt and ink colors, and you can customize shirts for your walking team or family by putting team names on the back. You can also create your own design decked with the face of your survivor. This allows you to get the exact t-shirt you want. And of course, the end result is quite professional, and will be something that you are proud to wear day in and day out.
With most online design sites it’s easy. You pick your t-shirt color, add text, pictures, and names. You can choose from ideas and ready-made art and slogans or use your own. Choose different styles and sleeve lengths. Then, get a quote. In some cases there is a minimum order. But, usually, the more t-shirts you buy, the better the discount. It typically takes about two weeks for your shirts to arrive.
For one group, the t-shirts started as support, turned into a fund raiser and then into an empowering memorial as they continued to raise money for cancer. Here’s what Ellen B. said about their custom t-shirts, “We originally made T-shits as a support to our hero and friend Sara who battled breast cancer twice. After so much interest we upped the order and developed a fund raiser for her and her family. We sold over 100 shirts and provided the family a means to help pay for medical expenses. We wore our shirts during the Relay for Life event. Sara came to cheer us on. We took a team photo and now it’s on this year’s team t-shirts. Sara died this year. But, we honor her and wear her memory as walk this year. We are very proud to have known her and what it means to give support to a family who is in need. The T-shirts were and still are a voice in her honor.”
Spice Up Your Bachelorette Party with Customized T-Shirts
Make customized t-shirts for the bride and all the bridesmaids! Online you’ll find a treasure trove of ideas.
“Brides night out: Please spank me.”
“Warning: Bachelorette party in progress. Bridal party may be extremely hot.”
“Buy me a shot, I’m tying the knot”
With custom-made t-shirts, everyone will notice the ladies in the bridal party! Count on extra attention from bartenders and drink buyers.
Raise cash for your bride’s drinks with a “Buck a Suck” t-shirt and add your own lollipops. Or, perhaps, “We’re naughty and nice.” And, don’t forget shirts for the bridesmaids, friends and family. Try some of these ideas.
“I’m with the party. Buy me a drink, but don’t expect anything.”
“Bride’s support staff.”
“Bridesmaid. Noun meaning Still Single.”
Make your shirts something to really remember the event with. Customize them with your bride’s picture. Add the date and location like “Michelle’s Bachelorette Party. Liv’s Lounge 2007.”
Does your group of girls have a favorite show or song? How about a phrase you’ve been saying since 11th grade? Still pining for members of Duran Duran? Use it on your shirt.
Try these ideas:
On the front: “Smack it up, flip it, rub it down.” On the back: “Do Me Baby. Laura’s Bachelorette Party. West Palm 2008.”
Use a photo of Rick Springfield from his heyday with “I’m saving myself for Rick Springfield. Barb’s Bach Party. Fisherman’s Warf.” You won’t believe how many drinks you’ll get from guys claiming to be the 80s pop star!
Get “I’m not a nun” plastered across the back of your bride’s shirt in the colors of your Catholic High School’s plaid.
It’s easy to do online, party organizers. Pick a classy tank top or baby doll tee. Pick from hot styles and colors so your bride looks her best. Find one with lace to go with the cheesy veil you’ve all bought for the night.
Then, select artwork that’s pre-designed online or add your own. Maybe a picture of your bride or all the girls from Spring Break. Or your high school or sorority logo. Then, choose fun text. Pick from ideas already online. Or, create your own slogans like “Laura’s Last Night. Vegas 2007.” and “Angie’s No Angel. NYC Bachelorette Party 2007.” Individualize each shirt with bridesmaids’ names.
Be sure to make your shirts a memory and get pictures of the whole party wearing them. Order extra shirts in bigger sizes to give out during your night of partying and for family and friends who couldn’t make it.
A few years from now when you have a girl’s weekend away, you can get the pictures out along with those of all your kids. MaryBeth Durgins friends took her to Atlantic City for a bachelorette party weekend. They stayed at her feisty grandmother’s nearby condo. The girls’ t-shirts said, “Girl’s Night Out. AC 2007.” They had a picture of MaryBeth with a margarita. They made 75 year old Gram her own special shirt. It said, “Gram’s Night Out. Experience Required” and had a picture of her with MaryBeth on the back. It was a huge hit! Now there’s a picture of the whole gang hanging over Gram’s fireplace.
Don’t miss this chance to give your bride a night she’ll remember with her own special t-shirt.
Show your Hometown Pride with a Custom T-Shirt
Wear your colors! Show off your hometown pride with a customized t-shirt. The shirts are a great way to demonstrate your love for your neighborhood. Use them for special events, as fundraisers and to show off your affection for where you live.
When North Cumberland, Pennsylvania was celebrating its 175th Anniversary, t-shirts dotted the town. The anniversary committee designed a shirt with a sketch of the town’s beloved oak tree. It said, “Deep Roots and Still Growing.” The shirts were sold in all of the downtown shops to raise money for the celebration activities and the library. They were a huge hit at the annual Apple Festival where visitors come from all over the state to sample North Cumberland’s goods. The simple t-shirt brought in thousands of dollars for the town.
Hometown pride t-shirts make great gifts for friends and family, especially those who have moved out of town. They get to celebrate their roots and show off their true colors. They are a wonderful way for kids to take their town with them to college. And, these shirts are becoming quite trendy on campuses across the country.
Use the t-shirts as a way to advertise hometown businesses, charities and upcoming events. The downtown Kepsburg business group creates a new t-shirt for every summer. Each year, there’s a different picture of a town landmark with a list of summer events. They hold a contest for the summer’s slogan. Over the years, t-shirts have had sentimental slogans like “We Remember” with a picture of the old mill before it caught fire and burned to the ground that winter. Other years, have been fun summer themes like “Summer Slidin’” with a picture of the mayor on a park sliding board. A new playground had been put in that spring.
The t-shirts are sold in downtown shops and at all the events. Some neighbors have been collecting them for years! The t-shirts from years passed are considered vintage and are becoming quite hip with teenagers. A favorite with the kids is “Angie Watch 2003.” Angelina Jolie was in town for a week shooting a scene for a movie that year. And, every year, a few dozen “bonus” t-shirts are ordered. On the front, they simply say, “T-shirt XXXX (insert year).” On the back, “Kepsburg’s annual summer T. www.kepsburgdowntown.com.” The “rarities” sell for $25. Teenagers love them!
Use the t-shirts as a fundraiser. It could be for a new fire truck, to save the old theater or for a special event. Sell the t-shirts at area stores, the town hall, at events and your website. You can expect to raise about $5 a shirt. By using the website, people who’ve moved away can easily buy t-shirts, too, and show off their hometown pride wherever they live.
Customized t-shirts are easy to order online. Pick from pre-designed ideas or design your own. Pick sizes, styles and colors. Add photos, graphics or artwork and then text and names. Be sure to include your town’s website somewhere on the shirt. The more shirts you order, the bigger discount you can usually expect. It takes a couple weeks for your shirts to arrive.
Youth Groups - Create a custom t-shirt for your youth group
Church members are already close to begin with. By sharing their spiritual time together, they feel a strengthened bond of friendship. If possible, however, the youth groups of a church are even closer than the ordinary congregation. The young people often grow up together in the environment of the church; they attend Bible studies, community outreach programs, and special retreats together. The group they form is usually strong and continues to grow through good times together.
The events that youth groups attend are wide ranging and varied. However, the one constant thing throughout their time is that they are always attending together. That’s why a custom t-shirt representing the youth group is such a cool idea. It can reflect the church they attend as well as the specific mission of the youth group. Small or large, the youth group will really enjoy having custom t-shirts made for them. It’s a form of expression; it allows them to display part of who they are. It’s also a form of identity and connection. If they attend a large gathering, it makes sense to have visual connectors that can help them stick together in crowds. Most importantly, though, it’s fun way to help them remember the times they have had together.
• Design–Since the shirt will belong to the group, a consensus should be reached on the display image. Custom t-shirt companies have many pre-drawn designs to choose from and can even alter the images they have to suit your preferences. On the other hand, to achieve total uniqueness, the youth group might want to come up with their own design. They could collaborate and really put some thought into what the t-shirt will mean to them. By involving the entire youth group, the custom t-shirt will be an incredible memory and mean that much more to them.
• Cost–Another perk about deciding to have custom t-shirts made for the youth group is that it’s a relatively inexpensive investment. Of course, the more elaborate the design and the larger the order, the price will go up accordingly. But overall, the price is very reasonable. You buy a minimum amount of shirts when you place your order and usually have no problem ordering the correct amount for all involved. Most of the custom t-shirt business is conducted over the internet. You place the order online and then the merchandise is shipped right to your door. It’s easy and efficient.
• Style–The custom t-shirts come in a variety of makes and models. The fits of the shirts must appeal to everyone interested. There are traditional t-shirts, form fitting t-shirts, baby doll, long sleeved, three quarter length sleeves etc. A variety of fits can be selected so that every youth can have access to a shirt that really grabs their interest.
All in all, youth groups should be able to take advantage of the custom t-shirts. They are a great way to commemorate time spent together, and a good way to have more fun together.
Surprise! T-shirts for Your Big Birthday Party
Whether it’s your day or you’re the party planner, custom t-shirts are a great way to celebrate.
Start with your little guy or girl’s first party. Customize a shirt with their picture and a cartoon bubble that says, “I’m 1!” Be sure to get extras for mom, dad, and grandparents. The cartoon bubble could say, “Where’s my cake?”
Customized t-shirts are a great way to celebrate any age. Start now and you and your family can have a collection by the time you turn 80! Use the birthday boy or girl’s photo and then find the perfect slogan to mark their age.
When they turn 16, try, “It’s my Sweet 16, Where’s my car?”
And just a few years later, “It’s my 21st birthday, buy me a drink!”
There are thousands of clever ideas online that you can use as inspiration and add your own unique touch to.
Use a picture of your birthday girl in a car with “1981 Classic”
“I demand a recount” with the birthday boy’s face.
On the front: “It took me 40 years to look this good”. On the back: “Marie’s Big 4-0. Gullifty’s Bar.”
Here are a few more ideas to run with.
“Fabulously 70.”
“I’m 50 and still accepting presents”
“How the f*%$ did I get to be 60”
“I’m the birthday boy”
Customized t-shirts also make festive party favors for everyone. Try “I’m with the old fart,” “I’m with the birthday girl,” or “Grandma of the bday boy.”
Does the birthday boy or girl have a favorite character? You can make a t-shirt with everyone from Sponge Bob to Austin Powers to Elvis. Maybe you have a favorite song, theme or phrase your group has been saying for ages. Use it to create a one of a kind t-shirt for your birthday celebration.
Everyone knew about Rose’s love for Frank Sinatra. When she walked into her surprise 50th birthday party, “My Way” was playing and she was handed a t-shirt. Under her picture, it said, “Doing it my way for 50 years!”
It’s easy to order your custom t-shirts online. Pick some artwork designed by the pros online or add your own pictures. Then, pick the text and add special touches like names and dates. Pick sizes, shirt styles and colors and get a quote. You can even see proofs so you can make changes online before you place your order. Plan ahead a bit. Customized t-shirts typically take about two weeks to arrive. Sometimes there is a minimum order, so be sure to get enough for the whole party.
One mom started customized bday shirts for her son at his first birthday. Now, that he’s
10, she’s making the old shirts into a quilt. It’s a time capsule of trends from the last 10 years!
When feisty Kate turned 90, her family ordered t-shirts for the whole retirement community when the time came for her birthday celebration. “Getting better with age. Kate’s 90th bday bash.” Residents wear their shirts with pride.
Make a birthday celebration your whole family will remember with unique customized t-shirts.
Bachelor Party - Celebrate with a Custom T-Shirt
Get customized t-shirts for the bachelor party. All the guys can go out in style with no mistaking about what you’re celebrating. With everyone wearing their colors, there is sure to be plenty of attention from bartenders and the ladies!
Craft a custom t-shirt to remember the bachelor party. When you shop online you’ll find plenty of catchy slogans.
- ”Last fling before the ring.”
- ”Buy me a shot, before I tie the knot.” Greg Gordon scored free drinks for he and his buddies all night at a New York City bar with this one.
- And, there’s plenty for the groom’s buddies.
- “Grooms wingman”
- ”Best man on so many levels”
Your choice. You can embarrass your groom or stir up some free drinks and other “last night out” freebies with a shirt like this: “Bachelor: last day single. 1. Give me a hug 2. Buy me a shot 3. Spank Me 4. Give me a kiss. 5. All of the above.”
You can also create your own just for your group of friends. Got a favorite team? Show? Or phrase you guys made up on the baseball field in 10th grade? Then design your own shirt. Put a picture of your bachelor on the back. Customize each shirt with nicknames and your party location. Try something like this. The back has a black and white picture of Ken with a martini. It says, “Ken’s Big Gamble. Vegas 2007.” On the front, each guy has his nickname embroidered. Or, get baseball jerseys that say “Team Smith” across the back shoulders, if you’re starting your party at the game.
It’s becoming more and more popular to organize your party with a website, if your group of friends is spread out around the country. If you’ve got a website, be sure to put it on the shirts. That way other party goers will know where to go to look for uploaded party pictures.
With online resources, it only takes a few minutes to put together your bachelor party t-shirt designs. Choose from all styles like popular retro and vintage shirts or sports style shirts and even the ever-popular bowling stripes. You pick the artwork, graphics or photos then add text and names. Pick colors and styles. You can actually see a mock-up of the shirt while you design it. That makes it simple to see what you like and make changes before you order the shirts. And, there’s real live people to call if you need help getting a design together. Typically you’ll find quick turnaround in case you order at the last minute.
The t-shirts are great for marking your group on your big night out. They are also great memories. When Danny Conlon’s buddies took him out the weekend before his wedding, they chose their favorite college bar along the shore. The shirts had a sketch of Danny with a beer mug. It said, “Danny’s Done! Fitzgeralds Bar. September 9th.” The guys bought enough shirts so all the bartenders could wear one too. They took a photo of everyone in their Bachelor Party t-shirts and now it hangs above the bar.
When you’re making plans for his last night out, don’t forget to order your customized t-shirts and make a night of laughs and memories to last a lifetime.
Wear Your Family Heritage on a T-Shirt
Having pride in your family heritage is a wonderful thing. With so many dysfunctional families, it’s wonderful to see a person show they love their family. Be proud of who you are and who your family is. All families have histories and whether that history is recent or long running, it’s still family. Celebrate and have pride in your heritage. Custom t-shirts can be worn to show how much you care for your family and your heritage. Shirts can be created with your family name, so you can tell the world who you are.
Putting your name on a t-shirt may seem like a silly idea to some, but it’s a matter of pride to others. Imagine the reaction of family members when you display your pride in the family by wearing a shirt with your name on it. Honoring your heritage is a great way to show how proud you are to have grown up in your family. Wearing a shirt with your family name is an outward way to show that honor. Custom t-shirts are easy to make and design. Designing a shirt for your style should be easy and fun if you take the time to create on just for your family. Creating a family heritage shirt is fun as there are so many options available to choose from. Simply displaying the family name involves choices!
The font used to write your family name is important. If your family isn’t athletic, then choosing a font that looks like sports lettering will not have the same effect for your family as huge sports fans. If academics are important, then choosing university style lettering would be a great choice. With the wide array of fonts available, finding one you love may take time, but will make your custom t-shirt special.
A family crest is unique and special. Each family name carries its own nobility. A family crest displays that nobility. Create a custom t-shirt with your family crest or name and display it proudly. It’s not hard to find your family crest, just search on-line to find yours, if you don’t know what your family crest looks like. The crest can be printed onto several styles of shirts to fit your needs. Look at the colors in the crest design to choose a shirt color that goes well. The color of the lettering should also accent the crest.
Creating your family t-shirt should be about finding the best in your family. Celebrate who you are because of your family. If you chose to use your family name and flag on your custom t-shirt is your choice. Just be sure that your family is part of the design. Add a graphic or two, if desired, that showcases your family traits. Whether it is a book symbolizing education, or an acorn representing your family nuttiness, it’s your family so embrace it. Whatever you chose to do your family is part of who you are. Create a shirt that shows your pride in being part of your family.