Unique birthday gift ideas Designer T-shirts

Tonight I saw something that was truly genius. I saw this amazing juggler. No doubt people are constantly asking him, "How did you get so good?" His white T-shirt told the whole story. In big bold letters it said "STAY HOME AND PRACTICE."

Some kids next to me asked how he got so good. I said, "He doesn't watch TV." Later I was retelling that to another juggler, and she said, "Yep, he doesn't even own a TV."

Ha, good guess on my part.

But back to the unique gift idea. I believe there is a perfect T-shirt for everyone. Tonight I bought one for my daughter. She has a dachsund, and the shirt has a drawing of a dachsund on it and it says, "I LOVE MY WEINER." Now that is too risque to wear many places, but I told her about it and she laughed her head off. She said she loves to wear shirts like that when she's doing housework. I got her the XL so she can wear it as a nightshirt.

But while I was there I couldn't resist a T-shirt with a pole dancer on it that said Support the Performing Arts. And another blue one that said Tarot Reader and has a drawing of tarot cards. I had never in my life seen a T-shirt that said that so I had to have it.

Now, the odds of finding the perfect shirt may be rare if your friends have specialized interests.

I used to work in a T-shirt shop so developed a good sense of what people like. And most of us love a shirt that makes us laugh. Some of the sayings were too wild to ever buy and I asked my boss why he left them up there when they never sold. He said, "Notice how people come in and get a big kick out of reading them? They stay a long time. Happy people buy more and the longer you keep them in here the more likely they are to buy something."

So, assume you have the perfect T-shirt idea and can't find it anywhere? I was getting to that.

I have a store at http://www.cafepress.com/sanluisobispo Take a look at it and consider making your own store.

I can design T-shirts there to say anything I want them to say. And I can just order then for myself, or buy some to sell, or just let the site sit on the internet where anyone can buy from it.

You can upload your own photos or design any saying you like using your computer's paint program. Cafe Press will walk you through step by step and explain how big the photo needs to be for different products.

So no matter how obscure your friend's hobbies, you can design a T-shirt for them on Cafe Press.

Another site where you can make personalized products is Zazzle. zazzle.com/ladyharper* I am new to Zazzle and I think it has great potential.

Or, there is nothing saying you can't buy blank T-shirts, stick cardboard inside, and paint them yourself. A well stocked craft store will have fabric paints, or if you are so inclined, you can get into Air Brush art and do your shirts that way. You can use Stencils for the letters or learn to freehand it.

For those of you adept at crafts, the options are even broader and just a few are silkscreen, tie dye, and batik. Plus, your children will love to help out.

If you make some great ones, I'd love to see them. Imagine the look on your birthday boy or girl's face when they see that T-shirt you designed especially for them.