Tis the season for family reunions. Today I’m sharing a little reunion t-shirt inspiration in case some of you are thinking along those lines. Having your own t-shirts made can be really easy! I’ll come back to that in a minute. First, here’s a look at our reunion shirts from 2007.
My youngest brother Andrew (my super creative brother who makes it possible for you to be reading this right now because he is the technical force behind my website) … came up with this design. There are 6 siblings, and therefore 6 families. Each line represents the size of each of our respective families. Going left to right, my oldest brother has 4 kids, the next brother has 2, then 5, then 5, then 2 (that’s us), then 4. Those were the number of children/cousins at the time. The “graph” would look a little different now.
Andrew made brown shirts for the men, tan for the boys, and pink for all the women and girls. A very photogenic color combo. This was a 12×12 page I did for our family scrapbook in 2007 (using only Photoshop).
Here’s another idea. Backing up a decade to 2001 … this may go down in history as my all-time favorite reunion t-shirt. The concept is by my oldest (and also incredibly creative) brother Jonathan. He had his son (the oldest of all the cousins) draw stick figures of everyone in our big family, oldest to youngest, left to right. Tyler was 7 years old at the time.
On the far left is my sweet Grandma Allgaier, who was the family’s only living grandparent at the time, and she joined us for this reunion. She is using a walker in Tyler’s little illustration. How cute is that!? Then you see each of the little families, including itty bitty toddlers and babies who are in carriers. The next-to-last little family is me and David. We didn’t have children at the time but Tyler drew a tree next to David. He used to call him Uncle Tree because David would throw him really high in the air — as high as the trees. : )
The back of the shirt would be the coding for the illustration. It’s everyone’s first initial of their names. Clever.
The ? in KLET? represents the baby Kevin & Lauren were expecting at the time. By the way, pardon the wrinkles (I wasn’t in an ironing mood the day I photographed the shirts) and the faded fabric (true sign of a well-loved t-shirt). Another page for another reunion in another scrapbook –
Looking for more inspiration? I saw some cool t-shirt designs on Design Mom’s blog. I’m sure with some google time, you could find oodles of other ideas. These t-shirts from our own family reunions just might get your wheels spinning with some ideas on creating personalized designs.
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Now. What about actually getting the t-shirts made?? Great question. Check out OneColorInk.com. Our friends print custom t-shirts for individuals, families, and businesses and they offer this as a more affordable option for those who want to have t-shirts made for less. Hence the one color ink. Be sure to check out the video (“In Action”) so you can see how the shirts are made. It’s a fun process! Plus, Ricky’s just too cool for school. He has been in this business since he was a kid. He knows custom t-shirts. If you’re interested in more options than one color, their main business is TamboInk.com.
Guess what? We are so doing a giveaway! Yes we are. Anyone in the U.S. is welcome to enter for a chance to win $50 credit toward your custom t-shirt order from One Color Ink. Just leave your name, city, state, and tell us what t-shirt project (reunion or not) you have in the works! A randomly selected winner will be announced Monday.
Tags: custom t-shirts, family reunions, giveaway, One Color Ink, Tambo Ink
Love this post….. And would love to make shirts for the family.
Amanda, Okanogan WA
I’ve had at least 3 t-shirt ideas racking around in my brain and have been looking for a screenprinter – off to check them out!! Thanks Becky
Jennie in Laguna Niguel, CA
We just got Disneyland annual passes and I’d love to get our family matching t-shirts to wear every time we go there.
Keely in Beaverton, OR- we have a family reuinion this summer and would love shirts for our family olympics/ an easy family picture
My third kiddo will be here in July. I’d love to have a big brother, big sister, little brother t-shirts made.
We get shirts made for teh JDRF walk in Sacramento every year – Go Team SpencerMan!
I love those shirts…the black is my favorite! I am planning on having shirts made for my kiddos…(I have four)….and include a picture of them wearing them when they have their yearly photo taken together!!! I am still debating if they are going to say ‘big’ and ‘little’….or if I may just use numbers as to their birth order….either way I think will make for a cute photo!!
Cathy
Loranger, LA
I really want to make shirts for my husband, sister and brothers with a phrase from our favorite show, Friday Night Lights.
anyone seen it?
I’m actually working on a shirt for my siblings and me. We’re doing a cabin reunion this July! The first letters of our names spell “TAKE” and our last name was Moore. So my parents called us the “TAKE Moores.” I’d love to win!
Amy Mize
Watkinsville, GA
My tennis team just made it to the District Championships. I would create a t-shirt for each member of my team. What a cool giveaway. Thanks!
Kim
Richmond, VA
My family has an annual camping trip. Never would have thought about making custom t-shirts for everyone…such a great idea!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Daydra
Yakima, WA
I’m ALWAYS looking for T-Shirt Ideas for the church Girls Camp I am in charge of. Every year we have a different theme and this would be such a help for us! Thank you!
I would love to get family shirts made up so that when we go to a theme park or really crowded place we can keep track of my 4 little ones more easily…
Great post! My sister and I (although it was actually our brother’s idea) surprised our parents on a family cruise a few years ago with “FFF” t-shirts: our family’s “motto” of “forced family fun.” They were a big hit!
I’d love to make t-shirts for a family Christmas card this year – XL down to a newborn onesie
Great ideas, thanks!
cheryl a.
springville, utah
these t-shirts would be wonderful for our next big family get together!
I’m going to be tie-dyeing T’s this weekend!
Diana, Temple City, CA
Woman’s retreat for church
Pat, Asheville NC
Our family get together at Christmas. Elves must have uniforms, don’t you think?
Sherry Cruz, orlando Fl
going on a little trip next week (treasure island) 2 sisters one brother one nephew and 1 neice myself and 3 kids, if we enjoy it and find it to be the right spot i am hoping to do a little family reunion there. i have 11 siblings and total we have 29 children, that is a lot of t-shirts, not counting spouses or cousins who will be joining with their children.
These are great! Flying home for our reunion in 4 more days!
amy
arlington heights, il
my daughter & i are working on a shirt for our church youth group who will be traveling to the national catholic youth conference in the fall
My whole family is doing a family Christmas in November in Branson, MO. We’ve never ALL been together fir Christmas before. I would love to have some tees for all of us…especially for the awesome group pics!!
Stacey
Lincoln, Ne
We have a Buddy Walk coming up in October in honor of my son with Down syndrome, we have custom made tshirts each year for his team of walkers.
deb in Woodinville, WA,
A big Wizarding World/Walt Disney World/Disney Cruise-family & friends yearly gathering–t’s for this one are on our wish list!!
thanks or the chance!!
My husband’s family has the BEST family reunion every year – it would be great to have a reunion t-shirt!
I’d love to win!
Our family of 4 is going to Disney World (for the first time ever) with our best friends and their two kiddos. We’re going to have a blast and matching shirts would be totally fun!! 
I would love to make a shirt!!!!
Thanks! Would love to make a shirt for my immediate family – I think there’s fifteen in all.
Jen T
Iola, KS
My 4 kiddos always make t-shirts for the summer. So fun!
We wear matching tshirts when we go out to busy public places as a young family. It helps me keep track of my little ones.
Heather, Lehi, UT
I am on my local library board, and we want to print shirts for our annual golf tournament fundraiser.
AmyS
Brighton, co
Our next family reunion will be next summer. I come from a HUGE family so it is always fun to get together. I would love to have t-shirts made for the occasion!
Laura A. in Salem, Oregon. We do an annual reunion with my husbands family. We have never done t-shirts before, but it would be an awesome surprise/gift/rememberance. Do you just ask folks what size t-shirt they wear at your reunions?
Erin C. in Gilbert, AZ
A family reunion at the end of July. T-shirts would be perfect!
Jennifer in Atascadero, Ca. I would love to come up with a t-shirt for the youth group at our church!
I love the idea of family tees!
elizabeth in san clemente, california
working on a tshirt for cousin’s camp this summer!
Jennifer
Orem, UT
family reunion!
Hi Becky, I feel like I cannot type fast enough to enter this contest!! My 11 year old son mentioned to me the other day that he wants to create t-shirts with his own personal design. He wants the t-shirt to have a picture of a rock and a picture of a ruler on it. Then above the rock he will put a caption that says “You Rule!” and above the ruler he wants to put a caption that says “You Rock!” It brings a smile to my face as I am typing because he is so excited about it! Thanks for the contest!!
Opps….
Rachel
Salem, SD
great tshirts!! love all the designs!! we are hoping to have a big family reunion nxt year with all the cousins !! i think it would be over 100 people!!:)
I’d love to have matching tees for our vacation this summer!
My 15 year old son rides BMX bikes. It would be awesome to get him and his group of bike riding friends tshirts!!!
Every Christmas my sisters and I get my dad a t shirt made with one of his famously funny quotes, usually something he would say to us growing up. Such a fun tradition!
Ali holt
Chapel Hill, NC
I would love to do some family reunion t-shirts!
Suzanne in Farmington Hills, Michigan
I would LOVE to make another 4-h shirt for our shooting sports club. Each year we add a shirt but it would be nice to have a back up for these multiple day tournaments. Also, LOVE the reunion shirts.
cherice
peoria, az
this will be our families first year of doing an official family reunion. i’m so excited!
It’s my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary this summer. Would love this.
Laurel
Richland WA
love the shirts, this will be my first family reunion, I just found my family. Love the chance to win .
Great inspiration. Even if I don’t win I will let my husband’s family know. They lost their mom last year and dad has been gone for 7 years. Plannning a family reunion in August so this would be fantastic to identify our family.