Creating Custom T-Shirts with Designs: Emojis, Faces, & I Heart

If you’re looking for a fun way to custom t-shirts, sweatshirts, or other apparel for a family event or get together with friends, how about adding a photo of the guest of honor? Or add an inside joke or quote? You can also use our extensive graphics library to add stick figures for family portraits or activities or can even add the iconic “I heart” + an event or person.

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Key Takeaways

This guide explores creative and popular custom t-shirt design ideas, including faces, emojis, “I heart” statements, and stick figures.
Custom Ink’s Design Lab empowers users of all skill levels to easily create unique personalized apparel using diverse tools and resources.
These versatile custom designs are perfect for commemorating special events, uniting groups, and expressing individual connections.

Put Your Face on a Shirt

Nothing says “memorable event” quite like wearing someone’s face on a t-shirt. Photo face designs have become incredibly popular for milestone birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, retirement celebrations, and family reunions.

“Made these for my best friends bachelor party in Cabo. It was an image of him at 6 years old and flexing. Hence why we all flexed in the photo, mimicking him in the image. We were the stars of any bar we went into while wearing the tank tops!”

Best Uses for Face Designs

Milestone birthdays: Feature the guest of honor’s face (bonus points for an embarrassing throwback photo!)
Bachelor/bachelorette parties: The bride or groom’s face makes for hilarious group photos
Memorial shirts: Honor a loved one with their portrait
Pet appreciation: Your furry friend’s face deserves to be on a shirt too

Tips for Great Photo Face Shirts

For the best results, use high-resolution images (at least 150 DPI). Consider cutting out the face from the background for a cleaner look, or embrace the full photo for maximum comedic effect. Our Design Lab makes it easy to upload your photo and adjust the size and placement until it’s just right.

“I created these shirts with my brothers face on them to wear at his baseball game. He had no idea so it was so funny when he looked over from the dugout to see his whole family wearing shirts with his face on it. Custom Ink was the perfect place to have these shirts made. It was easy to design and and my order came in just a few days. Thank you so much Custom Ink for helping me put a smile on my little brother’s face!” -Sarah Lewis

Express Yourself with Emoji T-Shirts

Emojis have become a universal language, and they translate perfectly to custom apparel. From the classic smiley face to the crying-laughing emoji, these little icons pack a big punch on custom t-shirts.

“My mother and I go on a cruise annually to get away from the stress of every day life. However, this year we decided to invite my father to come since it was free to invite a third guest. So we thought it would be fun to make tshirts to imply that my dad was tagging along on our annual girls trip. They turned out to be a big hit and throughout the entire cruise my dad was referred to as “him” by the other cruisers. “ -Samantha Sutton

Popular Emoji Design Ideas

Birthday parties: Party popper, cake, and balloon emojis
Sports teams: Trophy, fire, and muscle arm emojis
Work events: Thumbs up, star, or rocket ship for motivation
Friend groups: Each person wears their signature emoji
Mood shirts: Sometimes a simple sunglasses emoji says it all

You can search or browse our design lab emojis and place them exactly where you want. Below are just a few examples:

Pro tip: Scale up emojis large and center them on the chest for maximum impact, or create a fun pattern with multiple smaller emojis scattered across the design.

The Classic “I ❤️” Design

The iconic “I ❤️ NY” design has inspired countless variations since its creation in 1977. This simple format—”I” plus a heart symbol plus whatever you love—remains one of the most recognizable and customizable t-shirt designs ever.

Creative “I Heart” Ideas

Destinations: “I ❤️ [Your City]” for travel groups or local pride
Inside jokes: “I ❤️ [Friend’s Weird Habit]” for your squad
Hobbies: “I ❤️ Tacos” or “I ❤️ Naps” – keep it real
Family: “I ❤️ Being a Grandma” or “I ❤️ My Dog”
Events: “I ❤️ The Smith Family Reunion 2025”

For a twist on the classic, try replacing the heart with a different icon that represents your group—a pizza slice, a football, or even a custom graphic.

Charming Stick Figure Designs

There’s something wonderfully approachable about stick figure art. These simple drawings have a nostalgic, handmade quality that works beautifully on custom t-shirts—especially for family and group events.

“CustomInk created my vision basically from scratch and had a great sense of humor! We use them for every girls trip and always get compliments on our cool (inexpensive) shirts!!!!”

Stick Figure Design Ideas

Family portraits: Stick figure versions of each family member (don’t forget the pets!)
Activity shirts: Stick figures hiking, running, dancing, or playing sports
Humorous scenes: Stick figures in funny situations with witty captions
Matching group shirts: Each person represented as a stick figure
“My family” style: The classic car window stick family, but on a shirt

We have a variety of stick figure styles and options in our design lab, such as the examples below:

Stick figures work great in black and white, but adding a pop of color—like a red heart or colorful accessories—can make your design even more eye-catching.

Tips for Creating Fun Custom T-Shirts

Ready to bring your fun design to life? Here are some tips to make your custom t-shirts look their best:

Keep it simple: The best fun designs are often the simplest. A big, bold graphic beats a cluttered design every time.
Consider your colors: Make sure your design contrasts well with your shirt color. Dark designs on light shirts (and vice versa) always pop.
Size matters: Don’t be afraid to go big! A large, centered graphic makes a statement.
Add text thoughtfully: A short phrase or date can add context without overwhelming your design.
Preview before ordering: Use our Design Lab to see exactly how your design will look on the actual product.

“I always look forward to creating our family t shirts using the art on the Customink website for our yearly vacations. This year I decided to order my fun “logo” in black on white t shirts, so that everyone ages 1-85 could tie dye his/her shirt. Such a terrific souvenir for all fifteen people to take home to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, and South Carolina!”

Ready to Create Your Fun Custom T-Shirts?

Whether you’re putting someone’s face on a shirt, expressing yourself with emojis, declaring your love with an “I ❤️” design, or creating adorable stick figure art, Custom Ink makes it easy to bring your vision to life. Our Design Lab is packed with tools, fonts, and clipart to help you create the perfect custom t-shirts for any occasion.

The best part? You don’t need any design experience. Upload your own images, use our graphics library, or work with our free design services team to create something amazing.

Create Your Design

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put someone else’s face on a t-shirt?

Yes, as long as you have permission to use the photo and it’s for personal, non-commercial use. Photo face shirts are popular for surprise birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette events, and family celebrations. Just make sure the person is okay with their face being on a shirt!

Can I use real emoji images on my t-shirt?

Emoji designs on phones are often copyrighted by companies like Apple, Google, or Samsung. However, our Design Lab includes emoji-style clipart that you can use freely on your custom t-shirts. These graphics capture the same fun, expressive style without copyright concerns.

Can I combine emojis with text on my custom t-shirt?

Absolutely! Emojis pair great with text. Try placing an emoji above or below your text, or use emojis to replace words (like “I 😊 pizza”). Our Design Lab makes it easy to arrange and resize elements until you get the perfect combination.

Can I use a different symbol instead of a heart?

Yes! Swapping the heart for another icon is a fun way to personalize your design. Try “I 🍕 Pizza,” “I ⚽ Soccer,” or “I 🐶 Dogs.” Browse our clipart library for thousands of icons you can use to create your own unique variation.

Do you have stick figure clipart available to use on custom t-shirts?

Yes! Our clipart library includes a variety of stick figure graphics in different poses and activities. You can also upload your own hand-drawn stick figures for a truly personalized touch. Just scan or photograph your drawing and upload it as an image.

Can I combine multiple design elements (faces, emojis, stick figures)?

Absolutely! Mix and match to create something unique. For example, you could put a friend’s face on a stick figure body, add emoji accessories, or create an “I ❤️” design with a photo. Our Design Lab lets you layer multiple elements and arrange them however you like.