On Laughter And Gift Design by Rick London

I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony, but since I don’t know how to do that, I write humor instead; and it is often debatable whether or not I do that.  But let’s just say I do. 

What started as a fun hobby when I was about 10 (trying to make people laugh one way or another) is now a bigger hobby, and just like when I was much younger, it’s still hit or miss. 

The difference is that now, I’m okay with that  While I would rather them all be hits rather than misses, the misses teach me how to create better, write better, blueprint better (describe what is going on in the cartoon to the illustrator).   And I continue to learn a bit more every day. And as an old dog, I enjoy learning new tricks.

One of the most fun parts of the project (aside from working with my team of amazing illustrators) is designing gifts featuring the cartoons we create. 

I design basic items such as T-shirts, mugs, and the like, but as the years have passed, I’m learning to make more home and office gift items.   My extremely talented wife Lee Hiller-London has been making those type gift ideas in her shops for a number of years.  She creates the most unique gifts and cards I can ever remember seeing.

Being what is called a “Gift Design Engineer” is kind of an important project for me other than just getting to see our designs on products.  The title doesn’t mean much. I’ve always loved giving (and receiving) gifts.  I particularly enjoy matching the gift with the person receiving it.  I would consider myself a thoughtful gift-giver. 

I make a real effort to think of all the positive things I know about the recipient and find a comic-themed cartoon gift that matches those characteristics of that person.  Over the past decade or so, as times have gotten even more stressful, I have noticed that gift recipients appreciate and keep their gifts when they get a good laugh from them.  If it’s a tee, they wear it often and enjoy making others laugh.  If it’s a mug, it sometimes becomes “their favorite mug” (or so they tell me) and they use it “most of the time”.  I love hearing that. 

On March 19^th, 2022, LTCartoons & Gifts will be 25 years old. 

Well, I’ve spent enough time waxing nostalgic and patting myself on the back. 

Lee and I wish everyone happy and safe holidays.  Thank you so much for your continued support.  May you thrive and be happy in 2022.  

I have several shops that feature offbeat comic gifts which is Rick London Gifts at Zazzle and the other is Rick London Cartoons at Zazzle. Both shops are good places year-round to pick up quality funny gift, usually for under $20.

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Nostalgia, Playlists, & Cartoon To Card Or Gift by Rick London

Young Bobbie Gentry Gets Inspired

Walken With Cowbells

I can be such a sucker for “all things nostalgic”.  Especially when it comes to music.  Most old music works just fine with me.   My beloved wife Lee understands as she has her own favorite playlist, which, shares some of my old favorites, but we’ve got our own separate tastes as well. 

When I have the news off, and the music on, it seems to tap something and I tend to get a bit creative.  Please don’t get me wrong; I am not delusional enough to think I’ve become a Twain or Faulkner, but I can finish a sentence. (many tell me “And the sooner you finish the better”) 🙂

I notice when I’m listening to certain musicians or bands, when I like something I hear, I write it down, whether it is part of the music or the vocals.

Since my mind seems to think “in pictures”, it seems relatively simple to transfer the musical emotion I just heard into an “art project” that then becomes a cartoon before becoming gifts. I can draw, but not that well. Hence the LTCartoons.com illustrative team of Tom Kerr and Sergey Rudenko and I run the ideas back and forth. If either feel the idea is a good one, they do it. If not, we don’t do it.

And of course we (try to tackle) all topics from medicine to politics to outer space. We are not confined to the music industry (though I must admit it is one of our favorite industries for cartoon ideas). Maybe because I love music as much as I do.

It is a wonderful way to stay creative, yet it is not rocket-science, so seems to reduce stress/anxiety and lift one’s mind/spirit to be more creative.

I realize this is not the only way to be creative, and there are others far more creative than I am, who have their own methods.

Being autistic with PTSD requires extra concentration and focus, just to get out of bed, much less create anything.  I am older and convinced, now, that anyone can be creative, which will lift ones quality of life. It can be cooking, reading, writing letters, and even the arts.

And so I design fun affordable things like T-shirts, mugs, cards and such, of numerous musicians and/or bands, in hopes other everyone can enjoy their favorites along with further humor (our) favorite bands helped facilitate. 

Aqualung My Ex-Friend

Roy Orbison & Pretty Woman

Frozen Foods At Beatles Grocery

Chicks For Free?

Rick London launched Londons Times Cartoons & Funny Gifts in 1997. It has been the Google top ranked offbeat cartoon gifts since 2005. Please drop by our Cafepress giftshop. Everything is now up to 35% off sitewide. Lots off goodies. Drop by and see what’s new.