Simple and Fun Ways to Make Someone's Birthday Special

The earth has gone around the sun once again and it’s your special person’s birthday. In celebration of The Confetti Post’s third birthday, we’ve put together a few simple, fun, and affordable ideas to help you celebrate.

Want to step up your game this year? Sending a birthday text is nice but let’s be real, it just doesn’t hold a flame – or birthday candle – to something more meaningful.

Of course, we think sending someone a party in a box care package is an awesome way to go. For birthdays, these are some fun Party ideas that are sure to deliver smiles. 

In addition to being a birthday hero with The Confetti Post, here are some small but mighty ways to share the birthday love and make someone's birthday extra special.

1. Hidden Message

It may not be commonplace anymore to send messages in a bottle, but you can still incorporate a little mystery in your birthday surprise.

• Step 1. Inflate a balloon and keep it sealed with a chip clip or simply hold on tight.
• Step 2. Using a marker (acid free markers work best), jot down your birthday message.
• Step 3. Deflate the balloon, stash it in an envelope and send it on its way!
• Step 4. Wait with glee. When the recipient blows up their balloon, they’ll be greeted with an extra surprise.

They’ll think of you fondly as they keep bopping that balloon around the house for days to come.

Be inspired by A Subtle Revelry with different ways to write on your balloon.

2. Make a Mixed Tape

Make them a birthday playlist. Channel the toons of the eighties and put together some happy jams for the birthday guy or gal. (Check out our Birthday Spotify playlist for inspiration.)

Or you can go all moody, corny, angsty, raging, folksy – whatever floats their boat. With the magic of modern technology, it’s a lot less labor intensive than it used to be decades ago. They’ll think of you and feel loved every time they press play.

3. Party in a Box 

Surprise the birthday guy or gal with a party in a box just for them!

Our thoughtfully curated care packages include a balloon and confetti to bring the party to their doorstep. It’s so easy you can even order this in your PJ’s while you "Netflix & Chill.” Score!

The classic Happy Happy Birthday Party is a great choice, or you can personalize it even more and build your own birthday gift box. 

4. Pay it Forward

Make a donation or do a random act of kindness with the birthday person in mind. Is the birthday girl an animal lover? Take some food, toys or towels to your local shelter. Does she love nature? Make a donation to Green Peace in her honor.

Simple and free deeds work too! Acts of kindness, such as surprise notes of encouragement and affirmation, are an excellent way to share the love. Mention to your friend that you’re sprinkling the world with extra kindness to celebrate their birthday.

Jot down a few kind words and leave them in ordinary places where they will have extraordinary impact. Tape your note to a park bench, leave it on a library shelf or sneak it next to the baby formula in the grocery store.

Writer’s block? Here are a few ideas to get your pen moving:

• You got this!
• Yay, You! You are the best! You really are awesome in big ways. (Inspired by one of our popular Party gift boxes, Yay You!)
• “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” -Maya Angelou
• You have a beautiful smile!
• You matter.
• Be kind to yourself.
• Find the courage to let go of what you can’t change.
• Shine bright! (Inspired by our pink balloon note.)

5. Happy Feet

Here’s a fun one! Surprise your birthday guy or gal with customized socks. This rad company, DivvyUp, creates major fun for your feet with photo emblazoned socks.

Truly a business with a heart, they donate socks to homeless shelters throughout the United States so it’s definitely a gift that gives back. Warm and happy feet for all!

6. The Written Word

Gift them a book! Better yet, write a thoughtful inscription inside to make it even more meaningful. For this occasion, we love the idea of giving a book that can be read in bites (save War & Peace for another day) and provide continued inspiration.

Perhaps something like Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed?

7. TELL THEM!

This seems obvious but so often in our harried lives, we don’t take time to speak our hearts. It’s easy to write “HBD” online but it’s a whole lot more impactful to tell them happy birthday in person (or on the phone if you’re long distance).

In the words of author, Ruthie Lindsey, “If you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.”

8. Letter Parade

This is an especially great surprise for milestone birthdays, but let’s be real…every year is worth celebrating.

A letter parade requires a little coordination, but it’s worth it and is sure to be remembered long after their birthday has come and gone.

Reach out to the birthday person’s close friends and family or maybe even an old college roommate they haven’t seen in years. On the down low, invite people to send a letter (via email or post) sharing a story or favorite memory about the birthday person.

Simply gather them together in a lovely box or large envelope to be treasured for years to come.

Caution: may cause goosebumps, tears, warm fuzzies and/or outrageous laughter.

9. Sing! Sing! Sing!

(Grammy nomination not required.)

Call them and sing happy birthday on their voicemail. You do not need to have the voice of an angel. Just belt it out or have the entire fam join in. It’s also fun to take a video of this hilarity and send it. I promise it will make them smile and they’ll treasure that message long past their birthday.

10. Say “Cheese!”

Grab a snapshot and have it printed somewhere like Plywerk. Your loved one will be thrilled to have a tangible picture, especially if it includes your smiling mug.

Can’t find a picture of you and the birthday person together? Snap a pic of a meaningful place or flower and have that printed instead. We need more pictures on our shelves and off our phones.

This birthday gift will bring smiles all year long and as a bonus, Plywerk makes their products in a 100% solar powered facility using sustainably sourced wood.           

11. Haiku

Flex your poetry muscles and write a haiku for the birthday person!

(Stop scrolling. We’re virtually patting you on the back telling you that you can totally do this.)

Follow these simple guidelines and send your loved one a written work of art for their birthday. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry written in three lines, often reflecting nature. Whether it turns out silly or serious, we guarantee it will be a hit and remembered forever.

A traditional haiku is three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables again in the third line. Just remember, 5-7-5. 

Here are some examples from Team Confetti Post to prove that you too can do this:

12. Tree Hugger

Celebrate your loved one's birthday by planting a tree in their name. They’ll have bragging rights to a glorious, oxygen pumping tree in one of our National Forests.

The Arbor Foundation, an organization committed to making our planet cleaner and greener, will even send a custom certificate to announce the unique gift. 

13. Stick a Candle In It

One of my favorite birthday surprises is from freshman year in college with my dear friend and roommate, Elayne. Of course, being on a college budget, we couldn’t afford anything fancy. My friends and I grabbed a cupcake from the vending machine, stuck a candle in it and paraded through the dorm singing “Happy Birthday.”

The cupcake may have tasted like plastic, but the memory remains close to my heart all these years later.

14. A Pizza Your Heart

Is food your love language? If you can’t be with your loved one on their birthday to make them a homemade meal or take them to the hippest farm-to-fork restaurant, this birthday surprise idea is for you.

Find a pizzeria local to the birthday person and give them a call to arrange a pizza delivery. With more restaurant delivery services popping up such as Uber Eats, this is much easier to do. Just make sure the birthday person is home! 

Personally, I’d be stoked if someone brought me a pizza on my birthday. Especially if it has pineapple on it.

15. Treat Them

Whether you live near or far, find the birthday person’s favorite coffee spot or watering hole and buy them a gift card. If you really want to pamper them, gift them the spa treatment they’d never give themselves. That’s the gift that keeps on giving!

16. Get Wild!

As a business with a heart for giving, we love worthy causes like these.

You can adopt an animal from the World Wildlife Fund in honor of your loved ones’ birthday. They have wonderful gift sets available as well as magnificent creatures to help support. Your birthday present can help support conservation efforts for critically endangered species around the world.

“For more than 50 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by more than one million members in the United States and close to five million globally.”

Hope this list of simple and fun ways to make someone's birthday special gives you some inspiration and helps you make those special people in your life feel extra loved.

Cheers,

Betsy (and Team Confetti Post)

P.S. Want even more ideas, especially for a long distance birthday? Check out our 16 Fun Long Distance Birthday Ideas. 

Image Credits: Balloon: A Subtle Revelry; Stock from Pexel: Trees: Anton Atanasov Red Panda: Flickr Letters: Suzy Hazelwood Pizza: Pixabay