How to Throw a Thoughtful, Cheap & Simple Birthday Surprise

a simple way to surprise someone you love on their birthday!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• lots of balloons
• cupcake mix, cupcake liners, frosting, decorating icing
• birthday card, markers, stickers
• imagination & lots of love!

1. 
    

   go to the store and buy several bags of balloons, enough to fill the room you are setting up. Balloons are the most important part and the main focus so don't be scared to be excessive! you'll need to wait to start the process either after your partner goes to bed, or if it is a friend or family member start before they come home from work.
   as for the cupcakes, you can buy some plain ones to decorate yourself if you're no chef, or a pre-mixed package because it is less time consuming. ice them with frosting & decorate with an icing heart on each, or "I" "(heart)" "U" on a set of three, or whatever you'd like!

2. 
    

   buy a card, or make your own, the bigger the better! you can do this a few days before the surprise. pour your heart out in writing, use as much space as you can because this is something they can keep and read over & over again. tell them why you love them, or why they are so special to you. even talk about a recent event to cheer them up, use your imagination & don't be afraid to sound sappy. as long as you're genuine you cant go wrong.
   decorate the cards' envelope with pictures of you and your love/family/friend, or just them, or just you (or all the above.) cut the pictures into hearts or circle shapes and even add borders to them to make them 'pop'. color with markers/crayons as well as stickers if you'd like. use your imagination!

3. 
    

   take your cupcakes & your card & set them up on a table or focal point in your room of choice (living room is the best if you are doing this for the person you share a bed/room with). balloons should cover the entire floor, the couches, and throw some on the table as well. if you bought a gift, set it up on the table and tape some balloons to it. (like i said, the balloons are what make the surprise fun!)
   
   ive done this for my husband, my father, and an old friend. this is a nice gesture for being so simple, it will touch even those "anti-birthday" scrooges. who cant help but smile when they go to walk into a room or open their door & find balloons pouring out at them? clean-up is easy too, especially if you have cats or children ... just pop & throw away. be creative, have fun, and you cant go wrong.

Tips & Warnings

• instead of an expensive gift, you could fill a gift bag with a few bags of candy & decorate the outside with some craft/curly ribbon. the decorations are what adds the flare to anything!
• light candles
• put on a CD or turn on the radio
• work with a clean area, tidy up before if you need to
• timing is everything. you don't want to be busted halfway through blowing up your balloons, etc

[bambi1074]

on 10/24/2009 Really great article!These are some good and helpful ideas!Thanks for sharing! Rec 5*

[johndunne]

on 10/5/2009 Great Article, Save some cash =)

[edwardvance]

on 10/4/2009 How to Throw a Thoughtful, Cheap & Simple Birthday Surprise is timely and very well written! I have a 3 year old coming up on a birthday. Thank you. 5* and I recommend.

[jaredbangerter]

on 10/2/2009 That sounds nice. :] I wish MY friends and family would do this. 5* and rec

[djackman]

on 10/2/2009 Birthdays are cool escpecially for kids , love the ideas thanks 58 and recommended 5*