Write a note to the person. Instead of just giving a traditional card, write the person a small note or letter. You can leave it on the kitchen counter if you live with them, mail it to them if you live far away, give it to them in person, or talk to a co-worker to put it on their desk or work station. Make your note interesting by shaking up the message. Instead of just saying, "Happy birthday!" write, "Hope your birthday is rocking!" or "Have a birthday full of joy!" Write a personalized letter letting the person know how much they mean to you. Make the person a birthday breakfast. Waking up to breakfast in bed, or walking into the kitchen to find there favorite breakfast will make the birthday girl/boy feel extra special. Think about what their favorite breakfast foods are. Does he/she like pancakes, muffins, or eggs? You want to surprise then with there favorite foods. Get up early, make the breakfast, and put it where they usually sit for breakfast. Or you can take it into their bedroom and wake them up with a tray of there favorite foods. Put a small note wishing them a happy birthday in a spot they will find it. This is a great idea for spouses and significant others,

parents, children, siblings, and roommates. Fill their space with balloons. Blow up balloons, and then fill a cupboard, the person's closet, or the car with the balloons. When they open the door, they will be showered in balloons. Or use crepe paper to gently secure balloons to their bedroom door so that when he/she opens it, balloons cascade in front of them.[1] X Research source If you have the time, write messages on the balloons. You can write, "I love you more than ____" or "Reason #___ that I love you is ______." If this is a surprise for a friend, sibling, child, or parent, write reasons you appreciate him/her on the balloons. Another idea is to write memories, funny stories, inside jokes, song lyrics, and meaningful words on the balloons to show them how special they are to you.[2] X Research source Make a birthday in a can. Repurpose a tin can to make a special surprise for someone. Fill the can with streamers, candy, and small gifts that the person will like and that will make her smile. All you need is a can with a pop top, some tape, a can opener, and a hot glue gun. Use the can opener to open the bottom of the can. Remove the label, remove the food, and clean the can

well. Cover the sharp edges on the can and the top with masking tape, clear tape, or washi tape. Make a few paper chains and hot glue them to the inside of the pop top. This will make the paper chain come out as soon as the person pops the top of the can. Then fill the can with small gifts, candy, and treats. Replace the bottom of the can and secure it with clear tape. Fit the outside of the can with paper that you can decorate. Add ribbon, glitter, sequins, or any other accents to the paper. Hot glue the paper to the can.[3] X Research source Bake them a cake. One simple way to surprise someone is to take the time to bake his/her favorite cake. This is meaningful because you took the time to make it (even if it's from a box instead of scratch) instead of a buying a cake from a store. Plus, homemade cakes usually taste better. Make cupcakes or pie if your loved one prefers either of those desserts to cake. Collect letters from their loved ones. One way to surprise your special someone is to collect letters or notes from his/her's loved ones and friends. These notes can be general well wishes, memories, song lyrics, inside jokes, lists - whatever the person wants to share with the

birthday person.[4] X Research source Put the notes in envelopes to open, or place them in a scrapbook or notebook for them to look through. Put the notes on post-its. Stick the post-its on a wall, on the door, in his/her car, or around his/her work space. Choose different colors for a pretty array of messages.[5] X Research source Decorate their usual places in a theme. To surprise your loved one, decide what he/she likes. Then leave little surprises for him/her during the day at his/her regular spots. Leave a surprise by the bed when he/she wakes, along his/her regular jogging path, at his/her's desk in the office, or in his/her's car. If he/she likes music, start the day off by leaving a piece of paper with song lyrics where she/he can find it. This can be taped to his/her alarm clock, the bathroom mirror, rolled up in his/her coffee mug, or texted to his/her phone. The song lyrics should be either from his/her favorite song or have a significant meaning to the two of you. Make them a mix CD and leave it in the car for them to listen to on their commute to work and at work. String musical notes along the path where he/she normally jogs. Text him/her a video of their favorite

song or a song that means a lot to both of you. This can work with movies, sports, animals, or anything else your loved one likes. Decorate the person's locker. This is a fun way to surprise your friends when in middle and high school. If you go to the same school, decorate the outside of their locker. Make sure your school allows it before doing it so you don't get in trouble. Think about using the following things when decorating: Ribbon and streamers Balloons A huge card Wrapping paper A locker mirror. Write in lipstick, "You look great!" Candy. Tape the stick of lollipops to the locker. You can also tape Tootsie rolls, candy bars, and other treats to it. A group photo A Christmas stocking filled with fun stuff Glitter Cute magnets Magnetic whiteboard. Write something nice on it. You might even get friends to leave messages on it. If you can't decorate the person's locker, leave post-it notes on it with messages. Plan a surprise party. The classic way to surprise your loved one on his/her birthday is to throw a surprise party. You can even share the responsibility. Have one friend bake a nice cake, other friends, make a card, and one friend make decorations. Make sure to

consider what your loved one likes. Decorate the party in a theme that reflects his interests. Make sure the cake is his favorite flavor. If he/she has a favorite drink and snack, make sure the party has that. Schedule a day of fun. Make a day of fun for your loved one. Think about what he/she loves to do, where he/she loves to eat, and where he/she loves to go. Make a schedule and give it to him/her so he/she sees what you have planned. Or keep each new stop a surprise and make them wait in anticipation as you move from one place to the next.[6] X Research source Take him/her to his//her favorite diner for breakfast pancakes, pack a picnic lunch to eat at his/her favorite park, and take him/her to eat at his/her favorite restaurant for dinner. Spend the morning taking a hike, the afternoon playing miniature golf or paintball, and the night watching a double feature at the drive in. Let your imagination run wild as you fill the day with things he will love. If his/her actual birthday is a bad day to do this, make it the weekend before or after. You can also make it a week or weekend of fun instead of just a day! Make it a 12 days of birthday celebration. For the 12 days leading up

to the birthday, give him/her a note, a card, a letter, his/her favorite candy bar, or even an activity. Spread out the fun instead of putting it in one day.[7] X Research source Make a birthday in a box. Surprise your loved one with a themed box filled with everything for a perfect night. Or if you are away from someone, use it as a themed birthday care package filled with things you'd give him/her in person, along with inside jokes. This can be tailored to anyone. Try a romantic themed one for your significant other, a game themed one for your best friend, or a princess themed one for your daughter. Try a movie night box filled with popcorn, movie theater size candy, a soft drink, a blanket, and your favorite movie. For a romantic box, try massage oil, bath robes, scented candles, bubble bath, body scrub, massage oil, body lotion, love notes, and chocolates.[8] X Research source For a birthday themed box, place birthday cake Oreos, cotton candy, and cupcakes. Decorate the flaps on the box with birthday messages and stickers. Surprise him/her with a picnic. Set up a picnic at a park, at the end of a hike, or in a field. Decorate the area with balloons or Chinese lanterns, but

since you're outside, you can keep the decorations minimal. Spread a blanket, and pack a basket full of his/her favorite foods. Another way to surprise your loved one is, is to go on a hike, take a walk, or just go for a nice ride. Take him/her to the same place you have the picnic set up, and keep it a surprise until you just happen upon the blanket, basket, and balloons.[9] X Research source Take him/her somewhere he/she has always wanted to go to. Maybe your loved one has always wanted to go to Disneyland, on a movie tour, or to the beach. Arrange it so he/she can miss work (or school if your loved one is a kid or teenager) or if it falls on a weekend, that's fine. Pick him/her up early in the morning and surprise him/her with where you end up. If you both have the time, make a weekend out of it. You can plan a weekend trip your loved one, but remember to keep the destination a secret. You can also pretend you are going to one place (Example: Grocery store or the Bank) but then surprise him/her with the real destination.[10] X Research source Host a surprise dinner. Instead of a surprise party, take your special someone out to dinner and have friends and family be waiting on

him/her. Or have the friends and family show up for dinner at your house. This is a simple, yet nice surprise for the birthday boy/girl You can have the guests bring gifts, treats, or birthday wishes with them.[11] X Research source You also can host the dinner as a potluck, with each guest bringing a dish they prepared for the birthday boy/girl. Hire a limo. Surprise the person you love with a limo to chauffeur him/her around all day. Have it pick him/her up for work/school, then from work/school. Make him/her feel special by letting him/her ride around in style all day long, it'll make them happy and you'll feel glad you did it. When the limo picks him/her up from work/school, have it filled with friends and family, ready to go to dinner or a fun activity.[12] X Research source