I love surprising people on their birthdays with special notes written by their friends and family. With email it is so easy to do a project like this last minute. You just ask everyone to email a note or memory and photos. Then you put them in envelopes and surprise the person. I’ve done a few versions of this over the years see here and here. This presentation works great for a birthday or anniversary because you can put the envelopes in the shape of the birthday or anniversary year. It’s easy as pie. See full instructions below.
Click through for photos and instructions
Materials: Envelopes of Various Sizes and Colors, Painter’s Tape, Emails and notes from several people, A Blank Wall
Step 1: Place the envelopes on the floor in the shape of the number you want. Adjust them until you like the way it looks.
Step 2: Take a picture of your number.
Step 3: Referring to your picture of the number shape, place the envelopes on the wall using tape.
Step 4: Put the birthday notes inside the envelope. Et voila! You’ve got a birthday surprise!
Photography by Heather Zweig for Oh Happy Day
Art Direction by Jordan Ferney
Produced by Stacy Wichelhaus
Crafting and styling by Caitlin Barker
Assisted by Harper Casimiro
meg
April 9, 2013
Love the color combination.
What a unique way to say “Happy Birthday!”
http://happinessiscreating.com/
Bri
April 9, 2013
what a fantastic idea! i’ll try with with my mom’s 50th birthday this summer!
Becky Loose From The Zoo
April 9, 2013
oh this is such a lovely idea.
my boyfriend has been having a rough few days and i think something like this would definitely help cheer him up… his bday isn’t anytime soon so maybe i’ll arrange them as a smiley face instead!
<3becky
http://www.loosefromthezoo.com
Laura Trevey
April 9, 2013
Brilliant! I am doing this for my daughter’s Sweet Sixteenth!!
Thanks for the inspiration ~
Shelby
April 9, 2013
I love love love this! I must do this next year for my boyfriends “golden” birthday!
Allie
April 9, 2013
Aw, this is such a cute idea! This would also be adorable for an anniversary surprise — maybe with love letters?!
Paula
April 9, 2013
I love it! It’s my husbands 40th birthday this year and I will be doing something like this! Thanks a lot!
GumShoe Blog
April 9, 2013
I ADORE this idea!! So fantastic!
Kirsty
April 9, 2013
Oh em gee! I JUST did this for my husband’s 40th last week or a version thereof and the envelope idea would have saved me a ton of time. I superimposed letters people sent me about him onto colourful backgrounds and had them printed as photos at my local one hour place. You can see it here (the tape idea would have been helpful too-my 40 was a bit lopsided-it was somewhat hurriedly assembled 😉
momedy.blogspot.com/2013/04/happy-birthday-aaron-sayer.html
robyn
April 9, 2013
This idea is amazingly cute.love.
Cristina
April 9, 2013
Lovely idea! Love love love
laure
April 9, 2013
Bonne idée !!!!!!
uncustomary
April 9, 2013
Absolutely fantastic!
Maggie Zam
April 9, 2013
What an awesome idea! 😀
regina umali
April 9, 2013
such an inspiration..thinkerbellethoughts.blogspot.com
Carrie // cue the confetti
April 9, 2013
What a great idea!!! My friends and I love sharing words of encouragement at birthday parties, Totally going to do this!
mina
April 9, 2013
Hi, i’m from Iran but i love your website , your ideas are so fantastic.
be successful;-)
Anna of Green Gable
April 9, 2013
Great idea! Especially for a turning point birthday like 30 or 40. I love that you chose 37 as the year, btw! Makes me feel less old! 🙂
xo green gable
lyndsay
April 9, 2013
crazy cute and love the simplicity! would be so cute even just using regular old paper, instead of envelopes as an adorable decor for a birthday party…
Renuka
April 9, 2013
what a thoughtful idea! such a personal way to say happy birthday!
http://www.pocketfulofperspective.tumblr.com
Chelsey
April 9, 2013
This is such a sweet idea especially when loved ones a far away. I will be using this this to help mediate my man with Peter-Pan syndrome through his big day.
sarah
April 9, 2013
Fun idea!
Sarah
http://www.etsy.com/shop/owleyevintage
Kate
April 9, 2013
I LOVE THIS IDEA. That’s genius.
Melissa
April 10, 2013
I love this! You’ve just given me some wonderful inspiration for my anniversary gift to my husband. Thank you 🙂
Danette
April 10, 2013
What a fun way to wish someone happy birthday. Really like that.
Lisette
April 10, 2013
Fun idea for any occasion!
Sophie
April 10, 2013
This is brilliant!
Ana
April 10, 2013
This is a cute idea! I used envelopes to create an advent calendar for my friend who lives in Germany. So it was easier to ship it. Envelopes are such a great DIY supply.
Mags @ From the Mind of Mags
April 10, 2013
What a great idea! I love it!
xoxo
Mags
http://magsmind22.blogspot.com
Christy
April 11, 2013
Very cute but where do you get all the different size/colored envelopes?
Papersource!
Melyssa
April 13, 2013
AWESOME idea!! I wish I’d known about it before my boyfriend’s b-day in a few days, but I can’t wait for the next big birthday coming up! Definitely going to try this 🙂 Thanks!
ashley rachelle
April 13, 2013
seriously love this idea! what a fun way to share some birthday love!
Lina / Keeping Creativity Alive
April 18, 2013
I absolutely LOVE this idea! The presentation seriously rocks! I want to do this for no reason.. tonight!
Paulette Leto
April 18, 2013
That’s very clever. I’ve never seen anybody do something like that before. I might have to think about trying that out sometime!