34 OMG-worthy Birthday Card Ideas for Friends, Family and Coworkers - Dodo Burd (2024)

If someone you know has a really sweet tooth, turn that to your advantage by making them a candygram instead of a normal card. Super fun to make and to receive, this candygram uses candy in place of certain words, and there’s even a free downloadable template to make it easy.

These cards are adorable, and could be made using pastel colors as shown, or really bright rainbow colors for someone who prefers a bolder palette. You don’t even need any artistic skills, just the ability to paint in relatively straight lines and add a few easy details in a black marker.

Utterly stunning, these tunnel cards will probably mean more to a loved one than any gift you could give. Made by layering lots of images to create a 3D effect, these cards look like standard versions when they’re closed, but open up into these gorgeous works of art.

Pop-up cards can be complicated to make, but they don’t have to be, as this simple tutorial shows. Using a simple cutting and folding technique, this basic card can be used for any number of designs, because once you have the mechanism sorted, you can add whatever embellishments you need.

The perfect birthday card idea for dog lovers, or anyone who loves cute things, this card comes with an extra special surprise. Easy to make using the free template supplied, when this little puppy’s tongue is pulled, his ears flip up to reveal his adorable puppy dog eyes.

If you have a Cricut or other cutting machine, this birthday cake card will be an easy and fun project to make, although you could improvise and cut the pieces by hand. Folding flat so it fits in an envelope, this card will pop-up into a delightfully decorated ‘cake’ complete with birthday candles.

Why not make a birthday card into something really special by turning it into a mini photo album full of pictures of the people and/or pets they love? This guide will take you step-by-step through the process, which will result in a super sweet photo book and birthday card in one.

This is a great way to give cash to someone for their special day, and a lot more fun than just handing over a stack of bills. There are two templates included – just print them out, follow the instructions, and then add as many dollar bills as you like to the ‘ATM’.

Colorful garlands just scream ‘celebration’, so it makes sense to incorporate them into a birthday card. Follow the video or photo instructions in this blog to create a stunning card that features a beautiful garland of pastel colored bunting, along with some ideas on ways to add more details.

Even if they don’t want cake for their birthday, they can still have candles! This card is a great example of how effective a simple design can be. Make ‘candles’ by rolling pieces of decorative paper into shape, add ‘wicks’, and then glue them in a pattern on the front.

You don’t need a stash of craft supplies for this card, because all that’s required is a sheet of colored cardstock and a gold Sharpie pen. When folded, the image looks like a sweet smiling face, but when opened it reveals a hidden greeting within a huge mouth! Experiment with animal faces, too.

You can make a birthday card and envelope to match by following the instructions in this guide; it’s amazingly fun to do. Using shaving foam and food coloring, you can create these beautifully swirling marble effects on the front of the card, and the same for the flap of the envelope.

Writers especially will adore getting this handmade birthday card, as it opens to reveal a fun 3D typewriter with a real typed birthday greeting sticking out of the top. Fun and funky and with more than a hint of nostalgia, there is also a monitor and a Polaroid camera version, too.

You can buy mini aperture cards to make this colorful washi tape version, or you can use them as inspiration to make your own using cardstock, a stencil, and a craft knife. Cover the insert with brightly colored washi tape, and those colors and patterns will show through the cut out design.

If they have a sweet tooth and would appreciate some candy for their birthday, have a go at making this huge card that doubles as a delicious gift. Just print the characters for the front and the inside on your computer, and then gather the choccie supplies to fill in the blanks.

Fans of all things Hogwarts will be bowled over with this very cool Harry Potter card. Instantly recognizable thanks to the glasses and lightning scar, this card is easy to make – there is even a printable template which means you don’t have to draw the pieces yourself.

Put calligraphy skills to good use by creating this wonderful card for a friend or loved one who loves to travel. Freehand a camera in the center of the card, and, once the details have been filled in, simply write the names of different locations in the background using a contrasting white ink.

How beautiful are these dip-dyed cards? Incredibly simple to make but stunning to look at, these cards use boiling water and fabric dye to create both a lightly dyed and an ombre effect, depending on how fast you remove them from the bowl. Once dried, iron flat and write your greeting.

Black cards are so unusual, and because bright colors are needed to stand out, the designs really pop. Follow this tutorial for a stunning birthday card idea using black card, a soapstone pen to mark out the design, and a white pen and colored pencils to color in the design.

These cards are simple in design but totally adorable to look at. By using a greeting that’s been traced onto freezer paper, you can cover the word in bright and colorful washi tape, and then attach it to the front of a card blank by peeling it carefully away from the backing.

Everyone loves a surprise, and what better surprise is there than a cute birthday bear? This sweet card will delight children and adults alike, and doesn’t require any complicated techniques – just cutting, folding, drawing, and sticking. Once the card is opened, the bear shows an adorable expression on his face.

Giving flowers as a birthday gift is nothing new, but have you considered turning them into greetings cards, instead? They’re simple to make and look stunning – you just need to leave enough time to press the flowers for a few days. Dye your card with coffee for a vintage-style feel.

If you have kids, the chances are you have a stash of Hama Beads lying around. Put them to colorful use by creating designs for greetings cards. Copy the examples shown or come up with your own, and then simply glue them to the front of a card along with a stamped greeting.

Sprinkles make great decorations, whether that’s on a cake or over ice cream, but what about using them on a birthday card? Make sure you have the perfect colors needed by following the steps in this post that show you how to dye your sprinkles with a rainbow of gel food colorings.

When a standard card doesn’t have enough space for all you want to say, think about making a birthday scroll, instead. Ridiculously simple to make, you just cut or tear a long piece of kraft paper, write your message in neat, fancy lettering, then roll it up and tie with a ribbon.

This unusual card can be made with pretty much any design you like, from something simple to a more intricate impression. Once sketched, make holes along the outline, and then use colorful embroidery floss to stitch the design in place on the front. Add a greeting underneath for a stunning result.

If you’re not gifted in the drawing department but want to give a handmade card to someone who loves plants, this tutorial is for you. Supplied with a link to free succulent watercolor images, this guide shows you how to make these cards – which look absolutely stunning – quickly and easily.

Mother Nature will provide the color and design for this birthday card, and all you will need are different leaves, white card, paper towel, and a hammer. By hammering the leaf on the card, the color and shape will be transferred, leaving a gentle and stunning imprint.

This fun birthday card idea pays homage to the letterboards that seem to adorn almost every home at the moment. Made using pink and white card and sticky letters, you can recreate the trend by scoring lines into the pink card, and attaching the letters to spell out your message.

Choose which background design you like for this summery card, and then have fun creating a deliciously bright and colorful ice cream cone, using brown card for the cone and colored pompoms for scoops of ice cream. Add glitter, sprinkles, or other decorations to complete the theme.

Rainbow cakes look as good as they taste, which makes them the ideal design for the front of a birthday card. Using glitter card in different colors, build a ‘cake’ on the front of the card, and then add some awesome looking frosting using card and embossing paste for an authentic textured effect.

This card couldn’t be easier to make, because all the different butterfly designs are available in the free printable downloads – just choose the design you like, and print! Then cut them out, add a small gift for the body, and fashion a pair of antenna out of pipe cleaners.

Gift cards make excellent gifts, especially when you don’t know what to give to the birthday boy or girl. Make it a little more stylish by hiding the gift card inside this fun and fancy birthday present card. As the lid is opened, the card slips out, making it a thoughtful and fun surprise.

This is a fun way to give cash to the superhero in your life as it contains a hidden money ‘envelope’ on the back. Use colors to resemble their favorite comic character and recreate this card, complete with the felt black cape at the back that conceals the all-important loot.