25+ ideas for creative, personal birthday care packages

A birthday care package for a coworker or friend that includes a Coffee and Donut Better Together magnetic plush set, a light blue coffee mug with rainbows on it, a rainbow cupcake vinyl decal, tall, skinny candles, a cupcake with white frosting and rainbow-colored sprinkles, a birthday card with the word

When a friend’s birthday rolls around and you can’t be together to celebrate, the next best thing is to bring the celebration to them with a birthday care package. Because who wouldn’t love to find a happy birthday box at their doorstep? And birthday care packages can be as fun and unique as the birthday person—the possibilities are endless.

We put our party hats on and came up with some birthday care package inspiration for you. Just add your own creative twist on our ideas to make them truly one of a kind.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.

Personal care package ideas  

Birthday care package with card and party supplies

Show you know them with a just-for-them birthday care package. The best way to get creative ideas is to focus on the birthday person. What are some of their favorite things? What are they into? What unforgettable memories do you want to remind them of? These thought-starters might spark something for you:

1. Friends Forever
Been friends for a long time? Break out some vintage photos of the two of you and make a birthday care package that’s a blast from the past. Fill it with nostalgic snacks, a link to a retro playlist, a card that recounts your favorite memories together and maybe even some BFF jewelry.

2. Staycation-in-a-Box
If your friend can’t take that beach vacation they’ve been dreaming about, bring the beach to them. Include yummy-smelling sunscreen, a beach towel, sunglasses and a postcard of their favorite ocean view.

3. Let’s Get Together
Just because you can’t be in the same place on their birthday doesn’t mean you can’t get some quality time. Start a shared journal you can pass back and forth to keep a record of your lives and your friendship. Or send a book you love, bookmarked with notes and highlights. They can send it back with their comments and favorite parts—it’s like a long-distance book club. Or if you’re feeling artsy, try a collaborative art or craft project and you can each add your special touch.

4. Local Love
If they’re proud of where they live, help them show off their love for their city or state with a box of their favorite locally made products, accessories and stickers. Or go nostalgic: Make a care package filled with reminders of good times in their hometown or college town.

5. Big-Deal Birthday
Grown-ups deserve to be celebrated, too. Turn up the fun factor with birthday-themed gifts. Pack a cake mix, candles, party hat, birthday decorations and don’t forget the birthday booze (mini bottles). Top it all off with confetti.

Things they love care package ideas  

A colorful birthday care package for a kid that includes an Elmo itty bittys plush, a Crayola notebook in rainbow colors, a 10-pack of Crayola markers, a package of colorful, star-shaped birthday candles, a Video Greetings card that says

Are they into gardening? Grilling? Travel? Books? Turn their interests and hobbies into a one-of-a-kind gift. Consider which hobby-specific items might need to be frequently replaced or updated—or include supplies they can never get enough of.

6. Go Colorful for Kids
Celebrate a creative kid by filling a box with their favorite color—all of them! Get some Crayola crayons, markers and a colorful notebook for hours of fun. Add glittery star-shaped candles for them to wish on and tuck in a little friend like this itty bittys® Sesame Street® Elmo talking plush for a few giggles. Then let the special kid in your life know how loved they are with a Recordable Storybook that lets you add your own special message to the “Happy Birthday” song! Tie it all together with a cute card, a gift box covered in rainbow sprinkles and a brightly colored bow.

7. Cooking
Arrange some spices, sauces or marinades in a mixing bowl, or use a ribbon to tie a new mixing spoon to the top of a recipe organizer. Use fun, cute hand towels to wrap it up, and you’ve got a gift perfect for anyone who loves to cook.

8. Wellness
Support their healthy lifestyle with a wellness journal and add birthday slippers with sound for an extra element of fun. Or encourage self-care with mini spa facial rollers. A candle in a relaxing scent can help them get the vibe right. And finally, a mug and a card that reminds them to take time for themselves is always a good idea.

9. Pets
A pet-themed bundle is perfect for all those dog and cat parents in your life. A pair of socks or a drink tumbler featuring their pet, a hand-painted wine glass recognizing a recent rescue, dog journal or cute wooden sentiment will let everyone know just how much they love their furry friend. Make it a treat for the pet and their owner by wrapping everything up in a new food or water dish, or attaching a toy or bandana to the gift with a ribbon.

Fandom care package ideas  

A Peanuts Snoopy Beagle Scout birthday care package filled with Beagle Scout products, including a mug, a small Snoopy plush that holds a gift card, a greeting card that reads

A favorite TV show, movie, book or character is the perfect excuse to put together a themed birthday bundle for fans of all ages.

10. Peanuts
Happiness is… a gift full of Snoopy and friends! Help your Beagle Scouts-loving friend celebrate their birthday AND the 50th anniversary of Snoopy’s camping and exploring bird friends. Gift a water bottle that reminds them to find fun every day, outfit them with socks and a coffee mug for mornings inside or in the woods, or a picnic blanket and a set of journals for a fun touch to lunches in a park. Some badges will make their inner scout feel proud, and a Snoopy plush gift card holder with a sweet card on top is sure to make them smile. Can’t get enough of your favorite gang? Find more Peanuts gifts and card here!

11. Disney Princesses
Bring some fairy-tale magic to their birthday gift and make them feel like royalty. Add some jewelry or hair accessories to a basket topped off with their favorite flowers. Toast a crown-worthy adult with a Disney Princess Cinderella stemless glass or send a honeycomb Disney Princess card to help a younger fan decorate their room or party. Check out the whole collection of Disney Princess gifts and cards on Hallmark.com.

12. Harry Potter
Everyone deserve a magical birthday. Fill a basket with an itty bittys® of their favorite character, a “Hogwarts is my home” tea towel, or Gryffindor mug to help them show their house pride. Add in some Chocolate Frogs or Bertie Bott’s Beans to sweeten things up, then top off your gift with this Harry Potter pop-up 3D card. Find even more Wizarding World fun here!

13. Hallmark Channel
We all have that friend who celebrates the holidays all year round with Hallmark Channel movies. Pair a cozy blanket with a Hallmark Channel movie and a book, Hallmark Channel Movies Guide to a Happy Life. Or keep the fun going after the movie with a game: Hallmark Channel Monopoly. Shop all our Hallmark Channel gifts here.

14. Golden Girls
Want to thank them for being a friend? Give them a birthday surprise from their favorite girls, with a Sophia itty bittys, Dorothy socks or a Rose mug. Add in a cheesecake server with sound and tell them how much they mean with a card that fits right in. Shop the entire Golden Girls collection here.

15. Star Wars™
What Star Wars fan wouldn’t love an itty bittys version of Star Wars: The Madalorian™: Grogu? A Lightsaber™ pizza cutter is fun for fans of all ages, and a “Rebel Hero” mug might just help them start each day with The Force on their side. Shop all our Star Wars gifts here.

Care packages to make their birthday last  

Hand putting birthday hat in birthday care package

Unwrapping a gift is usually over in a hurry. Instead, make the care package experience last a little longer.

  • Tuck smaller packages inside of medium packages inside of bigger packages—like nesting dolls.
  • Or if one day is just not enough to celebrate the special people in your life, celebrate their whole birth month with a card for every day or a calendar with a special message for each day.
  • And if you want to build anticipation leading up to their birthday, make it a countdown with something for them on a few days in a row, with the most special gift on their birthday.

 

16. Scent-sational Celebration
Capture the scents of their birthday season. If it’s fall, you could include a pumpkin-spice scented candle or apples and cinnamon. Or give them self-care products with their favorite aromatherapy scents or essential oils. Choose scents that promote calm and relaxation or mood-brightening and energy-boosting.

17. Number the Ways
Age is just a number, but you can use that number to come up with special ways to mark the milestone. A 33rd birthday can be celebrated with a list of “33 Things I Love About You,” 33 pieces of their favorite candy or 33 wishes for the year ahead.

18. Birthday Time Capsule
Fill a box with small gifts and slips of paper printed with fun facts about the year they were born. What was the hit song? How much was their favorite candy bar? Who was the president? Include nostalgic treats or vintage finds from that era.

19. Kids Birthday Package
Stick with the sweet birthday theme with Better Together milk and cookie plush, or focus on foods most kids love, like PB&J, mac and cheese or hot dogs and s’mores. Then add some fun and colorful candles, a little creativity with a sprinkle art shaker kit and make it extra festive with a party popper.

Fun ways to wrap birthday care packages  

Hands holding a blue birthday care package

A birthday care package should be fun inside and out. We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves for making that gift box shine.

20. Inside Out
Switch things up by keeping the outside of the package plain and simple and decorating the inside with wrapping paper or fabric. It’s a little touch that adds that something extra—and it’s perfect for sending a birthday care package through the mail.

21. Shellac Attack
Who doesn’t love a good collage? Use Mod Podge to cover the outside or inside of your package with pictures from magazines, photos and wrapping paper. Have a sticker stash you can raid? Turn the box into a junior-high-level sticker explosion.

22. Puzzle it Out
Use crosswords, word finds and sudoku puzzles to wrap the package. (You could even challenge them to solve the puzzles before they open the package.)

23. Festive Filler
Try these alternatives to bubble wrap or packing peanuts: tissue paper confetti, strips of paper with messages to the birthday person, little blown-up balloons, feathers (or a boa) or mini pom-poms.

24. Color-ific Care Package
Do they have a favorite color—maybe the colors of their school or favorite team? Fill a box with things of that color. You can start with one really special gift (like a scarf or beanie hat), a star item with supporting players (like a mug filled with candies and a candle) and a bunch of fun little things you know they’d love. Wrap each item in coordinating shades of tissue paper and tuck it all in a gift bag or wrapped box.

Ways to deliver birthday care packages  

Birthday care package in front of door with balloon and envelope

Not mailing the package? Make your care package a doorstop showstopper. You’ll have extra options to go a little over-the-top.

24. Party Over Here
Tie a helium balloon to the package so they can’t miss it when they open the door.

25. Iconic Assembly
Wrap and stack or arrange boxes to create fun icons like a birthday cake or a cute critter.

26. Decked-Out Door
Hang streamers or ribbons to create a curtain over their door. Or tape double-sided gift wrap to the door frame so they can burst out of it.

27. Birthday Blooms
Add a bouquet to the package and get creative: It could be flowers—or a bouquet of candy, craft supplies, gift cards, fruit or tiny liquor bottles. (You can hot-glue or tape things to kraft sticks or dowels to make them easy to arrange.) If they’re more of a plant person, get them something easy to care for.

A birthday care package for a coworker or friend that includes a Coffee and Donut Better Together magnetic plush set, a light blue coffee mug with rainbows on it, a rainbow cupcake vinyl decal, tall, skinny candles, a cupcake with white frosting and rainbow-colored sprinkles, a birthday card with the word

29. Bucket of Birthday Fun
Get a cute bucket or basket, line it with a fun printed tissue paper covered with stickers and fill it to the brim with birthday-specific goodies. Shopping list: Confetti-filled card, a bright rainbow mug, Better Together donut and coffee plush, festive candles, plates, and napkins to indulge in a treat, and stickers and decals to decorate their space or share with the next birthday bucket recipient! Leave it on a porch, in an office chair or anywhere else they can’t miss it.

Want more ideas for birthday fun? Check these out: