Romantic Birthday Ideas Part 3

Starry-Eyed Wishes

How would you like to have a star named after you? Naming a star after your partner is a wonderful way of surprising him or her, and showing just how much you care. You can easily register a star in your lover's name through the International Star Registry. The presentation of this gift can be intimate and definitely romantic.

On a clear night, suggest a romantic walk in the moonlight. Point out some of the constellations, then casually point to the one that includes your partner's star. When your lover looks at you in confusion, hand over the registration papers, and ex plain that no star could shine as brightly as your love for him or her, but this was the closest you could come.

This is an original and thoughtful gift that shows how much your lover means to you. (For further information, contact the International Star Registry at 1-800-282-3333.)

Personalize Your Gift

You can readily buy gift items such as coffee mugs and T-shirts that have captions and/or designs already printed on them. But why not buy your own item and decorate it yourself? Some items that are easy to decorate include solid- colored rubber rain boots, neckties, scarves, canvas shoes, T shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, belts, and even umbrellas!

Most arts and crafts stores sell paints and markers specifically for use on different surfaces. Draw or paint a meaningful picture or design on the item and, if you like, add an "inside joke" (something personal between the two of you). And re member, you don't have to be an artist to do this; even if your gift has minor imperfections, the fact that you created the present yourself makes any little flaws or mistakes that much more special.

Distinctive Touches

A drab-looking, poorly wrapped gift box can actually affect the impact of the gift it carries, regardless of how wonderful that gift is. Don't shortchange your gift by wrap ping it carelessly.

After wrapping the gift neatly (in your own hand-designed paper, if you choose), you might want to add some finishing touches. For instance, you can further decorate the gift box with pictures, poems, or song lyrics. You can also use ribbon or lace to attach flowers, wrapped candy, or balloons to the box. To carry this gift-wrap idea a step further, use fresh flower petals or candy (preferably wrapped, and not made of chocolate) as filler for your gift box instead of tissue paper. See Wrapping It All Up for more gift-wrap ideas.

A Keepsake Gift Box

Instead of the usual (or unusual) gift wrap for your pre sent, why not make a gift out of the box itself? The simple method of decoupage is perfect for creating such a keepsake.

First, find a suitable box to house your gift. As your partner will be using the box long after he or she has removed the present, be sure to choose a box that is an adequate size and shape. Next, compile a collection of memorabilia, keeping in mind that it is best to use flat objects. Include such things as pictures (these can be photos as well as pictures cut from magazines), ticket stubs, playbils, postcards, greeting cards, and any other thing that holds special meaning for your lover. Arrange these articles on the outside of the box and glue them down. Once the glue has dried, cover the box with a coat of clear shellac. This will preserve the articles you have glued onto the box. When the shellac has dried thoroughly, it is a good idea to give the box another coat (and even a third coat if you like).

Now your gift can be presented to your lover in a very special gift box; one that will serve as a constant reminder of your love and caring.

Hide and Seek

For fun, make your partner's gift-opening ritual memora ble and exciting. Make it a little tricky and have your mate "work" a little for those presents. Here are a few ideas:

• If you're giving your partner a number of gifts for his or her birthday, create a treasure hunt. Hide the presents in different locations around the house. To start this game, provide your partner with a clue that leads to the location of one of the gifts. Along with this gift, leave another clue to the whereabouts of the next gift, and so on. At the last clue location, reward your partner with an extra-special gift (accompanied by a romantic kiss).
• Hide your partner's birthday present (or presents) in a spot inside or outside the house. To start this gift-finding adventure, tell your partner that you have hidden his or her present some where inside (or outside) the house. To help your lover, give clues as to whether he or she is on a "hot" or "cold" trail.
• Celebrate your partner's birthday with a Mexican theme, and hide his or her presents in a piñata. Using the traditional Mexican method, blindfold your partner and have him or her hit the piñata with a stick until it breaks. Of course, don't put any gifts inside the piñata that can be easily damaged.

Puzzle Clues

When giving your partner a gift that can't be wrapped-a vacation, a club membership, tickets to an event-you can still be creative when presenting it:

• Buy a puzzle that doesn't have many pieces and assemble it. On the back of the puzzle, write the identity of your part ner's gift. On the front of the puzzle, glue down a picture or an enlarged photo of something or someone meaningful to your loved one. When the glue has dried, follow the lines of the puzzle pieces to cut the picture into the proper shapes. Break the puzzle apart and put it back in the box. Your partner will have to put the puzzle together to discover the identity of the gift.
• In your partner's birthday card, write a short poem or note describing why you love him or her. Have the first letter of each line spell out the identity of your partner's gift. To help these initial letters stand out, you can either capitalize them, or write them in a color that is different from the color used in the rest of the poem. When you hand your partner the card, tell him or her that the identity of the present is somewhere in the card. Now you can sit back and enjoy watching your mate as he or she tries to figure out the hidden message.
• Write the identity of your partner's birthday present on a small strip of paper, and insert the paper into a fortune cookie. At the end of a special birthday dinner (of Chinese food, of course) watch the surprise on your loved one's face when he or she breaks open the fortune cookie and discovers a very special fortune. If you are in a restaurant, you can arrange to have the waiter bring the special fortune cookie to your table.
• Star in a special videotaped birthday message for your partner. You can make your message as humorous or serious or sensuous as you want. Somewhere within your performance, be sure to tell your mate the identity of your present. On your partner's birthday, pretend you have rented a movie. As you prepare to snuggle together in front of the TV to watch the movie, your mate will be shocked and heartwarmed when your "special" movie begins to play.

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