Archives for January 2023

A birthday countdown is exciting. It creates anticipation and excitement. Take a look at these ideas for a birthday countdown that includes a buildup of excitement plus adorable birthday countdown gift tags. 

Do you know one thing we all have in common? Everyone has a birthday. Some are celebrated more than others (can I get an Amen mamas?) Others are celebrated with sweet touches and thoughtful gifts.

Countdown Ideas for a Birthday

Birthday countdowns are exciting because they are visual representations of the timeline to the big day. They are especially good for younger kids but they can be exciting for teenagers and even adults. Count down the days until the actual date of the birthday or countdown the number of gifts – perfect for a milestone b-day.

In anticipation of an upcoming birthday for an extra special birthday boy or girl, try these Birthday Countdown ideas.

Numbered Birthday Cards

Hit the Dollar store and grab a dozen or so birthday cards. Number them in order and write a special message on each card. The birthday girl or boy can open one birthday card each day until their birthday celebration. Instead of you writing all a dozen messages, have special family members, aquantiences, and friends write messages too. This can include coaches, teachers, friends, and family. Instead of receiving all their birthday cards in one day, they receive them slowly allowing the recipient to savor each message.

Gift Cards For Each Year

Grab gift cards as a build-up to the special occasion. This is especially fun for a milestone birthday. For example, for a ten-year-old birthday present idea, have ten gift cards. Ten days before your child’s birthday, give them a new gift card each day. These gift cards can be small and large all the way from $5 to $20. They don’t have to be the same amount. Or for younger kids, give them a gift card the value of their age. So for a sweet 16 birthday, gift sixteen $16 gift cards. You can have duplicates to places like Amazon or Starbucks if you want the values to add up.

Birthday Advent Calendar

Recycle your advent calendar from Christmas or make your own 12 days of birthday DIY Advent calendar. Turn this holiday-themed decor into a cute and creative birthday countdown calendar. Fill small boxes or bags with a little gift like sweet treats and surprises in anticipation of the arrival of your child’s birthday. You can use these free Advent countdown stickers and make your own DIY countdown calendar for a birthday.

Electronic Countdown Clock

Start a fun countdown clock. This can be done with a birthday countdown internet clock or you can get an interchangeable countdown clock timer that has a face you can change for all your important calendar dates including vacation, retirement, Christmas, and birthday! Your birthday kiddo will love watching the numbers change.

Birthday Countdown Chain

If you were a child of the 80s, you know paper chains. Grab construction paper and cut strips of paper to make your own DIY Countdown Paper Chain. This is a great visual for younger kids and they will love tearing apart the newest chain paper each morning when they wake up each day of their birthday week. On the slips of paper, you can even use markers to write sweet birthday wishes or birthday tokens/coupons for future activities. If making your own chain is not your thing, grab a low-cost birthday countdown chain on Amazon. Just add numbers to each ring so you can watch the days go by and the numbers get smaller.

Birthday Countdown Punch Out Calendar

This idea is super fun and is a play on a punchout advent calendar (as seen in our Christmas Care Packages.) These fun punchout calendars are sold during the Christmas season but you can easily make your own. Glue plastic SOLO cups to a board – anywhere from 10 to 20 cups is the perfect amount. Fill your plastic cups with small trinkets, candy, and/or toys. Cover the opening of your cups with tissue paper. Using rubber bands will easily cover your openings. Number your cups from 1 to whatever. In a gift punch, the person opening the gifts, “punches” the cup in to see what gift they are getting! This is a really fun option for someone who wants to make a birthday even more special.

Birthday Bucket List

Why have a birth day when you can have a birth month? Celebrate the entire week or the entire month of your child’s birthday with a birthday bucket list. Use the ideas we supply or fill in your own family bucket list ideas with activities that are fitting to your special birthday guest of honor.

Numbered Balloon Pop

Hang ten balloons on a string. This can look like balloon garland or you can fill the balloons with helium and have them reach the ceiling. Before you fill the balloons with air, roll a $1, $5, $10, or even $20 bill inside the balloons. You can even add confetti. Each day before the big day, pop a balloon and collected the money! It’s like an individual pinata filled with cash. Watch that wallet fill up with money!

Birthday Box

A birthday box is super fun. This can come in the form of a shipped birthday care package or you can grab the largest, most oversized box you can find – can you imagine a refrigerator box? WOAH! Fill the entire box with your son/daughter/spouse/significant other’s presents. Number these gifts and allow your special someone to open a new present each day.

Numerical Birthday Presents

Lastly, how about birthday countdown gifts? Similar to a DIY Birthday Countdown Box only using gift bags (or boxes.) Allow your child to open gifts with our cute Birthday Countdown Gift Tags.

Read below to see how you can make your very own birthday countdown gift with numerical gift tags!

Birthday Countdown Gift Ideas

We’ve figured out ways to create a birthday countdown, now what about the birthday countdown gifts? If you are looking for a gift idea or two, try some of these craftsy ways to make your friend’s birthday countdown extra special. Customize your numerical gift tags for your friends or family’s birthday celebrations.

• Add a photo or a small memento to each tag for an extra special touch.
• Make sure the tags reflect their hobbies, interests, and personality.
• Personalize the tag with a handwritten note of love, birthday wishes, and appreciation!
• Create custom labels for each day leading up to their birthday.
• Include creative prompts like “Back in [year], we did…” or “We had so much fun at [place] together!” to stir up sweet memories and conversations.
• Use different materials like wood, fabric, or paper for a unique look and feel.
• Fill each bag or gift with a birthday coupon with activity ideas including a movie night, baking cookies, a manicure, and more.
• Embellish each tag with glittery letters, rhinestones, or other crafts supplies or decorations!

The big question is HOW will you use them to make an upcoming birthday even more special?

Try some of these cute ideas with these cute printable birthday countdown gift tags.

Birthday Countdown Gift Tag Printables

Birthday countdown gift tags are a fun way to add excitement and anticipation to a friend or loved one’s birthday celebration. Gift tags are typically small cards or labels that are attached to each gift given during the days leading up to the recipient’s special day. The tags generally have the current day number printed on them, e.g “Day 3 of 10” with creative prompts and decorations you can add yourself!

How to Use Birthday Countdown Tags

Including the number of birthday countdown ideas we shared above, there are a few ways you can use these numbered birthday gift tags.

Gift Countdown

One of the most popular ways to use these birthday countdown gift tags is by using them on the actual gifts that lead up to the big day. You can tape them or glue them to the gifts as a countdown. Feel free to add ribbon or bows to the gift to make it look even more special! This is cute for a big and important number like a sweet 16 or 21st birthday! Wrap 21 gifts and give a gift each day from day 21 until the actual date.

Actual Day of Birthday Countdown

When the birthday you’re celebrating gets here, you can use the birthday countdown gift tags as a gift counter. With this route, you open one gift at a name in numeric order. This is fun for someone who likes to open a lot of gifts and have everything just a tad more extravagant. It’s super fun to add a little pizzazz to gifts and this is an extra way to do it!

Birthday Scavenger Hunt

Feel free to get even more creative and use these birthday countdown gift tags for a birthday treasure hunt. As your seeker goes on their birthday-themed scavenger hunt, you can have numbered presents along the way.

Birthday Countdown Wishes

Use the back of the birthday card tags and write sweet birthday countdown says for your son/daughter. These can be sweet birthday messages from mom or dad but they can also be sweet birthday sayings from siblings, friends, and extended family.

Creating new birthday traditions is fun and I hope these gift tags can help! These birthday countdown gift tags include numbers 1 all the way to 40. Laminate them and use them year after year as cute birthday gift tags for each family member.

However, you use them, With these tips using the birthday countdown gift tags will be easier than ever. I bet you can find a way for it to make your birthday person feel extra special for their day! Share with us your ideas in the comments.

Get the Numeric Birthday Countdown Gift Tags Set

Free Birthday Printables

Not ready to buy? That’s okay. Test out some of our freebies before you purchase including free birthday printables found in our Download the free printable library.  This includes our complimentary birthday party planner.

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How to Print at Staples

Don’t have a printer? You can print at your local print shop or your Staples Printing Center. Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

More Fun Birthday Ideas

Birthdays don’t have to be expensive. If you are looking for a few low-cost birthday ideas that make the recipient feel extra special, take a look at these fun birthday ideas.

We are family…. If celebrating with your family is a thing, look at these family birthday ideas and fun birthday traditions. You will not only need but want to make an annual tradition for each special person in your home! Pin to Pinterest.

Fun fact! Did you know that people who have more birthdays live longer? It’s a true story. Use that birthday quote next time you need an excuse for a half-party. Celebrate the half-birthday too with these half-birthday party ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

When you grab these fun birthday tags, incorporate this fun birthday printables bundle too. Printable birthday party games for kids, a birthday interview, and a family bucket list for your birthday!

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share how you used your printable birthday tags into fun countdown ideas.  Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!

Happy birthday!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Last Updated on January 10, 2023 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living