Card Ideas & Wording — gift ideas

Finding a birthday card for your best friend should be easy, but somehow you always end up standing in a shop aisle for 20 minutes, holding something beige that says "Wishing you a wonderful day." Your best friend deserves better.

Here's a guide to picking a card that actually lands, plus ideas for what to write inside.

Why funny cards work best for friends

A heartfelt card is lovely, but with your closest friends, humour is often the love language. A card that makes them snort-laugh will sit on their mantelpiece far longer than a generic "Happy Birthday" one. The trick is matching the joke to the person: their sense of humour, your shared history, and how long you've been friends. For the friend who can take it, a rude birthday card is usually the winner.

What to write in a funny birthday card for your friend

Stuck on the words? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• "Another year older, another year of me having to pretend I'm younger than you. Happy birthday."
• "I got you a card instead of a present. You're welcome."
• "Happy birthday! You don't look a day over [insert age they hate]."
• "Congratulations on surviving another year of my friendship."
• For a milestone birthday: "30 looks good on you. Mostly because it looks terrible on me."

Tips for choosing the right card

• Know your audience. Dry wit, slapstick, or self-deprecating? Pick a card that matches their humour, not just yours.
• Go specific over generic. A card that references something only the two of you would understand is always funnier than a mass-market joke.
• Don't overthink the message. Sometimes "I love you, you absolute nightmare" is the most heartfelt thing you can write.

Want something cheekier? Read our rude birthday card messages.

Browse our Birthday Cards, including our Rude Birthday Cards for friends who can take a joke.

Mother's Day is one of those occasions where the card often matters more than the gift. It's the thing she'll keep on the mantelpiece, re-read later, and maybe even hold onto for years. So it's worth getting right.

Here's a guide to choosing the best Mother's Day card, and what to write inside it.

What kind of Mother's Day card should you get?

The best card depends entirely on your relationship. Here are the main styles to consider:

• Heartfelt and sentimental: perfect if you want to tell her exactly how much she means to you. These work especially well if you don't say it out loud very often.
• Funny and affectionate: great for mums with a good sense of humour, or if your relationship is more banter than big declarations.
• Simple and elegant: sometimes less is more. A beautiful card with a short, sincere message can be just as powerful as a long one.

What to write in a Mother's Day card

Blank page panic is real. Here are some wording ideas to get you started:

Heartfelt messages

• "Thank you for everything you do, and everything you are. I love you more than I'll ever be able to say. Happy Mother's Day."
• "You've always been my safe place. I hope today reminds you how loved and appreciated you are."
• "I don't say it enough, but I'm so grateful for you. Happy Mother's Day, you deserve the world."

Funny messages

• "Happy Mother's Day! Sorry for everything I put you through. You handled it brilliantly."
• "Thanks for pretending not to have a favourite. We all know it's me."
• "You said you didn't want anything for Mother's Day. I got you a card. You're welcome."

From the grandchildren

• "Happy Mother's Day, Grandma! Thank you for all the biscuits, cuddles, and letting us stay up past bedtime."
• "We love you to the moon and back. Happy Mother's Day from your favourite grandchildren."

For a new mum

• "Happy first Mother's Day! You're doing an incredible job, even on the days it doesn't feel like it."
• "Welcome to the club. It's exhausting and wonderful and you're already brilliant at it."

Tips for making your card extra special

• Write something personal. Even one specific memory or detail ("I still think about that holiday in Cornwall") makes a card feel genuinely thoughtful.
• Let the kids draw it. Our draw your own Mother's Day card has a space on the front for little ones to add their own picture.
• Don't leave it blank. A card with just a signature can feel like an afterthought. Even two sentences is enough.
• Match the card to the person. If she'd laugh at a cheeky joke, go funny. If she'd cry at a heartfelt message, go heartfelt. You know her best.
• Order early. Mother's Day cards sell out fast, especially the good ones. Don't leave it to the last minute.

Browse our Mother's Day Cards →