• Homemade quilts make interesting birthday gifts.quilts image by Christopher Martin from Fotolia.com
  
  Most people wouldn't be too upset if greeted by a big stack of gilt-wrapped birthday gifts on their special day. But the birthday grin begins to fade upon realizing that once again, they've scored a bunch of bland ties, boring cookbooks, cheesy gag gifts and gift certificates to stores they never frequent. Avoid being the unwitting bearer of unwanted gifts on birthdays by going for something more interesting. Planning to choose from interesting gift ideas helps make sure the birthday boy or girl stays happy all day.
  
  

Homemade

• Some people get immense satisfaction in receiving a homemade gift. Homemade doesn't have to mean "from scratch," you can create homemade-themed gift baskets by tucking well-chosen, store-bought gifts into baskets and then adding your personal touch with decorations. Crafty individuals might sew a simple quilt, build a birdhouse, or brew a batch of micro-beer. Collect photos of the birthday celebrant enjoying life and arrange these on an elegant bulletin board. Purchase craft paint and decorate the outside of a quartet of wine glasses with looping swirls and polka dots.
  
  

Travel

• Another interesting birthday gift idea is the gift of travel. Of course, you'd love to fly off to Paris with the birthday girl, sipping Bellinis before the Eiffel Tower. But if that's not in your budget, treat the birthday girl to wine tasting at a nearby vineyard, glam it up at a nearby casino or take a train ride out for dinner in a distant town. You don't have to have a particular destination in mind; rent a zippy sportscar and cruise up the coast or area countryside, blasting the birthday girl's favorite tunes. If you're planning travel as a surprise, be sure to have a good idea of the celebrant's calendar to avoid schedule snarls.
  
  

Classes

• Many people have dreams of one day "finding the time" to enroll in a ballet class, poetry workshop, Spanish lessons or diving instruction. For an interesting birthday class, pay for the birthday girl to take recreational classes. Most cities offer inexpensive courses through their Parks and Recreation Department. For example, Las Vegas offers pottery, weaving, digital photography and Tai Chi classes. Aim for something he or she will truly enjoy; this isn't the time to pick weight loss or debt management classes that will be "good" for your buddy.
  
  

Personalized

• These days, you can personalize almost any gift to make it more interesting for recipients. It doesn't have to be a pointless knickknack, either. Fine watches, iPods, necklaces and clocks can be inscribed with heartfelt messages, meaningful initials or powerful quotes for a memorable birthday gift.