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    10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

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    Emma Davis

    Content Writer

    Mar 29, 20175669 views

    Mar 29, 20175669 views

    10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

      On April 1st of each year, pranksters get a chance to showcase their genius ideas. With April Fools' Day just around the corner, it's time to come up with hilarious pranks that you can play on your significant other, family, friends and co-workers. This time only comes around once a year, so tap into your inner child and get ready to have some fun with these April Fools card ideas! In light of the silliest day of the year, we wanted to put together a collection of humorous and clever April Fools' Day ideas for your inspiration. We don’t advocate evil antics, but everything else is fair game. Need some cool prank ideas? Get ready to LOL. (And be sure to add your own April Fools' Day jokes in the comments so we have even more ideas!)

      Fun and Harmless Pranks

      Some of the best pranks are the ones that you plan out and execute to perfection. Remember, the best jokes are the ones that don’t hurt your friends and make everyone laugh. Here are a few light-hearted pranks that embrace the spirit of fun and thoughtfulness, requiring minimal setup and providing maximum grins.

      One old favorite is to switch labels on common household products. For example, you might fill two shampoo bottles with each other’s bottles and then put them back on the shower shelf. This simple change can create a brief but entertaining interruption without doing any real harm. A classic prank is to swap your friend’s go-to toothpaste with an edible alternative such as frosting or cream cheese. This is done best if you’re able to use a pure, unused tube and ensure no one can tell that it’s been tampered with. The shock is in the unexpected deliciousness, but it’s totally safe and easy to clean up.

      For more advanced pranks, try messing around with your friends’ smartphones. Change a friend’s wallpaper to something hilarious, and enjoy their confusion! Or better yet, change their ringtone to something ridiculous for an even larger guffaw. Want to really step it up a level? Move their app icons around! They’ll enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out a new route and missing their usual shortcuts. Just be sure that all changes can be easily reversed to prevent user frustration.

      Food-related pranks are a surefire win. One easy prank is to replace a box of donuts with healthy foods such as baby carrots or broccoli. Make sure you seal the box so it looks like it hasn’t been opened, and see their shock when they open it up looking for a sugary snack! Or, empty out all their cereal, freeze it in milk overnight, then present it as if nothing has changed. The surprise reaction from the spoon creates a hilarious new element to their mornings.

      Office or cubicle pranks are some of the most classic, hysterical, and creative pranks you’ll find. Covering a coworker’s desk or chair with aluminum foil makes for an awesome visual gag that’s simple to execute. Or you can just wrap their entire workspace in sticky notes! This technique is most effective in tight quarters and will do no harm. Or put a piece of tape over the computer mouse sensor. This will make it inoperable for a time.

      When scheming out pranks, first rule of thumb is to know your audience. Select pranks that match your friend’s personality and sense of humor — steer clear of plans that might humiliate or upset your friend. Be explicit about what you’re doing, and most importantly, always consider their feelings to make sure the experience is enjoyable for all parties.

      Bringing Your Hillarious April Fools Card Ideas to Life

      #1 Fake Ultrasound Sonogram Get a hold of a fake ultrasound sonogram and customize a folded postcard from our catalog. Write a funny message on the inside of the folded postcard like: “my liver is in pretty good condition,” or “my baby has four legs and fur.” 

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends 

      #2 Funny Puppy If you have a puppy or your friend asks you to take care of his/her puppy, dress up the pet in a ridiculous way and take a picture of him. Customize postcards and send them out to your family and friends to wish them a happy April Fools’ Day. 

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends 

      #3 Doughnut Seeds This idea is great if your family members and friends are flower or garden enthusiasts. Customize 4OVER4.COM labels and carefully pack the bags with donut crunch cereal. 

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

      #4 Voice Activation Office pranks are just epic! There’s nothing like having a few laughs with your colleagues to get through a hectic day at work. This one’s a classic. See the image below and imagine how many people have yelled at the paper towel dispenser! LOL.

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

      Creative Office Prank Concepts

      Once you introduce pranking into the office, it can lead to even more fun and team bonding. So just be sure to keep it classy, and don’t get anyone fired in the process of having some fun! The best harmless office pranks are fun and silly, and they’re simple enough to clean up that the whole thing is a laugh and not a headache. Below, we’ll dive into some of the more clever concepts that walk the line of funny, yet uncomplicated punch-up.

      One of the best classic prank ideas on friends is to “upgrade” a coworker’s desk supplies. We’re talking about wrapping all of the things on their desk—pens, staplers, monitors, even their desk chair—in tinfoil or neon wrapping paper. The overall visual impact is pretty funny, but really innocuous. To up the ante even further, replace their normal belongings with tiny versions of them. For instance, swap out their normal stapler for a miniature keychain stapler or exchange their mouse for a toy version. These trades are low-key, but bound to elicit a laugh when they sit down to clock in.

      One other fun idea is the “balloon office” prank. This one takes some set up, but pays off big time. Fill an office or cubicle with balloons until you can barely fit through the door. To make it quick and a bit less strenuous, you can buy a small electric air pump to inflate in bulk. To make the prank more personal, you can write silly notes or draw goofy kid-like faces on the balloons. The end product is a beautiful, colorful, temporary, harmless surprise that instantly transforms any boring old Tuesday workday into a fantastical adventure. Just make sure to pick up so you don’t leave a disaster for your colleagues to deal with.

      One example would be to screenshot their desktop and put it as their background. Then for an added surprise, hide their icons in a folder! When they go to click, nothing will work, leaving them briefly perplexed before catching on to the prank. Another option is to plug a wireless mouse into your friend’s computer. This allows you to control it from across the room, oscillating the cursor or launching apps at random. These practical jokes are all easy to undo and don’t interrupt any real work.

      Finally, inject some levity into the breakroom by putting quirky labels on everyday items that give co-workers a chuckle. For instance, you can retag the decaf coffee pot to read “Decaf Only – Gotcha!” Or just label all the snacks in the refrigerator with the name of an imaginary division. These little details are just enough to get a good chuckle in without going over the line.

      #5 Customize a Not so Nice Mug So, your significant other or friend has been dying to get a personalized coffee mug. This is your chance to give them something they want with a mischievous twist. Go all out! Personalize a mug with an embarrassing picture from a recent party, unflattering pic, or silly message. 

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

      #6 You’re Going to Be a Grandma Prank your mom too! Moms are either excited or terrified of having grandsons. You’ll freak her out either way! Try to be with your mom when she gets the “you’re going to be a grandma” card, so you can tell her it’s actually a joke. Beware: she’ll seek revenge. 

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends 

      #7 I Cheated on You We didn’t forget couples! Among all April Fools card ideas, here’s one to try at your own risk: leave a postcard for your partner saying you cheated. Tell him you had an affair with the gardener! Warning: prank at your own risk! 10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends 

      #8 Customize a “Warning” Bumper Sticker Bumper stickers are such a cool prank, because everyone sees the sticker except the person you’re pranking. Get creative, but don’t be offensive. Here’s some messages for your inspiration: “honk if you have poop”, “I suck at parking”, or “I am on autopilot.” 10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

       #9 Give Presents It’s time to give presents! Give an empty box of what your friend likes the most, for example, donuts, hamburgers, or sweet peeps. Leave a note inside of the box wishing your friend a Happy April Fools’ Day 2017. 10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends 

      #10 You Won The Lottery Card Do your friends play the lottery? Great! Send them a postcard telling them they have won the grand prize. Make the prank look as real as possible, so they have an instant moment of happiness before they figure out it’s a joke. 

      Create Your Own Prank April Fools Cards

      Who wouldn’t like to play a hilarious prank on someone? Choose one of the funny April Fools’ Day pranks featured above and scream with laughter. Make your pranks unique by customizing your preferred message or image. We at 4OVER4 offer a wide variety of print materials including postcards, labels, bumper stickers, and mugs, which will help you create unforgettable memories. We’ve got all the things you need to stir up some real high jinks! If you’re on a tight budget, we can give you a helping hand. No joke here! Get a 30% OFF discount by signing up with 4OVER4.COM! Browse our full catalog and order a print product to help with your April Fools' Day plans.

      How to Prank Your Friends

      Scaring your friends isn’t just for Halloween, it can be a fun and harmless prank to enjoy a good laugh and create unforgettable memories. The best pranks are safe, funny, and specifically targeted to your friend’s personality so that the joke is on everyone’s sense of humor. Here are some clever ways to execute pranks on friends that are amusing without being mean.

      One of the best—though most simple—pranks out there are changing the items that your friend uses all the time. Or you can replace the sugar in their sugar bowl with salt. This gives them a rude awakening when they go to make their morning coffee! You can paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish. This renders it completely ineffective, regardless of how vigorously they attempt to suds it up. Both of these pranks are really easy to pull off, don’t take much time, and are low mess so you can clean up after quickly. They’re really effective, in part, because they cut through an expected habit in an entertaining manner. Only make sure that your friend really appreciates a good laugh when it comes to their morning routine!

      If you’re looking for a more visual gag, go with fake items that appear real. Our first choice is a spilled drink prop that looks super realistic, so you could set it on your friend’s laptop or over a carefully printed report. Our favorite is to use a balloon to launch some shaving cream! Next, wedge it firmly between the door and its frame so it snaps when someone opens the door. These pranks are the type that require the element of surprise to truly be effective. The audience generally laughs because they’re just relieved that no actual mess or damage occurred.

      If you are looking to get creative with technology, harmless phone pranks can be especially exciting. Change your friend’s phone language settings to something ridiculous, like Spanish or French. This will turn their device into a temporary obstacle course of confusion! Connect a small Bluetooth speaker to your phone and play random sound effects or music at the right moments. Place it somewhere and then enjoy as your friend searches for the source of the annoying sound! These pranks are great for the gamer or tech-savvy prankster who wants to give their friends a fresh, high-tech scare.

      Finally, keep food pranks in mind when you want to add some fun to mealtime. Instead of cream, try filling cream-filled cookies with toothpaste. Prank your friends by changing ketchup to syrup and other condiment labels. These pranks work especially well at parties, generating infectious laughter without risking injury or destruction. As a general rule, you don’t want an audience to be kept in the dark for too long or risk an unpleasant shock.

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

      Tips for Memorable Pranking

      A carefully conceived prank will ensure everyone gets a good laugh and an unforgettable moment, but the most important thing is to have fun while being mindful. The best pranks bring everyone a laugh, don’t leave victims traumatized, and are carefully executed to insure the prank is harmless. Here are our best suggestions to ensure you create pranks that are funny, creative and that make everyone laugh.

      So, where to begin, you may ask, well first, consider your friend’s personality and interests. Just because a prank makes you and your friends laugh doesn’t mean it won’t offend your target. If your friend can’t stand messes, don’t prank them with confetti or glitter bombs. Instead, go for a more benign switcheroo, such as swapping their phone background with an embarrassing photo. When you personalize the prank to their sense of humor, you’ll be sure that it comes off as playful and not as mean-spirited.

      Even better, props can take a prank to the next level, and simple household items usually provide the best ones. A frequent favorite is the “upside-down cup of water” prank. Pour a little bit of water into a plastic cup. Finally, seal the top with a piece of thick card and promptly turn the cup upside-down onto a table or desk. When they very gently pull the card out, the cup remains sealed until they try to move it. Or put a little piece of tape on the underside of their computer mouse sensor. This easy tutorial will permanently “destroy” it. These types of pranks are low-stakes, and most end in everyone laughing together.

      Timing and the right setting are hugely important to pulling off a successful prank. It’s useful to choose a time when your friend isn’t busy or preoccupied. For example, pulling a prank during a casual hangout at home is much better than trying something when they're running late for work. Take charge of the atmosphere to have the most fun. Particularly for pranks with less intense shock value, such as popping balloons or phony roaches, set out to elicit responses that are more entertained than terrified.

      Last but not least, try to stick to pranks that are easily reversible or cleanable. Filling a friend’s car with colorful balloons is a beautiful prank to pull off. The good news is that it’s very simple to remedy as they can easily burst or corral the balloons. Get crafty and foil in their desk supplies! Sure, it’ll take a while to reverse, but it’s 100% safe and 100% funny. Be sure to bring the prank to a fun resolution so everyone can enjoy the hilarity of the prank.

      Responsible Execution of Pranks

      Pulling a prank on friends can lead to some of the most entertaining and funny moments, but you have to be careful how you go about it. The best pranks are fun, playful, and no one gets hurt and everyone is smiling afterward. So plan accordingly and be respectful of your friends’ emotions and limits. That way, you’ll be able to pull off a prank that brings you closer together instead of driving a wedge. Here are a few important things to remember when responsibly planning and executing pranks.

      The foundation of any successful prank is an understanding of your audience. Always take into account your friend’s individual personality and how they might react to a joke. Consider what they will find humorous and what will be over the line. There are those among us who rejoice in silly pranks, such as replacing a tube of toothpaste with mayonnaise. Some friends may not appreciate food-related pranks, even the harmless ones. If your friend hates cleaning up messes, steer clear of anything that may stain or need elaborate cleanup. Whatever you do, make sure you do it in the name of fun! Customize the prank to your friend’s likes and dislikes so you know it’ll be the most effective prank.

      10 April Fools Card Ideas to Prank Your Friends

      As important as content is the timing and the setting. A prank is going to perform a lot better if you can do it when friends are hanging out, like a weekend hang. It won’t work when the pressure’s on or when you really need to impress someone. Putting a rubber spider in a friend’s shoe will lead to some priceless reactions, especially on an outdoor adventure. The same prank right before a big work presentation would be an epic fail. By picking the right scenario, it enables you to avoid having your prank go too far and ruining an important occasion.

      A commitment to safety goes a long way too. Even the most benign of gags can end up damaging if there’s no thought behind it. If you’re planning on pranking a friend and filling their car with balloons, make sure to consider their safety. Just be sure the balloons aren’t blocking their view or otherwise making it unsafe for them to drive. If you’re planning a friendly fright, like installing a motion-activated toy in the hallway, check that it won’t cause injury. You definitely don’t want anyone tripping or falling! Keep safety first to make sure the prank is fun for all.

      Finally, be willing to own the result of the prank. If your pranks require props or create a mess, such as wrapping your friend’s doorframe in plastic wrap, make sure you’re willing to clean up. Remember to offer to help clean up! Being thoughtful and showing a willingness to correct whatever surprises arise conveys a spirit of care and respect that helps retain a sense of fun.

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