DIY Music Gifts That Don't Look Homemade (In a Bad Way)
Let's be real - some DIY gifts look like craft projects gone wrong. But when you make something music-related? That's different. Music is already personal, so a handmade music gift actually makes sense.
Here are some ideas that look good and don't require you to be artistic.
The Lyrics Poster (The Obvious One, But Hear Me Out)
Yeah, everyone's doing this now. But that's because it works.
The trick is picking the right song. Don't just pick "their favorite song" - pick the song that reminds them of something specific.
My sister made one for her husband with the song playing when they got engaged. Put it in a nice frame, added the date below the lyrics. He cried. (Don't tell him I told you.)
You can make a custom lyrics poster in like 10 minutes. Pick a nice template, add the song, done. The "DIY" part is choosing the right song and framing it nicely.
Who it works for: Literally anyone. Parents, partners, friends, yourself.
The "Our Year in Songs" Playlist Gift
This one's free and takes about 20 minutes.
Make a playlist of 12 songs - one for each month of the year. Pick songs that remind you of things you did together that month. Write down why you picked each song on a card or printed sheet.
Then take it one step further: make a printable music poster of the cover song or the most meaningful one from the list.
Example:
- January: Song from the road trip you took
- February: Song you both kept playing on repeat
- March: Song from their birthday party
- (You get the idea)
Who it works for: Best friends, partners, family members you actually spend time with.
The Vinyl Record Clock (If You're Handy)
Got an old record you'll never play? Turn it into a clock.
You can buy clock mechanisms online for like $8. Drill a hole in the center of the record, insert the mechanism, add numbers or not (looks cooler without them honestly), hang it up.
Bonus points if it's a record of a band they love. Even if the record is scratched or unplayable, it still looks cool on the wall.
Who it works for: Music nerds, people with vintage vibes, anyone who needs a clock.
Song Lyric Coasters
This sounds complicated but it's not.
Buy blank tiles from a craft store (like 50 cents each). Print lyrics on paper. Mod Podge the paper onto the tiles. Add felt pads to the bottom. Boom - coasters.
You can do a set with different lines from the same song, or different songs that all mean something.
Way more interesting than regular coasters, and people actually use them.
Who it works for: Housewarming gifts, parents, anyone who drinks coffee.
The Concert Ticket Memory Box
If you've been to concerts together, this hits different.
Get a shadow box frame (has depth, like a few inches). Put your concert tickets in it, maybe add a setlist if you grabbed one, print a small lyrics poster of the best song from that show.
Arrange it all in the box, close it up. Now it's a permanent memory instead of tickets in a drawer somewhere.
Who it works for: Concert buddies, partners you've seen shows with, yourself honestly.
Custom Phone Wallpaper with Song Lyrics
Super easy. Pick a photo they love. Add a line of lyrics on top using any photo editing app (even the free ones work).
Then go the extra mile - also create a matching poster version they can put on their wall. Digital + physical = better gift.
Who it works for: Anyone with a phone. So, everyone.
The "Songs About You" Journal
Buy a nice blank journal. On the first page, write: "Songs that remind me of you."
Then fill out the first few pages with actual songs and why. Leave the rest blank so they can add their own later.
Alternatively, create a custom song quote poster with the most meaningful line and give them together.
Who it works for: Sentimental people, long-distance friends, family members moving away.
Baby's First Year Soundtrack
If someone just had a baby, make them a playlist of 12 songs (one per month again, this theme works).
Pick soft songs, lullabies they actually like, songs that mention the baby's name if you can find them. Print the playlist as a baby birth song lyrics poster with the baby's birth info.
They'll play these songs for years and think of you.
Who it works for: New parents, yourself if you just had a baby.
The Spotify Code Poster (Modern & Easy)
Every song on Spotify has a scannable code. You can download it and turn it into art.
Make a poster with the Spotify code for "their song" plus the lyrics and album art. Anyone can scan it with their phone and listen right away.
It's like a QR code but way cooler looking. You can create something custom or use a template from a vinyl style poster maker that includes the code.
Who it works for: Tech people, Spotify users, anyone under 40 honestly.
What Makes a Music Gift Actually Good
Here's the secret to all of these: specificity.
Don't just make a poster of a song they like. Make a poster of:
- The song from their wedding
- The song playing when they got the job
- The song you sang badly together on a road trip
- The song their grandma used to play
The more specific the memory, the better the gift.
Generic = "Here's a poster of your favorite song" Good = "Here's a poster of the song we listened to on repeat the summer we worked at that terrible camp"
See the difference?
Combine Ideas for Bigger Gifts
You can also mix these together:
- Lyrics poster + journal + playlist
- Spotify code poster + concert tickets in a frame
- Anniversary song poster + playlist + handwritten card
More stuff = bigger gift, but only if it all connects to the same memory or theme.
The Easiest One: Just Make the Poster
If you're reading this thinking "I don't have time for all that" - just make a lyrics poster. Seriously.
Pick the right song, choose a nice design, print it, frame it nicely. That's enough. The thought is what matters, not how many hours you spent crafting.
A well-chosen song in a nice frame beats a complicated craft project that doesn't mean anything.
Ready to make something? Check out our custom song lyric maker or browse printable templates to get started.