Sound wave art gift ideas: personal gifts made from a sound

Gift ideas by person

• Partner: the song you first danced to, or a voice message they once sent you.
• Parents: a recording of their own voice telling a story, or the song from their wedding.
• Grandparents: a recorded greeting or a favourite saying, made while they are well.
• New parents: the baby's heartbeat from an ultrasound, or the first cry.
• Friends: an inside joke, or a clip of a shared favourite song.
• Teachers and coaches: a thank-you recorded by the whole class or team.
• Yourself: the song that got you through a hard year.

Gift ideas by occasion

Weddings and anniversaries suit songs and vows. Birthdays suit a recorded greeting from friends. Mother's Day and Father's Day suit a short message from each child. Christmas and Valentine's Day suit a song with a meaning. Sympathy and memorial gifts suit a loved one's voice, handled with care.

• Wedding: first dance or vows
• Anniversary: the song of that year
• Birthday: a group greeting
• Parent's day: a message from each child
• Valentine's: your song
• Memorial: a voice or a laugh

Picking the audio

Aim for a recording that is personal and clear. Voice notes work best when they are quiet, close to the microphone and about 10 to 30 seconds. Songs work best when you choose the recognisable 30 to 90 seconds. Make sure you have permission from anyone whose voice you use, especially for a surprise.

Making it look like a gift

• Add names, a date and a short line of lyrics or a quote beneath the wave.
• Choose colours from the recipient's room or favourite colour.
• Frame it in a matching frame with a mat; see the sound wave print guide for sizes.
• Write the story on the back: when, where, and why that sound.
• Wrap it flat, with a card that explains what the shape is.

Gift ideas for sets and series

A pair of prints, one from each person's favourite song, looks balanced on a wall. A trio can tell the story of a relationship: the first song, the wedding song and the lullaby. A family gallery wall can hold a voice from each generation, which becomes more precious as the years go by.

Budget and timing

You can design and preview for free, and a download costs from $3.99, so the main cost is printing and framing. Allow a few days for printing, longer around holidays. Plan the audio first, because getting a good recording from relatives takes the longest.

Last-minute and digital gifts

If you are short on time, send the PNG by message with a note and promise the framed print later. A digital gift can also be set as a phone wallpaper or used on a card. Open a template, swap in the audio and you can have a finished design in a few minutes.