DIY craft ideas: Gifts to make for musicians

by Mel the Gift Girl

If you know someone in a band, use that band practice time to use your arts and crafts skills and make something that shows your appreciation...

If you find yourself sitting around with musician friends as they endlessly practice the same rift or beat over and over and... well, if this is the case, you might have the time on your hands to make some cool gifts to show your great appreciation for their talent and persistence. Then again, you may want to work on these projects in the (relative) peace and quiet of your own space so as to save brain cells and give your own creativity a little more room to breathe.

Craft idea: Guitar Pick Necklace

Carefully drill a hole in a guitar pick and use it as a pendant on a string made from hemp, black leather lacing or any necklace cord. You can also take a number of picks and drill holes in the two top corners and then thread your necklace material through each hole and space the picks evenly all the way around the necklace.

Craft idea: Song Journal

The musicians I know often have all these little scraps laying around with half written songs or song ideas. Buy or make an unlined journal that lays flat when open to keep all these treasures organized. If you are making the journal yourself, you may want to alternate the blank pages with standard notation pages for writing out compositions. Decorate the outside of the notebook with band stickers, sheet music scraps or your own art to match the style of music your friend writes.

Craft idea: Custom Instrument Strap

Make a custom strap or decorate one to personalize it. You can knit or crochet straps or make them from leather, sturdy cloth, bead work, scarves, ties, etc. If you are going to decorate a pre-made strap, consider stenciling with fabric paint, intricate designs using permanent markers, or stitching/gluing on beads.

Craft idea: Posters or Magnets

There is nothing quite like seeing yourself through someone else's eyes. Bring your camera out and take shots of your friend(s) playing instruments, but think like a photographer and use interesting angles, weird lighting and close ups of fingers, feet, etc. Then have the best pictures blown up as promo posters OR cut out magnetic backing and glue it on the photos to make custom magnets.

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