Coming up with unique gift ideas can be a challenge, and unique wedding gifts can be particularly hard. Amid the storm of bouquets, cards, toasters and other appliances, selecting a gift that will stand out from the crowd can seem difficult. Instead of standard gifts of dinnerware or appliances, truly unique gift ideas might strive for something decorative and memorable for the new home. A custom engraved stone can be an interesting conversation piece as a new home, and makes for a touching gift, serving as a metaphor for the rock solid of foundation on which the new marriage is built.
Archaeologists call carvings or engravings in stone petroglyphs. One of earliest art forms of mankind, petroglyphs have been unearthed in Australia that are more than 27,000 years old. Unique gift ideas rarely enjoy this sort of pedigree. Modern engravings are typically made using a process known as sandblasting, also called abrasive blasting. This process propels a highly pressurized stream of sand or other abrasive material against the rock to smooth and shape it. Modern engraving techniques allow for a wild array of messages and shapes.