Silver Spoons and Tins Chimes

I've had some tart and jello antique tins floating around my craft cabinet(s) for a while now and I only just decided what to do with them. My antique silver plated utensils are wearing away and I wanted to do something special with them as well. So, I envisioned these chimes!!

 Even Buddy and Chloe are a fan. 

It wasn't too much work. 

With the smallest drill bit I had, I made holes in each of the spoons handles (close to the ends) and around the bigger tin that they would go on. I also put two holes in the middle of the big tin. 

 I used earring hooks through each of the holes (around the edges and in the middle, then twisted the extra metal around itself to secure it.

 To attach the spoons to the secured earring hooks, I used o-rings like this:

Then I put a hole in the vintage jello tin, put the top of the earring hook through the hole and twisted the base so that I could attach a vintage fake pearl necklace from the jello tin to the tart tin (attaching it with the o-rings). 

At the top of the jello tin, I just took a bit of wire, went through the earring hole, and twisted it into a loop so that I could place the chimes anywhere I would like!!!

As an afterthought, I found a bit of curliqued metal from an old pair of earrings and added that to the middle of the tart tin, to give it a little extra va-voom. 

I shared this post at the following funky linky parties:

A Marvelous Mess Link Party!!!!!

Hey, thanks for joining up to the Paaaaar-tay this weekend!!!

Don't forget, as I mentioned last week.....
Missing People's International Missing Children's Day is May 25th and they really need us all to participate in their BIG TWEET. Let's use social media and help them out!!!!


Here is my fave from last week:


The Strawberry Cheesecake Streusel Muffins from Turtles and Tails.
Those look so delicious. And, what a great photo!!!

Now, on the party!!!!

Metal Stamping Spoons

Don't forget to link up to my current party and also see if you can help FIND MADELEINE!!!!!!

I've finally gotten a chance to try some metal stamping and I can tell you.... I love it. I totally chose the wrong size on the stamp set: 1/16" (1.5mm) is a little small to make much of a show on silverware. So, I've got to step it up next time. I guess that means I have to do some shopping.........aw, too bad. ;-) 

Here's how I did it:

My set of silver plated utensils have reached the end of their use. 

At the table, that is. 

They've got plenty of *other* uses I can put them to!!!!!
These are the tools you'll need:
Stamp Set
Pliers
Steel Wool (or Sandpaper)
Hammer
Permanent Marker
Silverware
Rag

You should probably have an awl, some heavy and iron to pound your utensils flat on.....I didn't have that. I used a junky, heavy duty, all-purpose table. 

Wrap your utensil in the rag and start flattening it out:

Then, get a general idea of where you want your letters to go (I just free-handed it), hold the stamp tightly to the spot, and pound it (I found about 5 good, strong taps did the trick). 

Then, cover the stamped area with black permanent marker:

And, scratch away the marker with the steel wool, leaving some within the stamped letters, giving it some nice depth. 

If you want to make your fork curly, you can use the pliers to slowly curl the fork (once it has been flattened)  tines into shape. Your gonna need some muscles for this part. :-) 

I think it turns out pretty cool. 

You can see how teeny those letters are, though, can't you? I totally need to buy a new set. 

I shared this post at the following fun linky parties:

Petals to Picots

Funky Junk Interiors