How to Make Things From Silverware

This wind chime is a great project to make from odd silverware you have accumulated from your own drawer, flea markets or auctions. Paired with beads and other odd bits, this silverware wind chime can add the finishing touch to your porch or patio. Silverware is an easy material to manipulate and can be bent and drilled to accommodate whatever shape you like. This silverware wind chime is very eclectic and there is really no wrong way to create it.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Craft wire
• 1-inch metal ring
• Assorted beads
• Small basket with no handles
• Needle-nose pliers with wire cutter
• Drill and small bit
• Assorted silverware
• Pencil
• Fishing line
• Tapestry needle
• Ruler
• Metal cookie cutter

Instructions

1. Cut a 16-inch piece of craft wire. Bend the wire in half. Thread the metal ring on one end of the wire and slide to the bent end. Turn the ring to twist the wire and hold the ring in place. With the wire ends together, thread beads and slide up to the ring. Fill all but the last 2 inches of wire with the beads. Separate the wire ends slightly and insert through the bottom of the basket to the inside. Twist the ends together. Use the needle-nose pliers to form a loop of the twisted ends. The ring is the silverware wind chime hanger and the basket will hang upside down to hold the chimes.

2. Drill a small hole in the handle on eight pieces of silverware. Drill the hole 1/2 inch from the end. Using the needle-nose pliers, bend and curl the spoons and forks to give them dimension. Note: Spoons and forks are recommended because the handles tend to be thinner and knife blades do not curl or bend.

3. Evenly space eight marks with a pencil on the inside of the basket rim. Cut a piece of fishing line 12 inches long and thread onto the tapestry needle. Insert the needle through the basket at one of the marks. Tie one end of the fishing line in a knot around the basket rim. Cut seven more pieces of fishing line and attach it to the other marks on the basket rim in the same way.

4. Rethread the needle to the free end of one of the other tied fishing lines. Thread beads on the line to within 3 inches of the end. Insert the needle in the hole of one of the drilled silverware forks or spoons. Tie the end and knot around the handle end. Repeat for the remaining seven tied fishing lines.

5. Cut an 18-inch piece of fishing line. Tie one end to the twisted loop on the inside bottom of the basket. Thread beads on the line to within 3 inches of the end. Tie the other end of the fishing line to the handle of the metal cookie cutter. Adjust and remove beads if necessary so the cookie cutter hangs between the silverware to provide a clanger.