How to Make Things From Old Silverware

Old silverware may seem useless. It can, however, have a purpose. You can create a number of projects to decorate your home or even yourself. Silverware wind chimes are a great option that will provide a natural tinkle and will sound great in the breeze. You can also transform old silverware into various pieces of jewelry that will showcase your creativity while jazzing up just about any outfit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fork with metal handle
• Four additional pieces of silverware with metal handles
• Spoon or knife with metal handle
• Two spoons with decorative handles
• Metal file
• Anvil or solid piece of steel
• Body shop hammer
• Pliers
• Thread
• Decorative beads
• Wire
• Drill
• Small metal drill bit
• Jewelry glue or heavy duty craft glue
• Dangling earring lobe pieces

Wind Chimes

1. Pick your pieces. Use one fork for the base and choose four other silverware pieces for the chime ends. The other four can be any combination of forks, spoons or knives. Flatten each piece by placing the piece on an anvil or solid piece of steel, and rap repeatedly with a body shop hammer on both sides of the piece until it is flat. Use pliers to bend the fork tines in four different directions, all at a 90-degree angle from the fork handle.

2. Prepare the base and chime ends. Use a small metal drill bit to drill a hole near the top of each piece of silverware.

3. Thread your beads. Cut four pieces of thread, each about 6 inches long. Tie a knot on one end of each piece of thread, attaching it to one of the chime holes. String your beads along the length of each piece of thread, leaving enough room at the end to knot and tie to one of the fork tines.

4. Attach everything together. Tie the four loose ends of thread around each bent tine of the fork. If it is slipping off, bend the tine upward so the dangling pieces stay in place. You can also bend the tines into a loop or backward to better secure the chimes.

5. Hang it. Add a small piece of wire through the base fork's top hole. Twist into a loop or secure directly on a nail or other protruding item to hang your wind chimes.

Jewelry

6. Make a cuff bracelet. Choose a knife or spoon and bang it flat on your anvil or steel. File down any serrations on the knife. Continue to hit the silverware piece on the anvil or steel as you slowly bend it upward into a cuff shape. Leave an opening large enough to fit over the smallest part of your wrist but not large enough to fall off.

7. Hook up some earrings. Choose two spoons and bang them flat. Use snips to nip them at the thinnest part of the stem directly above the spoon end. File any rough edges on the cut. Drill one small hole at the top of each spoon end. Attach dangling earring lobe pieces, which are available at jewelry supply or craft stores.

8. Create lapel pins. Take the handles from the spoons you used as earrings and file down the cut edge. Use jewelry glue or a heavy duty craft glue to glue a pin back to the back of the stem. You can find an array of different pin backs also at jewelry supply or craft stores.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to use thread that's durable enough to stand up to being blown around with a piece of silverware attached to it. Get your decorative beads and other necessary supplies at hardware, home stores or arts and craft shops. Instead of earrings or lapel pins, you can turn the cut pieces of your spoon or other silverware piece into a pendant. Simply file any rough edges and drill a small hole in the top of the piece. Attach a wire loop and wear on a chain.
• Don't pick your mom's fine silver silverware to make a wind chime, or you'll never get to listen to it tinkle. You'll be too busy being grounded inside your room.