Back in the 1970’s, spoon rings were all the rage. They were very popular at flea markets and craft sales, they seem to be making a comeback. If you follow my blog, you already know that I love to bend silver-plate flatware, and when my blogging buddy Pillows A-La-Mode asked if I knew how to make them, I decided to blog about them. I didn’t have any rings to take a picture of them, so I spent time in my workshop this evening making a few. I used a full sized spoon for one ring and a pickle fork for another.
You don’t have to have an appreciation of the 1970’s to enjoy the rings. Spoon ring patterns range from simple to ornate, from delicate to sturdy, depending on the type of spoon or fork used. Best of all, these rings are relatively simple and inexpensive to make.
Have you looked at the price of crackle finish lately? At your local craft store, the prices is about 8 dollars for 8 ounces, too expensive for me ! I use white glue, and it works as well as any crackle medium I have used.
Supplies needed:
Paint your item, I painted a wood plaque I bought at the dollar store. This is your base coat, which is also the color that you will see in the crackle.
When the paint is dried completely, apply a thick layer of glue. You will only get the crackle effect on surfaces that have glue on them. This is where you can be creative ! I painted mine in a straight pattern because I wanted the look of old wood, but you can swirl or ripple your glue pattern.
While the glue is still wet, apply your second coat. This step is very important, if the glue dries before applying the paint, it will not crackle. Use long steady strokes, do not go back and forth or paint over an area twice.
Now the fun begins, it is fun to watch paint dry !!
See how quickly you can see the results….. Let it dry overnight
I decided to make a candle holder out of a silver-plate ladle I had, but am not sure what candle I like best, tea light or votive? decisions…. decisions…..
I bought a new tool today, wire triple bail pliers, and I just couldn’t wait to try it out. I have been trying to master bending fork tines for over a year, and just can never get them to the way I want them. I never realized that these pliers existed until I read a fellow bloggers post this morning, so off to Michael’s I went. I was lucky to get a 50 % off coupon by text yesterday, thanks again Michael’s !!
A friend has asked for a fork bracelet, so I decided to try out the pliers on her bracelet. I found them very easy to use and am glad I made the purchase. While in my workshop, I decided to make a necklace from a spare fork top I had cut off for a key ring, and I tried my first attempt at a money clip. The money clip was made from a spoon handle, I don’t know how functional it is, but it was fun to make.
I also was looking forward to using my light box, and since I use 3 lamps, I thought I would adjust them to give a more dramatic look. Have I mentioned that I love my light box? lol
I have been making spoon handle key rings for quite a while, but I have been seeing key rings that are bent into a hook, so they hang on your purse. The reason for this is you will no longer have to dig around your purse, looking for your keys. Sounded like a great idea to me, so I had to play at my workbench tonight.
I had to make a few regular key rings while I was at it, and play with my light box, this time adding a black background 🙂 I have to say that I am loving the light box 🙂
Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who is the Fairest one of all?
I have always loved mercury glass, it is hard to find and it is very expensive. I have always wanted to make my own, I bought the paint a long time ago, just never got to it.
A blogger friend of mine, bliss at home, messaged me this morning that she had a tutorial on her blog, so today was the day. If you get a chance, check out her blog, it is amazing ! For this project, all you need is Krylon Looking Glass Spray from the craft store, water, vinegar and glass.
Here is what I decided to paint:
I followed her directions, which are well written, and I was very happy with the results. I can ignore the few extra drips, and taking pictures of mercury glass is a difficult task, it definitely looks better in person ! If you are a fan of mercury glass, this project is for you. These pieces will look amazing for the holidays, especially with flameless candles in them. What do you think? 
My good friend Val showed me her spoon keychain last year, and I instantly fell in love with them. Val is also one of my “auction” buddies, so she is well aware of my silver-plate addiction. I couldn’t wait to go on my workbench and figure out how they were made. I had to make a few today, since I can never keep one in the house, everyone wants one.
As these are vintage pieces, some may have very minor signs of “character” adding to their charm.
Imagine what these spoons have “seen”, some were around before cars, electricity and indoor plumbing! It makes you wonder who may have held these spoons, could it have been someone that played an important part of our history? All the family and Holiday dinners these pieces attended, during a time when there were no electronic items ringing, buzzing and beeping during mealtime. They carry within them part of the past, a quieter and more restful period and perhaps by having one, it will remind you to take a breath and slow down– if even for only a moment.
I found a set of 12 pickle/olive forks at an auction last year and instantly fell in love with them. I knew I couldn’t make a bracelet out of them, they were too small, so I was thinking I could make fork rings. I put them with the rest of my silverplate collections and decided to wait on a project. A few weeks later I found a set of ten small spoons at a cute antique store in Gloversville. I knew instantly what I wanted to do with them, napkin rings !!
We always have holiday dinners at our house, and I spend weeks planning how I am going to set the table, this was going to make it perfect !
I like making bell pendants ♥ I start with a sawing off a hollow knife, then I grind, file, and buff all the sharp edges away. I then drill a hole in a fork tine and at the tip of the knife and wire together. On this particular pendant, I curled the tine for fun. The bells actually work, which is a great conversation starter when you wear it. I haven’t made earrings yet, maybe for the holidays? lol
I love breathing new life into salvaged items. I saw a fork easel on sale last year on Etsy and went crazy last Christmas making them, I think everyone got an easel with a diy chalkboard tray. All you need is an old silver or silver-plate fork, some needle-nose pliers and patience, a vice also helps! Did I mention I love to bend silver-plate flatware, lol. I have an entire bin of broken pieces, and I will post in the future with projects I have completed with them.
Here is the finished project, I think they are so cute !!
Sincerely Liz 