Who could resist a slice of Bundt cake or torte that’s presented so prettily? A hand-stamped server is sure to be a hit at a baby or wedding shower, or a semi-formal brunch with friends or family.
It would also make a lovely last-minute Mother’s Day gift topper for a homemade pie (or store-bought favourite).
Simply secure it to the box with a piece of ribbon and voila! Mom will be suitably impressed.
YOU’LL NEED
Silver pie server
Medium-size bowl
Aluminum foil
Powdered laundry detergent
Soft cleaning cloth
Ruler
Pencil
Alphabet stamping set
Scrap block of wood
Craft hammer
Step 1. Whether you’re using a server from a mismatched set of silver that you’ve inherited, or a piece found at a junk shop or antique store, it’ll need to be cleaned before you begin. Try this strangely effective trick for removing tarnish: Line a medium-size bowl with aluminum foil and fill it with hot water. Stir in one tablespoon of powdered laundry detergent until dissolved, then submerge your silver and soak it for about one minute. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Step 2. Use a ruler to measure the width of the server at the base, near the handle. Find the middle and use a pencil to draw a straight line from this point to the tip. Then measure the length of the line and mark the midpoint. Next, count the total number of characters in the phrase you’re stamping, including spaces. (To do “life is sweet” you’ll have a total of 13; “s” in “is” will be the middle character).
Step 3. Put the pie server on the block of wood, to protect your work surface. Place the “s” stamp on the marked midpoint, so that the line runs through the middle of the letter. Hold it steady as you strike it firmly and evenly with the hammer. (This requires a lot of force – don’t be afraid to really whack it!)
If you lift the stamp up and there’s only a faint or partial impression you may need to do it again; be careful to line the letter up in exactly the same spot, to get a clean marking. Repeat with the remaining letters, working outwards and lining up the stamps with the edge of the previous letter for even spacing.
Step 4. Once you’re finished with the letters, use the pencil to draw a few embellishments to fill in the empty space around the phrase.
Simple filigrees are easy to freehand and can be as plain or fancy as you like. Use the period stamp to fill them in as dotted lines.
Step 5. When you’re finished, a quick rubdown with the cleaning cloth will buff away fingerprints and any remaining traces of pencil.
Now all you need is an opportunity to use your lifter. I can think of worse excuses for baking or buying a blueberry pie, a personal fave.