More DT challenge news - May and June combined

Part of my May DT challenge pack from the Altered Element was a Twiddleybitz Bird Cage kit.

Initially I coloured the pieces using Moonshadow Mists which are walnut ink sprays with coloured mica. I'd intended the cage to look shimmery and brown to go with the other items in last month's pack but somehow despite spraying several colours the result had a distinctly pink tinge to it which led me off down another, brighter route.

I covered the roof with some of the metal sheet provided in the June stamping surfaces pack. I embossed the pattern of tiles into it with a paper stump before gluing it down and then added colour with Wild Plum alcohol ink and more Moonshadow Mist.

I used another bamboo skewer from the kitchen drawer to make a perch. I wiped this over with brown paint to darken it and fastened it with little twists of bright pink wire.

I coloured some German scrap border with Wild Plum alcohol ink and Moonshadow mist to decorate the edge of the roof. The bead on top is fastened with a head pin and some Diamond Glaze.

The base is decorated with coordinating flowers. I must have a thing for pink and purple because I happened to already have these but often I buy white and paint, ink or spritz to match a project.

All it needs now are five feet of some description.

My June upcycle challenge item was this bracelet......

...... which I have cleaned and dismantled and two pieces of it are now phone/bag charms. (Don't tell anybody but I had planned earrings until I found out how heavy I had made them. I've still got three links left though so perhaps with better planning at the start I might yet make a wearable pair.)

I risked fingers and eyes to remove the very dark plastic gems from the bracelet with a craft knife, a lot of patience and a little bad language. I'd love to know what adhesive they used, I could certainly do with some!

The empty holes are filled with beads and wire from last month's DT pack sealed in with Diamond Glaze.