Easter roundup.....and Simon Says Stamp and Show

Hi there friends.
Bit of an Easter Round up as well as my entry  for the Simon Says challenge, so if you are here for that, feel free to scroll on down till then!
I've been absent a while so thought I'd tune in again to say hi! Easter is always a special family time for us, and this year my Aunt and cousin came down; as a bonus, elder daughter tagged along too! So we've been out and about, on Good Friday we spent time at The Friars, a Carmalite Monastery which is a lovely and peaceful place.

 Then on Easter Sunday, after the Easter Bunny had paid a visit! We went over to Lullingstone for a walk and a spot of geocaching.....

Then, today, Easter Monday, we went off to Scotney Castle, again braving the cold!

And, in between that, my cousin tasked me with altering a photo frame for her....... So here it is. I forgot to take a photo in the beginning but it was plain black, not overly exciting. Now, it looks like this

It never ceases to excite me when, just by playing with gesso, paint and gilding pastes you can end up with something that has the look of old metal!

 I used a circle pattern in gesso for the writing and the frames are much more textured with a stipple. Layers of Tim Holtz Paint dabbers in Expresso, Bottle, Cranberry and more add the colour tones and everything has been aged with Bitumen.

Some Glassine flowers, metal key and butterfly embellishments and a word band finish everything of nicely!

So at least I've been able to create something; I've also had time to help Alyssa empty my studio of stash!!!!!!!! Actually more a case of making sure that things don't disappear unless I want them too LOL. I've also made her another four sketchbooks too, so all in all it's been busy but fun!

Simon Says Stamp and Show have an anything goes theme this week so I'm entering my frame into that! I was thrilled to receive the Top Three award last week for their water challenge so thank you so much for that!