Rain, Rain -- Please go Away....!!

   Yuk!!  I've never been a fan of rain or windy nights, but after seeing our bedroom walls this morning, I really like it even less.   And, it's not bad enough that we have some type of roof leak, but it's also not going to clear up for most of the week, if at all!!  
 
    Just when things seem to be going well, and we are starting to get our house all re-organized and such...we now have a water damage issue that needs fast attention, and of all places it's leaking in our master bedroom, which is actually in the newest (addition) part of our home.  Granted, we had the addition built just about 15 years ago, but we still never expected our roof to give us any issue at this point.  We do think and hope that maybe the wind forced the rain up under the shingles and that's what cuased this nice mess on our bedroom wall.

   The water actually leaked in in two separate areas, one right behind my dresser and the other behind hubby's which is where I first noticed it this morning.   Then after checking further we noticed the same thing was behind my dresser, but somewhat hidden by my mirror.   We will be calling our insurance company first thing tomorrow and will go from there to see what may be covered and what we can expect from them.

     The only good thing, if there is one, is that I wanted to repaint this room in the Fall, and we've been wanting to remove the awful popcorn ceiling, pretty much since the day it was done.  We have already removed it in the family room downstairs, but our room has tall cathedral ceilings, and it is a messy job, but I guess it will have to be done now, as I do NOT want more popcorn....ever again!  It's the most awful stuff they ever came up with and so hard to try and keep clean!

  Once we found this, we put on a fan and DH removed a big bubble of water that was sitting behind the paint.  I'm sure we'll also have to replace at least part of the wall and hope it did not damage the insulation or even more that we can't see yet.  I'll also need to start calling some contractors to see who can come quickly and do a good job.  The contractor that built our addition, was awful and I would NEVER hire him again.  He went way over the time line and at the end, he rushed and only showed up, about once a week.  I know had we not held the final payment, he probably never would have finished...!   

   Once hubby had that somewhat under control, I headed to my craft room to work on a project I started yesterday.  It's for my friend Jini's daughter and it's going to be a 12X12 Collage type layout of her favorite band "One Direction", which until Friday night I had never even hear of.   LOL!!   A few years back, I had made Jini a collage of the Twilight Series, for her Birthday and she just loved it.  

   Demi, her daughter, had asked her if she would ask me to make her something like it, but using the band photos and her colors, which are red and white.   This is a sneak peak of what I have done so far, and I hope to have it finished some time tomorrow!!  I sure hope she likes it!   When I make Jini's it was pretty much a surprise, and I made it all up as I went along.  Demi, was kind enough to email the photos she wanted to include and also told me she wanted a red background with white lettering.  The design is a basic collage and it was fun making a second one.  I'll frame it in a frame, just like Jini's and send it off in a couple of days!

   After I pute that aside to dry for a while, I started on some new cards for challenges and the first is this week's CAS Challenge at The Outlawz, which is all about things that make me happy.  I was a bit stumped at first, and was browsing for some inspiraition and that's when I found a wonderful card over at the Hero Arts group, that I decide to pretty much CASE for my card.   The card I love was created by TRace44, and was her take on the newest HeroArts Sketch, which you can find HERE on the HeroArts Blog and also below.

  And this is the fabulous card by TRace44 --  that inspired me  --  Isn't is awesome!!   I also happen to LOVE this Sentiment and knew it was exactly what I wanted to use for my CAS Card!!

Created by TRace44

And this is the sketch that inspired us both!!

   So far, I have made two cards for this challenge and this first one is my card for today's CAS Challenge, where Joyful or Happy inspired card are this weeks' theme.  I also chose one of my all time favorite color combos which is Red, White and Black!!    Additionally, I will plan to submit my card to the HeroArts Challenge and have shared it in the Flickr Gallery with thanks to TRace44, for her wonderful inspiration!!  

  I then continued on to make a second card all based on the same sketch and idea and this one is all about LOVE and would be perfect for a Valentine, Wedding or even an Anniversary card.  It too will be submitted to the HeroArts June Sketch Challenge and also this the Wedding Challenge being hosted at Crafting By Designs.  All of the patterned papers from both cards are from Echo Park - Yours Truly and both cards were from a HeroArts Set.  The sentiments are both from the same Hero Arts Set - Made with Love, which has always been one of my favorites.

  My last card today was created using the same Hero Arts Sentiment Set and was created for the new Sketch Challenge over at OWH's Stars and Stamps Blog.   Below is a copy of the sketch that I used for my card, which is # 124!

  And this is my card, which I am very happy to be sharing, as I had missed out on the past two week's of sketch challenges, which are typically challenges, I never miss.   I am also working on my next package of cards to send to Operation Write Home and hope to inspire you to share some of your card creations with this awesome group.   If you would like to help - please go HERE for all the details!    Every card is greatly appreciated and you'll love doing your part to support our Troops!   

  And now I'm off to clean off my desk and see what project I can work on next.   I think it's going to be another card for the newest Hero Arts Challenge, and this time I'm going to use the "Thinking of You" theme and then have another card to put in my OWH Envelope!

   Hoping that our weather forecast is totally wrong and that instead of more rain, we'll actually have some sunshine.  In the meantime, I am still hoping that the Rain will go AWAY, and NOT come back another day!