World's Greatest Hooker!

Hehe!  Did that title get your attention? Before your mind goes to the depths, let me tell you my story! Some of you may have seen it already! ;) But first, a little official business so you know where you are and where you should be...just in case!

Welcome to Skipping Stones Design’s Blog Hop to celebrate the release of two new stamp sets, Holy Carp, and Home of the Brave. If you just happened upon my blog today, you’ll want to go back to the beginning at Skipping Stones Design. You should have arrived from Kandi's blog.

Combined with the blog hop today, it's also Skipping Stones Sketch Tuesday which means the Design Team is showcasing another great creation from Jen del Muro. We'd love for you to play along with the sketch. Just remember to use the keywords SSD025 if you are uploading to any online galleries or link your card at the Skipping Stones Blog. We'll be looking soon for Guest Designers so you never know....

OK...back to my story!

On the day before MY BIRTHDAY in 2006, my husband and I were fishing on his parents' pontoon boat on the lake near their home just outside of Iron Mountain, Michigan. He cast, and I heard this whiz of a sound, and OUCH!  This big six hook lure was stuck in the top of my head! Umm...happy birthday? Yeah! It was really stuck, so we had to boat through the lake back to the cottage, and I ended up in ER with two stitches!

The funny thing was that I had had this song *stuck in my head* (okay, silly pun not intended!) for almost a week (I'm thinking, *okay Lord, can we puleeeze change channels?*), and even with this hook stuck in the top of my head, I had to bite my tongue not to sing it out loud! And here's part of the 2nd verse!

Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering,
though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.....

and as SOON as the ER doctor got the hook out, the song went away! Poof! Isn't that funny?!

After that we were all making goofy jokes about my husband....he hooked me, he lured me, he reeled me in....LOL. Poor guy, he felt so awful. I'm never gonna let him live it down ;) and couldn't help but giggle and scheme when I very first saw the images and sentiments from this soon-to-be-released Skipping Stones Design stamp set! Perfect! The Golden Hooker Award! Ha! It is a good thing he is such a great sport!

Not long after that a friend made a fishing card with a real live hook on it for a challenge, and I commented about my experience with those dangerous *fly thingys*...Cindy Motherway saw my comment, and she took it and ran, and made me this card so we have really milked the story for all it was worth! This stamp set made it worth the revisit for another laugh!

Honestly, I forgave Patrick a long time ago, but it still makes me nervous to stand next to him when he's got a rod and reel in his hand!

Just a little about my card. I've had the paper forever...my mom bought it for me at Michael's literally years ago. I'm gradually workin' through the stash! I stamped the fish with Memento Rich Cocoa, colored him with Copics (warm gray 1, 3, and 5), and added some gold spica glitter to his harp and halo. Kept it super simple because my guy is definitely no frills. I did add some distress ink, and a little green bow that hopefully looks sorta like an award ribbon!

Well, this is a very long post, but I couldn't resist making another card with today's other new release, especially since Patrick is retired USN after serving over 26 years!  I hope you will say a prayer for those who serve our country, and tell them thanks every chance you get!  I can tell you first-hand what a sacrifice it is for the whole family...the military life requires frequent moves, lots of time apart, and the willingness to risk life and limb to protect the freedom so many of us take for granted.  That's why I really love this sentiment!    

This card uses a scrap of some of my favorite patriotic stars, along with a stripe which is the flip side of some Little Yellow Bicycle St. Patrick's Day paper!  The airplane (which Patrick tells me is probably an F-16, an Air Force plane), was stamped in Versamark, and the sentiment overstamped with tapped off Night of Navy.  There's just a light touch of more distress ink, some Prima bling, and one teeny tiny Basic Grey red button.

Hope you had fun while you were here, and that you'll come back!  I'd be thrilled if you'd become a follower!  I really loved this sketch, and have another card made using it (thanks, Jen!) but this post is way too long already!  I'll have to share it another day!  And yes!  I am definitely trying to lure you back (Sorry!  Couldn't resist another corny fishing pun)!

I'm so glad you hopped by for today's Skipping Stones Design sketch and new release preview!  Next stop for you is Peggy's!  Enjoy!