My New Catty Opinions




Ok... catching my breath...




I absolutely LOVE the selection of hostess sets this year. I think Stampin' Up! did a really great job providing hostess sets in various styles that will please the greatest number of people. Great that the hostess benefits are the same and didn't decrease (Of course, don't we all wish they would have increased?!)


Layout:


Great layout. I LOVE having the sections in colored "tabs" right under the page numbers on the right top corner. nice. I love the newly designed "Our stamps" and "About our products" pages. They spell out all the details, coordination, color families, etc. right up front in an easy to find place for those attending workshops and stamp camps. The only thing I miss is the page with all the wheels on it.


Catalog/Mini Catalog/Memories Catalog change:


Great idea to go back to one big catty and increase the size of the mini catty. I could never figure out what they were trying to accomplish with the Stampin' Memories catties... they didn't seem to make any sense to me and I rarely had anyone order from them.


Bravo on the "Getting Started" kits. Fabulous idea for the beginner!


Stamps:


Again, overall they did a good job with variety in their stamp sets. I'm VERY happy to see an increase of emphasis in shape sets. While some demostrators think that all the shape sets are "overkill", I'm interested in seeing how all these are used this year on Splitcoast galleries. Many people don't realize how shape sets can add incredible artistic possibilities in their versitility alone. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of new Christmas sets until I looked at the new mini-catty. Ouch goes the checkbook! It really makes sense for Stampin' Up! to carry the majority of their new seasonal sets in a seasonal catalog rather than use space in the big catalog in which the majority of sales for the items will occur seasonally. Of course they need a core stock of Christmas sets in the big catty for those who just need to purchase a bit of Christmas in July, for example, but I like that the new ones are in the mini... that makes the mini-catty a better resource.


My favorite stamp sets in the Holiday mini-catty:


On Angel Wings (Stunning!)


Time for trees wheel (How cute is that?!)


Yuletide Montage (Simply Gorgeous!)


Painted Poinsettias (Anything sketchy and watercolory like this set is automatically MINE!)


Holiday Happiness (So outrageously versatile!


Poinsettia, Woodcut Holly, and Swirling Stars Jumbo wheels (Whooo Hooo! more wheels to make giftwrap!)





ok... now that I've listed practically all of the stamp sets in the new mini-catty as my favorites, dare I go on to the big catty?.....




Big catty Darts & Laurels:


Laurel - Bravo for the Everyday flexible Phrases! Whooo Hooo!!! We needed that!


Dart - No anniversary stamp set! Next to birthdays, I send out alot of anniversary cards. Where are the words I need for anniversary cards? ... not in the SU catty... apparently...


Laurel - BEADS!!!!!!


Dart - You took away my colorful glitter #%%(*&&)(*^*&%#$%^*


Laurel - FINALLY... A lilac stamp! (I love Lilacs)


Dart - NO THEATER/DRAMA themed set... BOOOO WHOOOO


Laurel - BEADS BEADS!!!!!


Dart - I want my liquid applique back!


Laurel - New backgrounds... Paisley Print, Geometric, Bitty Blossoms (so cute)


Dart - Only 1 new Bible verse set


Laurel - Silver Bliss and Copper Kiss!!!!!!!!


Dart - I hate the Coluzzle ... can't you give us something better????!!!


Laurel - Aqua Painter (Awesome!)


Dart - Same watercolor pencils... I want watercolor pencils in the 48 glorious colors


Laurel - New paper cutter, the old one doesn't cut straight.


Dart - Still the same-ol' decorative edge scissors... Dear SU, can we please have new styles next year... pretty please with sugar on top?!


Laurel - Sticky Strip... better known to me as RED TAPE!!!!!! I've been using Red Tape for years illegally on projects... now its no longer contraband!!!! I can demonstrate it!!!! (Where else but in stamping society could you ever find anyone who could honestly say that they LOVE "Red Tape" LOL LOL !!!!!!)


Dart - I really loved the Hermafix Tabs and I will continue to use them. I wish they were still in the catty.


Laurel - BEADS BEADS BEADS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Dart - I was hoping they would have a mini-sewing machine for sale... one that actually sews straight like in many of their samples


Laurel - Beautiful new Oriental set called "Oriental Brushstrokes"


Dart - Why can't we have SATIN ribbon in addition to Organdy and Grosgrain!???


Laurel - Newsprint and Simple Type Alphabets (Diggin' it!)


Dart - No more creative paperclay!


Laurel - Logo Stampin' Carry! (Most excellent)


Dart - Still the same ol' outrageously expensive light table


Laurel - New Whale punches!!!!!! (jumping up and down!)


Dart - I would like to see a better selection of embossing powder... anything that glitters kind of like the Hologram Highlights


Laurel - New font CD with 10 fabulous new fonts!!!


Dart - No cute new kitty stamp set


Laurel - BEADS BEADS BEADS BEADS!!!!!!!!!!





'nough said...





Stampin' Up! started taking orders out of the new catty today at 1 pm Central time and I logged in exactly at 1 pm and placed my first new catty order. I have 3 workshops in the next 3 weeks and I need some of the new stuff ASAP! I'll be tracking that UPS tracker everyday in anticipation!