Trendy! very Trendy: A few impressions of the new catalog

This is the first new Stampin' Up! catalog that is a 6 month catalog.

I've been silently taking in all the new product and I'm ready for formulate my first impressions now...here they are:

This catalog is VERY trendy!

Grunge is out - Polka Dots are in.

As a matter of fact, there are so many Polka Dots in this catalog I'm seeing spots! (A good thing.)

Things I am IN LOVE WITH:

The new In Colors.

The Pretties Kit - this kit is awesome! I am in LOOOVVVEEE and it is going on my first order. The kit is $29.95 and in my opinion it is soooo worth that cost. The kit is PACKED with assorted dyable flowers, pearl halves, beads, and clear rhinestone brads. Anyone purchasing all those items separately will have a hard time meeting that price.

Things that make sense:

Page 81 - Bundle of Joy paired with Bundled in Love stamp sets... these are two AWESOME baby sets that are interchangeable, and offer the opportunity to double their use for baby announcement as well as baby christening/baptism.

God is Love set page 71 - wow! We needed a nice, simple, christian set that's appropriate for all ages, not just children. This is it! Look no further.

RIBBONS - I think this is the highlight of the new catalog. For the first time, SU seems to have really changed their ribbon offerings... for the better. I can't even tell you how utterly tickled I am at all the new choices for ribbon! I'm in heaven.

There are new "Style Watch" stamp sets and accessories that coordinate. Stampin' Up! has had coordinating stamp sets in the past, so that isn't new. What IS new - presenting them in the front of the catalog along with all the products that match referenced on the same page.

Boho West - gorgeous, although I'm not into the Wild West so won't be ordering
Tapestry - this is my style! I'll be getting some of these products
Corner Office - fun labels, tabs and stuff. Love it!

Hostess sets are a nice range of styles.

BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE A MUST HAVE:

Tres Chic - wow! This is cool. Easily can be used to make single words on cards and scrapbook pages by omitting.

Sanded - Textured scratching of sanded scratches -- like if you rubbed a piece of sandpaper over something - this is cool and it satisfies my need for some grunge in a catalog where grunge is "out".

Happiness - Versatile background that I won't be ordering because it doesn't cry to me "buy me" (not my style) - but I know this one will be a hit with those who like it. If the style of images where more to my personal liking, I'd purchase it!

MY FAVORITE SET IN THE ENTIRE CATALOG - I'm ordering this one on July 1 FOR SURE:

Priceless! - How a Stampin' Up! artist thought to combine polka dots with Bohemian style is beyond me... but is a sheer genius! This set is so awesome, useful, fun, trendy yet will be in style longer than most trends (I think) and has a matching wheel! Awesome for scrapbooking as well as cardmaking and gift making.

More later... when I catch my breath...