More is More

This post will contain spoilers, so if you don’t want info till you see your new SU catalog for yourself (like me) then skip over this post.  I so wasn’t expecting to have my catalog this weekend…I hadn’t even thought much about it and didn’t think I would be nearly as excited as I am.  But I have to tell you that I found plenty to love in the Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog and it makes me remember why my heart is still with Stampin’ Up!

I just wanted to share a few of my first impressions and things that jumped out at me.

***lots of sets have really beautiful sentiments.  My favorite is “JOY is to behold GOD in everything.” from Wonderful Watercolors on page 85.  This set is in the same stamp style as Heartfelt Thanks, but I think the images are actually prettier.  The set also has the sentiment “Thinking of You”

***several new masculine sets including: Totally Tool (with cute punny sayings), Backwoods (includes a cabin, pines trees, fish, bird, buck all to be watercolored), Hit the Road (includes a cute off-road jeep driven by a dog), Hoppy for You (a super cute frog set – not traditionally masculine, but I can imagine possibilities.  Love the sentiment “times fun when you’re having flies”  LOL!)

***a few more vintage style sets have been added.  Vintage with a little different twist perhaps, but it’s nice to see some more sets in that vein.  *Friends 24-7*  and the coordinating jumbo wheel are my favorites of the vintage lot and I plan to get them.  I love the beautiful bird on the branch and the shabby flourish.  Plus the floral image is one that can stand alone on a card.  Another wonderful sentiment here “The happiest business in the world is that of making friends – Anne S. Eaton”  The jumbo wheel Friendly Words has the look of a background stamp with words like “confidant, kindred spirits, true friends” and so on in varying fonts.  Other vinatgey sets are: Ever After (heart made of floral vines, flower stalk, “L”- Love), Bird on a Branch (kind of a cross between Eastern Influence and Eastern Blooms – silhouette of a branch and a bird with separate flowers for the branch.), Music Expressions (a large violin with a flourish of flowers), Classic Sketches (Greek/Roman looking colums and sculptures.  Reminds me of the travel set from a few years ago.)

***for those that like the Magnolia/Sugar Nellie/Holly Hobby look that has become popular from European companies there is a set that might appeal called A Kind Word. It includes two images of little girls – one of them is on a swing the other has a basket of flowers.  There’s also an image of kittens in this set.  It’s not my cup of tea, but I can certainly see why others would like it.

 ***dogs – everyone is always begging SU for a cute dog set.  The new one this year is cute I think, but still not *doing it* for me.  The dogs are solid and stylized (like Wild About You) and there are 4 of them (weiner dog, chihuahua – looks more like a fox to me, scottie, and I’m not sure about the 4th – maybe a lab?).  There’s also a fire hydrant.

***scary stuff – seems like every new catty there is one *what were they thinking* set.  For me this year it’s Animal Crackers.  It reminds me a little bit of You’re Neat – which I bought.  There are 5 cartoon animals with balloon-like heads and I honestly thought it was cute till I looked at the last one which is a giraffe and he’s just disturbing.  And the more I look, the scarier he gets!  Yikes!

 ***missing – we are down to only 11 full sized background stamps and none of them are new.  We have no fabric/texture stamps like Canvas, Linen or Twill anymore.  Sanded is the only thing that comes close.  I guess I shouldn’t be surprised as I find myself using dp so much now and background stamps not nearly as often.  Still I have always LOVED background stamps and looked forward to the new ones.  I guess I need to make a point to actually use the ones I have.  At least I won’t have to deal with the storage issue of where to put more since that drawer is full to the gills!

***coffee – I love the new set Sip by Sip.  It has a retro lady very similar to the Crafty Secrets set I always wanted but never got.  It also has: percolator, 3 cute coffee cups in a row, a cofee cup stain/ring, sentiments (enjoy life sip by sip, not gulp by gulp  AND Chocolate, coffee and men – some things are better rich.  That made me LOL!)

***favorite – my very favorite two-page spread is pages 90-91 which includes: Petal Pizzazz (got it in my preview order), Cheep Talk, Good Friend, Trendy Trees, Funky Forest Wheel. These are all solid sets with a funky retro style.  Trendy Trees is small in size and has 2 different tree trunks to be used with 4 different tree tops.  Funky Forest is basically the same images only smaller and in a wheel.  Cheep Talk and Good Friend are coordinating sets – Good Friend being much larger in image size.  Cheep Talk is my absolute favorite set and will be on my first order no matter what!  It includes two adorable funky birds, a branch, a flower, a pear, a heart, and 3 sentiments curved to go with the branch.  There is also a set of On Board chipboard that coordinates with these sets.

There’s lots more, but that’s enough typing for me for now.  I’m anxious to hear what your favorites are when you see the catalog.  Let me know!  I’ll be back later with a sweet SASI Valentine.  Thanks for stopping by.