Category: Jigsaw Puzzles

Freak Shakes 1

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles7 Comments

Freak Shakes – Cra-Z-Art – Approx. 125/500 pieces

My phone tells me that I started working on these in February of this year (that’s when I took a picture of me sorting them). Yikes. In my mind it was only a couple of months ago – not more than half a year! Anyway, I finished them. Finally.

I am obsessed with these puzzles and to my knowledge have gotten all of the ones I could find (that I wanted). But I will still be checking puzzle sites every now and again to be sure there isn’t one that’s been missed or perhaps if a new set has come out.

I adore small puzzles – I am currently the owner of well over 50 Wentworth micro puzzles – and many other small puzzles that my fellow puzzle blogger from Russia and I call “One Coffee Puzzles”. They’re small and entertaining, and you can assemble one in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. These sets from Cra-Z-Art certainly fit the bill, even though they’re technically 500 piece puzzles altogether. Each set is usually between 12-18 small separate puzzles, and they’re so much fun to assemble!

I had such a good time last year with the Unicorn and Selfie sets. Not only did the assembly make me happy, writing up the posts for each of them was quite entertaining as well. They were each given fabulous names and elaborate backstories, and it was wonderful, silly fun. These shakes don’t seem to have much personality, so they’re going to have to remain unnamed – but never fear, I assembled a set with pretty kitties and they should let me get a little wild and crazy with the stories, perhaps later on this month. 😁

I have never in my life seen a shake this EXTRA. Dayum! It may just be me, but these seem like they’d be more fun to look at than to actually drink/eat. There’s too much froo-froo stuff getting in the way and taking up space in the shake. Are those banana candies? No thank you. I’m old and crochety and I just want a plain ol’ chocolate shake thank you very much.

The colors of this one are beautiful, and I think that may be a piece of cake on the backside of the glass. The little marshmallows are pretty though.

This one also looks like it has a piece of cake sitting on the top – my goodness this one is over the top! Toasted marshmallows, cake, candies, a peanut butter cup (?), caramel and whipped cream. That seems like a couple of days worth of calories in one “drink”.

Good thing I don’t want to actually have any of them, just wanted to put the pretty pictures together. That was plenty satisfying on it’s own.

Laundry Day

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles7 Comments

Laundry Day by Adrian Chesterman – Vermont Christmas Co. – 100 pieces

Forgot about this one; my “grandson” and I put it together when I visited him in July once everyone was vaccinated and safe. I had to do a little research to find the title and artist, cause I left the puzzle with him. Oops!

It’s on the October page, it seems silly to make a “July” page just for this one puzzle.

Also, please excuse the bad photo, I had to take the picture on the kitchen table at someone else’s house. I did my best.

*edit* While re-reading through my blog this past weekend I came across another puzzle with the same title by the same artist but a different puzzle company. It looks as if some of the characters are exactly the same, with some changes. Check it out here. I wonder if the artist gives them license to muck around with the image, or if they change things themselves and sell the image again to a different company. It’s probably the latter.

In all my years of puzzling I’m not sure I’ve run across this before; or perhaps I have, but just didn’t notice. I probably wouldn’t have noticed this time if both puzzles didn’t have the exact same name.

Street Food

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles10 Comments

Street Food by Shanghee Shin – Re-marks – 300 pieces

This puzzle sat on my board from the middle of August last year when I took my break, until January, 2021 – that’s when I finally photographed it and put it away. Talk about just walking away from puzzles. Yeesh!

Re-marks puzzles seem to range from very good to fair quality. I’ve had a couple of their puzzles that were full of “hanging chads”, that extra paper hanging on the backs of pieces; a very spongy fit that you have to work at, etc. But I’ve also done several of their puzzles that have been very good quality as well. The deciding factor for me is normally the image. I can put up with a lot of quality “issues” if the image is one that delights or informs, or just makes me happy. Their collage puzzles are a joy to assemble. 👍

Tuna flavored hot dogs? Ew! There are so many words in this image, but these jumped out at me, new tuna flavor? No thank you. 🤢

Perhaps some of you will remember that when the fit of a puzzle is particularly tight, Stacey likes to stand it up on it’s end and photograph it standing on it’s own. Apparently, this also causes Stacey to speak about herself in the third person. Interesting.

This was the last puzzle I assembled before I took my break; so it’s the last puzzle I’m posting about that I don’t remember assembling. From now on you can be sure any puzzle I post about I will have some memory of the assembly. Unless I fall down and hit my head or something.

It’s entirely possible. I fall a LOT. 🤕

Candylicious

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Candylicious by Aimee Stewart – Buffalo (Vivid Collection) – 300 pieces

Longtime readers will remember that my favorite puzzle artist is Aimee Stewart, her use of color is stunning and her shelf puzzles have provided me with hours and hours of enjoyment. The very first time I attempted a 2000 piece puzzle it was her beautiful artwork that gave me the confidence to even give it a try. Her puzzles make me happy!

The Buffalo Vivid Collection puzzles are true to their name – the colors are so vivid! I’ve done several, and they’ve all been fabulous quality with exceptional image reproduction. They are highly recommended. Very highly.

Love all the gummy bears, especially the ones that have different colored heads! I’ve never come across any like that in the wild, have you?

That looks like the most refreshing slushy ever. With my inner child deciding to play with matches – causing serious hot flashes – this drink would be most welcome at my house. Yum!

I adore the look of these candies, for some reason that I seem unable to put into words at the moment. Suffice it to say that I simply love the artwork of Aimee Stewart and even though I don’t recall specifically this assembly, I can say with absolutely certainty that there isn’t one little bit of this image that wasn’t entertaining to assemble. She is a puzzle artist goddess and her work makes me extremely happy!

Realm of the Giants

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles2 Comments

Realm of the Giants by Silvia Christoph – Ravensburger – 200 pieces

Isn’t this a beautiful dinosaur scene? I love the colors; a lot of dinosaur puzzles are more drab, with browns, greens, etc. – this one seems to pop. The detail and colors make it lovely in my eyes.

Surprise, surprise! Not a clue how the assembly of this one went, you’re shocked right? It’s no surprise to me, as I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday – or if I even ate lunch at all! My memory has been steadily declining for the past few months, and I keep commenting on it to the hubby. But you’re here to see about a puzzle, not the ramblings of an old lady who can’t remember sh*t. 🤔

Anyone else reminded of Jurassic Park 2 where the little baby-looking dinosaurs attacked the little girl on the beach? Or is it just me?

Most people would look first at the T-Rex, as it’s the one dino that everyone knows and recognizes; but my eye was drawn to this “little” guy. I love the purple colors on the back, and that gorgeous fin. The colors in this image are absolutely beautiful, and it made for quite the fun assembly – I think.

I just liked the wings on this one, that’s the only reason you’ve got a close-up of them. I don’t know what the name of this species is, but I can say without doubt that I enjoy looking at their wings. 🙂

As always, Ravensburger puzzles are excellent quality. I would even go as far as to say that their kid’s puzzles are exceptional. The pieces are truly thick and sturdy and the fit is wonderful. This puzzle is still here in the house, and I took out some pieces to feel them – fantastic!