Snail Mail

On June 13, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

This was my first puzzle back after many many days of no puzzling at all. For me, it’s always best when I get back to puzzles after any kind of break from them that I start with one that I know I will enjoy – collages are my happy place so that’s where I began.

The overall quality was good, but my one complaint was that many of the pieces were still connected. This puzzle was probably produced near the end of the run when the die had become dull, so all of the pieces weren’t cut all the way through. It isn’t the end of the world, and it wasn’t a big deal for me to separate them.

The pieces were thick and had a great variety of shapes. The fit was slightly loose, but not so much as to be annoying. The image reproduction was gorgeous with beautiful colors and crisp lines, and it really was a joy to assemble.

Snail Mail 1

The color of this stamp was the first thing I noticed – this picture doesn’t do it justice. Absolutely gorgeous!

Snail Mail 2

My first thought was that this would make a beautiful puzzle on it’s own. In fact, many of the stamps in this collage would make gorgeous puzzles by themselves.

Snail Mail 3

The look of this stamp is so unique and interesting. I absolutely love it!

Boston Cowboy

On June 11, 2020October 20, 2021 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

I love this image, it’s just freakin’ adorable! If you’ve been a long-time reader of this blog you know that unlike many puzzlers I prefer puzzles with images of dogs much more than those with cats. From my viewpoint there are many more “cat puzzles” out there than “dog puzzles”; but you see more with images of dogs here at My Jigsaw Journal because I seek them out.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with cats, or puzzles with images of cats on them. So many puzzles out there have unbelievably adorable cat artwork or images, they just aren’t my taste – that’s all. I’ve done many a cat puzzle, but I’m a dog person so my preference is cute puppy puzzles instead of ones with kitty cats.

This cute-beyond-words puzzle of only 100 pieces was a gift from a dear friend who shares my love of Boston Terriers and knows how much I enjoy a small piece count puzzle. It used to be that puzzles with small piece counts were all cartoonish or childish in some way, but I’m seeing more and more options out there for adults who enjoy smaller puzzles. Thank goodness!

I put this one together around midnight one evening, in the living room in front of the television. That’s one of the great things about small puzzles, you don’t need a lot of room or a special place to put them together. At only 100 pieces this adorable puzzle can be assembled just about anywhere!

Buddy was sleeping on the couch when I finished it, and I couldn’t help myself but take an extra picture. The fit of this puzzle was so good that I was able to walk around with the assembled puzzle and stand it up next to my little man on the couch!

Boston Cowboy 1

How adorable is this? I truly wish I’d had a red bandana that I could have laid across his neck, wouldn’t that have been cute? My Boston boy next to the Boston Cowboy, so very sweet!

Ernest

On June 10, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles8 Comments

Yes, you are reading that right – this image is by comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Truthfully, I thought the artwork was funny and was going to buy it anyway; but add the fact that I am a comedy nerd as well as a jigsaw puzzle nerd and I just had to get this puzzle!

Stand up comedy has been one of my loves since I was young. When most pre-teen and teenage kids had albums from the current music stars, most of my record collection was full of Steve Martin, Flip Wilson, Robin Williams, Allan Sherman, Bill Cosby (which I debated adding here, but I can’t change the facts to suit me – Bill Cosby was a very large part of my comedy collection) and many more. We listened to comedy albums as a family, and when my sisters and I were mature enough my parents let us listen to and watch Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Redd Foxx and many of the more “blue” comedians too.

I still remember having a videocassette full of episodes of An Evening at the Improv that my husband and I used to watch during our first years of marriage whenever we needed a laugh. We’ve been fans of stand up since forever it seems, so how could I not get myself a puzzle with silly artwork from a famous stand up comedian?

The quality was about average for Cardinal – I would classify it as good/fair. Even so, I enjoyed the assembly more than I thought I would, and found the image a little bit more of a challenge than I expected as well. Both of those are very good things in my book!

Shoes – Part 4

On June 8, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles10 Comments

Shoes 4.1 — Shoes – Lafayette Puzzle Factory (Cra-Z-Art) – 125/500 pieces

And so today we’ve come to the last of the shoe puzzles. Just as I was a bit sad when I came to the end of these puzzles, I’m a little sad we’ve come to the end of the posts. 😕

Luckily there is another set of puzzles here that I could put together and make multiple posts from – it’s a set of birds. There is one small difference though, there are 15 mini puzzles in that set instead of 12; it would make for five posts instead of four. That’s pretty good, because I’ve been in such a funk lately that I’ve whittled my queue down to almost nothing. Time for Stacey to get herself back in the game!

Shoes 4.2

Love the sparkly bow/pin and the very cool crystal-like heel. Purple isn’t my go-to color, but put purple and pink together and you’ve got a hit as far as I’m concerned.

Shoes 4.3

This is my least favorite of all twelve shoes, I think it’s the orangey-yellow color. It may partly be because it’s floral as well, floral really isn’t my thing either. Still, overall, it’s a little wild and out there – which is absolutely my thing!

Shoes 4.4

How great is this shoe? It may sound a little odd to some, but it reminds me of my wedding dress. You couldn’t see it on the puzzles of my wedding pictures, but on the back of my dress were many draped strings of beads across my back, and the chains on this shoe remind me of them. I love the chains on the back! Add to that diamond studs, and shiny black and gold – to me this is a gorgeous shoe!

I hope this series of small, shaped puzzles was one you enjoyed seeing, and also hope that if you haven’t assembled a shaped puzzle before that it may have given you a push to perhaps try them for yourself. If a large shaped puzzle seems too foreign to you, I highly recommend giving one of these sets a try if you can find them. They’re great fun, and a nice change from only assembling rectangular puzzles. 🧩💗

Shoes – Part 3

On June 7, 2020June 7, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Shoes 3.1 — Shoes – Lafayette Puzzle Factory (Cra-Z-Art) – 125/500 pieces

I love this set of shoes, they’re big and flamboyant and fun – like me. 😁

The entire set of twelve different shoes is fun to assemble and pretty to look at; but this set of three makes me smile a little bit bigger than the others do. There’s just something about this set that I love a teeny bit more than the other three. I’m not sure I can put my finger on exactly why, the group is just a little more “me” than the others.

Shoes 3.4

I just got done saying how much I like this set more than the others, but now I’m going to tell you that flowery isn’t really my style. Nevertheless, it’s bright, hot pink – and we’ve learned that this child of the 80’s is ALL ABOUT hot pink; so even with all the flowers I love this shoe. The 80’s was about bright, crazy, in-your-face colors and this color takes me back to that a little. Perhaps it’s the gray-haired little old lady that I am now reliving my glory days; back when how you looked seemed more important than comfort. Man I was stupid when I was young. LOL

Shoes 3.3

Super sparkly with pearls, and who doesn’t love a little sparkle? These shoes certainly make an impression, don’t they? If it were just gold and sparkly it would be a little boring, but when you add the ribbons and pearls and diamond stud it kicks it up a notch. Now they’re a little “out there”. I do so love to be a little “out there”.

Shoes 3.2

Black and red, my favorite combination – just slightly above pink and black. Black and red has always been my favorite, since middle school I would say. Red is my favorite color, and when you put it with black it just dresses it up and makes it a bit more sophisticated. Sophistication isn’t always what I’m going for, because black and red can also be a little wild. Black and red was my “go to” back in the day.

I wish I could wear these shoes, I’d look awesome on the way to the hospital! 🤕