Christmas Puzzle Ball Set

Xmas Puzzle Ball
Christmas Puzzle Ball Set – Ravensburger – 27 pieces each (108 pieces)

Mom found these at the thrift store for 99 cents – brand new in the wrapper! With a larger 3D puzzle I usually have to use the numbers on the back to help with the assembly. With these though, I used only the image. It made it more difficult with the blue snowy sections, but I was pretty darned proud when I got them put together.

There are two images on each ornament, here’s the other side…

Xmas Puzzle Ball 1

They were engrossing and entertaining, exactly what I needed that day. They remind me of my mom – but in a happy way. She always was the best at finding us great deals on puzzles, and this was no different.

 

Pretending to be Normal

Pretending to be Normal
Pretending to be Normal by Suzy Toronto – White Mountain – 1000 pieces

I’ve been putting off writing up this post because sadly this is the last puzzle my mother and I assembled together; happily though, I love Suzy Toronto and this puzzle was a joy to put together – I have wonderful memories. I’m planning to reassemble it and hang it on the wall in my puzzle room.

Good quality, lots of words, great fit, fun colors – but it really doesn’t matter, because it was our last puzzle together I will cherish it forever.

In Progress

We started with all the little words, of course – we both enjoyed assembling words in a puzzle – like mother, like daughter. 🙂 Everything was put approximately where it goes and then the harder part began.

These were our two favorite quotes; mine was the hissy fit and mom’s was the sofa. And they both describe each of us perfectly. 😇

Thank you so much Penny for swapping puzzles with me and sending this one. I loved it when mom and I put it together – not knowing it was our last. Now that I do know, I love it even more and it will always have a special place in my heart (and in my puzzle room too). 💖

I miss you mom.

Review: God’s Comfort

He Who Comforts You
God’s Comfort – Promise Puzzles – 300 pieces

This is a beautiful image, and a very good quality puzzle. This was the first puzzle I assembled after mom passed, and I was worried that puzzling without her would be too difficult emotionally. I was happily surprised that once I started the actual assembly, my “puzzle brain” took over and I was engrossed with the picture and the pieces. I’m not usually someone who enjoys photographic puzzles, but I found this one both entertaining and calming.

FairHope Promise Puzzles is a subscription service where you get a new puzzle every month with a 30 day devotional included; but it seems you can also just purchase the puzzles without the subscription by clicking here. Their catalog is small, but they do have some interesting and very pretty images. They also make and sell a variety of other Christian themed items, including greeting cards and music cds.

The quality was very good – the pieces are a good thickness with a nice variety of shapes and they fit together extremely well. The image reproduction is beautiful, with lovely bright colors; though the finish is somewhat shiny. There weren’t many dark areas in the puzzle though, so the shiny pieces weren’t too difficult under artificial light. In addition, each puzzle includes a poster to help with assembly, which I love. My eyesight is getting worse by the day it seems, and having the poster as a reference definitely helps!

I enjoyed this assembly very much, and it was an excellent choice for the very first puzzle I did after losing mom. Although I know these puzzles won’t appeal to everyone who reads the blog – we puzzlers are a wonderfully varied group – for those who might be interested I can definitely recommend these puzzles. 👍

Details:

  • Title:                  God’s Comfort
  • Artist:                Promise Puzzles
  • Brand:               Promise Puzzles
  • Piece count:     300 pieces
  • Size:                  Approx. 18 x 24 in. (46 x 61 cm)
  • Purchased:      N/A, sent for review

Quality:

  • Board:               Very good
  • Cutting:             Very good
  • Image:               Very good
  • Box:                   Average
  • Fit:                     Very good
  • Puzzle Dust:     Small amount
  • Piece cut:          Grid cut
  • Piece shapes:   Very good variety
  • Finish:               Shiny finish, lays flat

Overall Rating:      Very good, recommended

 

I received this product at no cost in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are truthful and 100% my own.

Spring Tulips

Spring Tulips
Spring Tulips by Marjolein Bastin – Ceaco – 300 pieces

To be perfectly honest, I don’t remember much about this assembly. It was about three months ago that I completed this puzzle, and the most I can remember is that it was enough of a challenge that it didn’t seem like a 300 piece count puzzle.

It was about average Ceaco quality, although I do find that their 300 piece puzzles tend to be a little better quality-wise than their larger piece counts.

I enjoy the artwork of Marjolein Bastin, she does nature very well. And her puzzles look like they’d be a snap to assemble, but usually are much more challenging than they look!