Tag: 1000 pieces

Christmas Day (What If? #15)

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

Christmas Day by Geoff Tristram (What If? #15) – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

Another wonderful What If? puzzle from Ravensburger; great quality, hilarious image, and fun all-around puzzling. Was there any doubt as to whether or not I’d enjoy this one? Nope.

This one’s been hanging around my house for about…..seven years or so. Oh my! It’s been constantly moved down on the list of puzzles to be done, because I have this irrational dislike of Christmas puzzles. Even though I know that images by Geoff Tristram are always entertaining and funny it still took me forever to get this one done.

As per my usual I do not show the finished puzzle, as it’s a mystery what the image is. You have to figure it out as you assemble. The box says “We all dream of the perfect Christmas, a day full of happy family memories, where gifts are gratefully received, everyone is full of festive cheer, and the catering goes without a hitch. But WHAT IF Christmas Day wasn’t perfect? And WHAT IF our family’s Christmas wasn’t that merry?” The image on the box top shows the type of Christmas we all dream about, but the puzzle inside shows the holiday many of us really experience.

Normally I never show anything other than the small hint on the box top, which is usually one of the characters – but this time there was a little joke that actually made me laugh out loud, so I wanted to share it with you too…

As I was assembling it I thought it would be Monopoly, but this is so much better! Actually, that’s how I feel about Monopoly, it takes so long and I find it mind-numbingly boring. Hours of misery for all the family! 😂

This was a great puzzle with a hilarious image, it is most definitely recommended. I’m giving it two snowflakes way up! ❄❄

Burma Road

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles12 Comments

Burma Road by Charles Wysocki – Buffalo (Silver Select Edition) – 1000 pieces

While this was an entertaining image to assemble, I found the puzzle itself a bit of a disappointment. Still, they don’t all have to be perfect, and there is still fun to be had even though the quality may be lacking.

Normally I have no issues with Buffalo puzzles, but honestly the purpose of the Silver Select Edition puzzles eludes me. From what I can see the only difference is a “giftable box with silver foil accents” and a resealable plastic bag to store the pieces in; the price is the same as other 1000 piece Buffalo puzzles. I’ve only done this one puzzle, but it’s all I have to go on. The fit was quite loose, the cut seems a little different, and overall I was a bit disappointed.

If it had been your average Buffalo puzzle in the usual box I don’t think I would have been as let down, but the box has “Silver Select Edition” stamped on it, and truthfully I was looking forward to a puzzle with elevated quality. When that failed to appear it seemed more disheartening somehow.

This field of watermelons was no easy feat to assemble! I knew it would be difficult, and it made the finished section feel like quite an accomplishment.

There’s something about the buildings in a Wysocki image that makes me want to take a walk through them; they seem so inviting and quaint.

This building had me wondering what those pointed spokes are on the roof – does anyone out there know? What are they called and what is their purpose? Certainly I could do some online research, but I’d much rather talk to you.

The title of the image is Burma Road. Do any other oldsters out there remember the Burma Shave signs on the road? Their popularity was quite a bit before my time, but one town over from us there were a set of five or six Burma Shave signs on the road out of town. I always loved seeing them. The signs in this image say “Dewhiskered…kisses…defrost…the misses…Burma Shave” Very cute!

Battleship

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles10 Comments

Battleship – Spin Master – 1000 pieces

These board game puzzles seem to be growing on me, each one I complete seems to be more entertaining than the last; this one was my favorite assembly so far. The quality remains the same, but perhaps I’m more used to it now and it doesn’t seem as disappointing as before. It’s a good quality puzzle, overall.

There’s only one more left here at the house to assemble (Guess Who?), but there are actually three more in the series. The other two, Life and Monopoly, aren’t ones that we’ve been able to find; that’s alright with me though, neither of them were ever games that I enjoyed playing very much. The puzzles themselves would most likely be much more fun than playing the games, although you never can tell.

In all honesty, I’ve never even played Guess Who?, but the puzzle itself looks like it’ll be both challenging and engaging and I’m looking forward to it.

Unfortunately I’ve already told my best story about 70s commercials in the post about this puzzle when it was in progress. I did get more of the story recently though. We had a small get together at the house to celebrate both mine and my father’s birthday, and he re-told the story of my doing jingles and commercials at the grocery store (I told you my parents love to tell this one). He told me that my mother ordered me to “stop singing commercials next to me!”; my response was to go to the next aisle over, where I wasn’t next to her, and kept right on singing and quoting tv ads. What a little imp I was!

The blue background here was one of the last bits to be assembled, but it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. In fact, the entire puzzle was easier than anticipated. Not too easy, of course, but the challenge level was just about right. There was never a point where I needed to separate by piece shape, and overall it was a great assembly from beginning to end.

Scrabble

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

Scrabble – Spin Master – 1000 pieces

Scrabble is one of my favorite board games, and it made for quite an entertaining puzzle too! The quality was a bit underwhelming; but having assembled Clue earlier in the year, my expectations were appropriately managed before I began. Even so, I enjoyed the assembly, and it was just about the perfect amount of challenge.

My beautiful daughter bought me this puzzle after I made the mistake of telling her about the board game puzzles from Spin Master that were exclusive to Target. She made it her mission to visit every Target near a friend’s house, her work, etc. to see how many she could find for me. Is she the sweetest girl or what? I’m a very lucky momma who raised a kind, thoughtful, generous daughter.💖

Back to the puzzle…the pieces are on the thinner side, but somewhat sturdy (there were a few problems with bent pieces); there are a good variety of piece shapes and the fit was good. The image reproduction is fuzzy in some places and crisp and clear in others, and the finish is shiny.

There wasn’t much that needed close up pictures in this image, but I took this one just because I like the look of it. I always loved pouring out the tiles when beginning a game, the little wooden pieces clacking against each other – I know, my weird brain again. I make no apologies. 😜

Overall I enjoyed this puzzle. It took forever to sort because a) I wasn’t feeling well, and b) I really didn’t feel like putting this one together. As you can probably guess my son picked out which puzzle I’d be assembling. But once it was sorted and the assembly began it went rather quickly. I started in the morning and was finished in the evening before bed. It was more entertaining than I thought and in the end I’m glad he picked this one out – it was fun!

It’s been forever since I’ve played Scrabble, even though it’s one of my favorites. No one in my family will play with me anymore. The way my weird brain works also makes it so that I’ve got a ton of odd words stored up there, and I’ve never lost a game. I don’t blame them though, if there was a game I always lost I wouldn’t want to play it either. I feel that way about strategy games, hubby kicks my a** every time and it’s so frustrating!

Hubby and I now just stick to games that usually have a small element of luck in them as well as skill or strategy; cards, yahtzee, etc. It’s more fun if we both always have a chance. 😊

Holiday Books In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling13 Comments

Holiday Books – Re-marks – 1000 pieces

Another holiday puzzle already on my board, and we’re not even halfway through November! Surprised that I have so many Christmas puzzles here? So am I! Although, thinking about it just now I realized that almost all of them were given to me – they aren’t ones I purchased, because….well, you know.

In fact, of the twenty-one holiday puzzles here at the house left to be assembled, I purchased ONE of them. The set of 12 advent calendar puzzles was a gift from hubby, three are thrift store puzzles mom bought, five (including the one I’m currently working on) were sent to me by my bestest puzzle buddy Penny, and only one of them was actually purchased by me.

When I tell you the title of the Christmas puzzle I bought, you’ll get it. It’s called Ruby the Red Beaked Emu. I just gotta be me! 😁

I’ve already put together three holiday puzzles, and I gotta tell you – I’m sick of them already. Yep. Once I finish this one I’ll be taking a break from them. In fact, there are two 1000 piece Christmas puzzles that perhaps will be put away for next year because I just don’t want to make myself put together puzzles because it’s the right season. I’m supposed to be having fun!

Eighteen of the puzzles are 100 pieces or less, so I’m planning to save those until December; I can assemble them in the morning with a hot cup of coffee and start my days with a completed puzzle. Doesn’t that sound lovely? It does to me.

This collage puzzle I’m working on right now is going pretty quickly, and other than a very loose fit I’m enjoying it. Collages make me happy.

Even if they are holiday themed. 😉