Tag: 1000 pieces

Review: Dream Cottage Retreat

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviewsLeave a comment
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse. 
IMG_4049
Dream Cottage Retreat by Cra-Z-Art – Kodak (Lafayette Puzzle Factory) – 1000 pieces

Dream Cottage Retreat is a gorgeous puzzle! Several family members commented on it while I was assembling it, that isn’t something that usually happens around here. They all said how colorful and pretty it was and I agree. 🙂

This was my first experience with Kodak, according to Puzzle Warehouse they are manufactured by Lafayette Puzzle Factory. I was impressed with the overall quality although I did have some minor issues. There were several sets of pieces that weren’t fully separated; this is not a major issue as it’s easy enough to separate them without damage to the pieces. There were, however, 3 sets of pieces that weren’t cut completely through and couldn’t be separated without damage. Both of these issues are most likely the result of the puzzle being the end of the run when the die isn’t as sharp. This didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the puzzle, and the overall quality of this puzzle was very good. The pieces are a good thickness and fit together well, if somewhat loosely. The image reproduction especially is excellent and looking at the other puzzles in the series, the images they’ve chosen look to be amazing as well. Click on the link to see all the Kodak Premium Puzzles in stock now at Puzzle Warehouse.

This was a random cut puzzle, which I find is a nice change every once in a while. It takes my brain a few minutes to make the switch, I solve these puzzles differently than grid cut. It’s good exercise for my brain, keeps me on my toes! Being random cut, some of the pieces of this puzzle seemed quite small, so if fine motor skills or eyesight is an issue it’s something to consider.

I love cottage/cabin puzzles, they are what the British would call “chocolate box” puzzles. I had to look it up, but it means an image or picture that is pretty in a idealized or conventional way. They seem pretty ideal to me; places that I would love to go, or a cottage that would be my dream getaway. Wouldn’t it be lovely to sit in the gazebo with a puzzle on a beautiful summer day?

I enjoyed this assembly, and it went quicker than most 1000 piece puzzles for me. It was hard to stop working on it to do all those annoying life things like eating, walking, etc. As always, I come back to my puzzling – it keeps me sane. ☺

Details:

  • Title:                  Dream Cottage Retreat
  • Artist:                Cra-Z-Art
  • Brand:               Kodak (Lafayette Puzzle Factory)
  • Piece count:     1000 pieces
  • Size:                  Approx. 19 x 27 in. (50 x 68 cm)
  • Purchased:      n/a

Quality:

  • Board:               Very good
  • Cutting:             Fair
  • Image:               Excellent
  • Box:                   Very good, small and square
  • Fit:                     Good, somewhat loose
  • Puzzle Dust:     Small amount
  • Piece cut:          Random cut
  • Piece shapes:   Very good variety
  • Finish:               Slightly 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.

Down on the Farm

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles6 Comments
IMG_3983
Down on the Farm by Charlie Girard – White Mountain – 1000 pieces

I love a collage! I was pretty surprised that mom found this at the thrift store, I believe it’s a relatively recent White Mountain release. It was a fun assembly, as usual – it’s like having a bunch of mini puzzles that fit together. Heavenly!

White Mountain Puzzles are normally good quality, and except for the fit this one was as well. The fit was extremely loose and it was easy to upset pieces accidentally. This isn’t a problem I’ve ever had with a White Mountain puzzle, if anything they can sometimes have a fit that’s a bit too tight. I’ve had a couple with a fit so tight that you can stand the puzzle straight up on it’s edge! Click here to see a picture.

There were plenty of words, which of course made me happy. I love having words to put together! Collages seem to go quickly, because it’s difficult for me to walk away from it. One small section leads to the next and before you know it the entire puzzle is finished and you’ve lost all track of time. These are the best kind of puzzles if you ask me. 🙂

Review: Lighthouse 1

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviewsLeave a comment
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse.
IMG_4044
Lighthouse 1 by Karla Gerard – Educa – 1000 pieces

I love the artwork of Karla Gerard and thought Lighthouse 1 would be quite a fun puzzle to assemble. Oh my. I was not prepared for how difficult this was! Still, I am very proud that I finished it. Hey Ma – look what I did! 🙋High five!

This is only the second Educa puzzle that I’ve completed, the first was a collage of sorts and so much fun that I didn’t really take notice of the piece shapes. There is not much variety (most of the pieces are 2 prong/2 hole *ballerinas*), so a puzzle like this one with large areas of the same color/pattern is quite a challenge. The overall quality is good; the pieces are a good thickness and fit together well, although a bit loosely. I guess I would say that it might pay to be careful of the image you select when purchasing an Educa puzzle – your favorite image might be more challenging than you expect! There are plenty of busier images, collages, and smaller piece counts that might help lower the challenge level. But if you’re up for a challenge there are plenty of Educa puzzles that would keep your brain cells limber too – click the link above to see what’s available now at Puzzle Warehouse.

Still, after I changed my method of attack I did enjoy the assembly. I would normally just pull all the pieces for a section and start assembling them, but that didn’t work very well here; so many of the pieces were the same shape that it was a bit tedious. So after some thought and a nice coffee break I decided that I needed to complete all the smaller sections first, and then assemble all the edges/outlines. It helped tremendously, and I was ready to conquer this gorgeous puzzle. I conquered, and it looks amazing. 🙂

If you like this image check out the other Contemporary Art Puzzles in stock now at Puzzle Warehouse. Several have made it onto my wishlist, including several by Kandinsky, Charley Harper, and Alphonse Mucha. So many puzzles, so little time!

Lighthouse 1 would be a great gift for that avid puzzler in your life who enjoys a challenge – or challenge yourself – you can do it! 👍

Details:

  • Title:                  Lighthouse 1
  • Artist:                Karla Gerard
  • Brand:               Educa
  • Piece count:     1000 pieces
  • Size:                  Approx. 27 x 19 in. (68 x 48 cm)
  • Purchased:      n/a

Quality:

  • Board:               Very good
  • Cutting:             Very good
  • Image:               Very good
  • Box:                   Average
  • Fit:                     Good – somewhat loose
  • Puzzle Dust:     Moderate amount
  • Piece cut:          Grid cut
  • Piece shapes:   Not much variety, pieces can fit in wrong spot
  • Finish:               Matte finish, lays flat

Overall Rating:      Very Good, recommended (challenging)

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

Santa & Rudolph

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments
IMG_3974
(What If #9) Santa & Rudolph by Geoff Tristam – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

Not counting my “Christmas in July” on the blog, this was my first Christmas puzzle of the season! As usual, I’m only showing the character shown on the box – no spoilers. You’d miss out on the fun of discovering for yourself why it’s better if Santa keeps his job instead of handing it over to Rudolph. 😉

I adore Geoff Tristam’s sense of humor – even the gift tags on the presents were funny! His partnership with Ravensburger for these What If puzzles is a great pairing in my opinion; I hope it continues for a very long time!

I really appreciate the quality of a Ravensburger puzzle, especially after I’ve worked on another brand that isn’t as “premium”. It even makes me happy to lay all the pieces out, because I just know it’s going to fit well and that there will be enough variety in the piece shape so that the assembly isn’t overly tedious. (I’m working a puzzle with not much variety in the shape of the pieces and I’m feeling frazzled 😳 )

If you haven’t tried a What If or Wasgij puzzle yet, I highly recommend it! You’re not really working completely from scratch, most of the time you can tell from the picture on the box what the background, flooring, or scenery will be, as well as the clothes people are wearing. You can get a general idea of what might go where, you may just have figure out where the scene might end up. For me, it focuses the attention. If I’m looking at the image on the box I don’t have to pay super close attention to background items or colors to tell me where a section will end up. Without an image you’re guided by only the colors and shapes – and the hints on the box of course. It’s a pilates class for your brain cells, it makes them use their “muscles” in a different way. 😀

Santa looks pretty cute with his antler hat, but I think it would be better for everyone if he drives the sleigh!

(What If #10) The Birthday

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment
IMG_3898
(What If #10) The Birthday by Geoff Tristram – Ravensburger 1000 pieces

Another puzzle where I don’t show the whole image, it’s more fun when you get to figure it out for yourself! I loved this puzzle, it was relaxing and so good at helping me relieve stress. More and more these days I seem to need my puzzles to help me stay calm and get rid of some anxiety, there’s only so much pharmaceuticals can do. 😉

I adore the Ravensburger What If and the Jumbo Wasgij series. The image on the box is only a clue to what the puzzle image is, you have to figure it out as you puzzle along. I find that I pay more attention when I assemble these types of puzzles, you can’t figure out where things fit into the image by just checking the box top!

All the What If puzzles are illustrated by Geoff Tristram, who seems to have exactly my sense of humor. The images are precise and detailed and always full of fun, artists like Mr. Tristram are the reason I fell in love with cartoon puzzles. In this edition, the box shows our hero Derek’s dream birthday dinner – the puzzle is what happens if the champagne is a little too lively. As usual, chaos is the result! 🙂

If you haven’t tried a Wasgij or What If puzzle, I highly recommend giving it a go. You use your brain differently I think, and it’s a very nice challenge. What If…..you ended up loving it??