Tag: 300 pieces

Puzzler’s Desk In Progress

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Thrift Store Puzzles6 Comments

Puzzler’s Desk by Steve Read – Hua Cao Shu Mu – 300 pieces

Although I chose which puzzle to do next, I find myself extremely annoyed with this puzzle. Not because of it’s quality (though that does needs an extra big straw for how much it sucks), but perhaps due to the fact that I’m old and cranky and don’t feel well.

This was a thrift store purchase of three puzzles in a box; no brand name I could be confident in, no titles of the artwork, no artist credit, no nothing. The quality is crap; thin pieces of chipboard that you can almost peel apart, extremely shiny finish, sharp backing, blurry reproduction, etc. It seems to be one of those companies that popped up during the pandemic to make a quick buck on the run on jigsaw puzzles, which again, annoys me.

In a world where the most banal, trivial information is readily available everywhere and where a company knows what ads to target me with based on which tissue I sneezed into yesterday – how is it that no one seems to be able to have the right information to stop companies and people from stealing artwork and bootlegging up some really crappy puzzles and selling them all over the world? (See? Old and cranky)

I’m finishing these puzzles to get them out of my house, which is the only reason I picked this one to assemble next. They’re taking up precious shelf space and they suck so loud I can hear them over my music when I’m working on a good quality puzzle. I want them gone.

My name is Stacey, I am old and cranky and I don’t feel well today – and this puzzle is annoying.

Ice Cream Social

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles5 Comments

Ice Cream Social by Lars Stewart – Milton Bradley – 300 pieces

Such a fun and colorful image, I really had a good time putting this one together! This was a thrift store puzzle, and although it was pre-loved and had a few bent tabs it was good quality and all the pieces were there – what more could a PADS sufferer ask for?

The quality of this puzzle was better than anticipated. There were the bent tabs, but otherwise I was more than happy with every other category. There were a very good variety of piece shapes, the cut was nice, the fit was exceptional, the finish was matte and it had a nice hand feel.

Exceptional fit, you say? Hmmm. Is she gonna take another stupid standing up puzzle picture? Of course she is!

These pictures and standing up a puzzle really do make me happy. I have no explanation and I make no excuses. 😎

Down on the Boardwalk

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

Down on the Boardwalk by Charles Fazzino – TCG – 300 pieces

The riotous color in this image was very enjoyable and went quite quickly once it was started. I’ve done a few Charles Fazzino images and they’ve always been interesting and entertaining to put together. Normally artwork with so many things packed tightly together isn’t quite my cup of tea (think Jan van Haasteren), but this one has enough breaks with the ocean and sky that it wasn’t too difficult.

The quality was much better than expected for a TCG puzzle; they are hit and miss in the quality department for me – usually more misses than hits unfortunately. But this puzzle had great reproduction, good cut, and an excellent fit.

Everything was bright and fun with lots of people, places, and things to see. Love the Rainforest Cafe!

The whole puzzle was just all around fun. I’ve never been to Atlantic City, but this boardwalk puzzle makes it look like fun.

Flower Deer

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

Flower Deer by Coco de Paris – Milton Bradley – 300 pieces

This image is just beautiful, and adorable at the same time. Loved it! This is the third of these puzzles with images by Coco de Paris that I’ve done, and they’ve all been great fun, but not too easy at the same time. So entertaining!

The quality was pretty good for this thrift store puzzle. A good variety of piece shapes, good fit, nice image reproduction, and a not too shiny finish. Overall, I would say good/very good in the quality department for this one.

If you look at the back of the box there are so many different brand names it was difficult at first to decide which one to credit. Listed on the box were Milton Bradley, Cardinal, Hasbro, and Spin Master. I decided that the name shown on the front as well would be the name I went with, so Milton Bradley is credited here.

Fun little puzzle that didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it might, it was difficult to walk away from once I got into the assembly of the center. The border was assembled first, and then the puzzle sat unloved and alone on the board for more than 24 hours before I actually started working on the inside of the puzzle; but once I started I didn’t want to leave.

Lots of fun!

Ice Cream Social In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Thrift Store Puzzles6 Comments

Ice Cream Social by Lars Stewart – Milton Bradley – 300 pieces

It took me forever to decide which puzzle to do next; my last puzzle of 2023 was a 1000 piece puzzle that was a bleeping nightmare to work with and my first puzzle of 2024 was a little 101 piece puzzle that my son got me for Christmas. I wanted the next one to be entertaining and relatively good quality and seeing this Lars Stewart image made my decision for me – bright colors, lots of words, and lots of yummy, colorful ice cream!

This is a thrift store purchase, and there are a lot of pieces with bent tabs, but otherwise the quality has been good so far. The fit is nice, the finish is matte and has a good hand feel, there are a good variety of pieces and the image reproduction is gorgeous.

Here’s hoping it’s a complete puzzle and it remains fun to assemble!