Tag: 500 pieces

The Party

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

The Party – Buffalo – 500 pieces

This very dark looking puzzle was difficult at times, but not nearly as challenging as I thought – it was much more enjoyable than anticipated!

The fit was looser than normal for a Buffalo puzzle, but it was otherwise good quality. The image reproduction was stellar, which it absolutely needed to be for such a dark image. Overall, other than the fit I was very happy with this puzzle.

The border was a little challenging, but not too awful. Sometimes a solid border like that can be extremely frustrating, but the shapes of Buffalo pieces make it a little easier and the system that I use to put edges together helped quite a bit as well.

I started with the kids, obviously. The faces were the easiest to pick out, and their clothing all had different textures to them that weren’t too hard to find. Then I put together those large letters, which other than the house below was the most difficult part of the entire image.

This dark bleeping house was the hardest part of the puzzle, but luckily it wasn’t too many pieces. It’s the only part of the puzzle that had me separating the pieces by shape, and even then I really had to pay close attention.

As a fan of the tv show Stranger Things I was excited to put this puzzle together, thank goodness it wasn’t disappointing!

Rainbow Pets

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

Rainbow Pets by Myrna – Sure Lox/TCG – 500 pieces

Adorable as this image is, it wasn’t entertaining to assemble. Thin pieces, somewhat loose fit, shiny finish – it just wasn’t good quality and not the image I was looking to assemble. (My youngest son picked it out for me, and I assembled it to make him happy, ’cause I try to be a good mom.) The nicest thing I can tell you about this puzzle is that it wasn’t horrible quality, I’ve done way worse.

The odd thing about this puzzle was the fit. It seemed quite loose at the beginning when not many pieces were assembled, but the more the were added it seemed to get better. That sounds stupid, I know; almost all puzzles get better as more pieces are added – but this was very different. The edges seemed to barely connect and would come apart if disturbed by an accidental touch; if a small section was put together it was almost impossible to pick up and move without great care. But once you had a large section assembled it seemed to be an excellent fit. It was bizarre.

If I had wanted to (I didn’t) I almost could have taken a picture of it standing up when it was completed. It wasn’t great, almost crumbling, but it did stand up on it’s end – though not for long enough to actually get a picture before it fell apart.

Anyone know for sure what animal this is? I don’t. Gerbil? Hamster? Guinea Pig? Other?

If you like the look of this puzzle I have bad news for you, this puzzle is definitely not recommended.

Vintage Halloween

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

Vintage Halloween by Finchley Paper Arts – Bits and Pieces – 500 pieces

My apologies for the cockeyed picture, I have no idea what was wrong with me today when I took it. I normally check to be sure I’ve got a good picture before I disassemble the puzzle, but it seems I was in a hurry and took it apart before making sure. Please forgive the wonky image.

Good quality puzzle, though very shiny. I didn’t care for the triangular piece shapes; my thought was that I’d get used to it as the puzzle went on, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I was forever being stumped and confused by the way everything connected. I’ve worked puzzles with a wide variety of different and unusual shapes and have enjoyed them all – until this puzzle with it’s oddly shaped triangular pieces. These shapes just aren’t my pile of pieces.

My first Halloween puzzle of the season, and honestly I’m surprised I remembered to get it going to have it ready in the queue. Yay me and my aging, menopausal brain!

These are a few of my favorite sections, although the artwork in each one was beautiful in it’s own way. The time and attention that went into making these images still impresses me. If these are actually vintage (and they look as if they are) there weren’t computers or AI to make these for the artist, they were each painstakingly drawn/painted. *If they’re not actually old and just made to look like it – forget what I just said.

Do I sound like an old person, pining for the ways of yesteryear? Well, it seems I am an old person now, things seemed much simpler even just ten years ago. Sigh.

Happy Halloween season everyone! 🦇👻

…Banned Books In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling2 Comments

I Read Banned Books by Laura Korzon – Mudpuppy – 500 pieces

If you are a regular reader you know how I feel about banned books. 🤬 A regular reader and member of my puzzle posse (and charter member of the PADS posse) who knows how I feel about both collages and banned books sent me this puzzle for an early birthday present. Of course it had to be next on my board – I love it!

It got sorted yesterday, but I wasn’t feeling well and spent much of the day in bed resting. Perhaps I got a bit too much rest during the day because about 1:30 this morning I was up and at the puzzle board getting this one started. 😴

As you can see I sorted them by section and started with the bottom row, but didn’t get all the pieces sorted correctly. It isn’t too surprising, I almost never get things sorted perfectly on the first try. That’s ok, nobody’s perfect – besides, it makes it more fun when I find the piece that’s missing.

It’s going really quickly, and I almost wish it had more pieces; it’s going to be over too soon! I’ve never done a Mudpuppy puzzle larger than 500 pieces, though I do know they make 1000 piecers. Has anyone ever done one of their larger piece count puzzles? If so, I’d love to hear what you think about the quality.

I’m not a fan of the sharp white backing that they use and I wish there was more than one piece shape, but the fit is excellent as is the image reproduction. The image is so entertaining to put together, of course I’m loving it!

Thanks again Penny, you chose a great puzzle! 💙

New York Map

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

New York Map – Cavallini & Co. – 500 pieces

This interesting puzzle belongs to my sister-in-law, she brought it upstairs to show it to me while we were visiting and I couldn’t resist it. Of course we had to put it together, look at all those words! 😁

I’ve only ever done one other puzzle by this company, and I find them to be very good quality. They use the “sharp” white backing that I’m not fond of, but otherwise they make very nice puzzles. They’re a bit pricey for me, but there’s always the thrift store and purchasing them second-hand.

All of their puzzle packages say “Vintage Puzzle” on them, which I find to be misleading; perhaps what they mean is that the images are vintage, or vintage-looking. In my mind vintage means at least 20-40 years old; these puzzles definitely are not old, they are newly manufactured. Maybe that’s just me being pedantic, but I’m allowed – it’s my blog. 😁

This tall section showing Central Park was one of the first sections we put together, that green was very easy to find in this mostly white and blue image.

You all know how much I love to assemble words – can you believe I let my sister-in-law put this whole section together by herself? Me neither! I did though, cause I’m a nice old lady. 👵

I’m not sure why this nun was taking a baby out for a stroll, but I found it interesting enough to make sure there was a close-up picture of it.

We had a great time putting this puzzle together, even though it was more difficult that it looks. Sometimes the ones that challenge you are the most fun!