Tag: Cartoon Puzzles

The Flintstones

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

The Flintstones – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

My sweet, beautiful daughter got me this puzzle for my birthday, and she did such a good job picking it out – it was so much fun! It was definitely a Goldilocks puzzle; not too easy, not too challenging – it was just right. Of course I loved it. ❤

Wonderful Ravensburger quality, as usual. The feel of a Ravensburger puzzle massage (running my hands over the completed puzzle) is like no other, it’s so satisfying. Perhaps that’s just my little ritual, but the feel of a great quality puzzle when it’s finished makes me very happy.

Maybe I’m just being pedantic again, but if it’s 3,000,000 BC – how would they know? Wilma is reading a “magazine” with that date on it; but B.C. means before Christ, so how do they know he’ll be born in exactly 3 million years? It’s such a minor detail, I know, but these things jump right out at me and I can’t stop myself from seeing these little, insignificant details and then pointing them out to you. I think it’s the former executive secretary in me, I’m hard-wired to find mistakes.

All the black and white sections were the hardest to do, and the last bits to be assembled. After putting together the colorful scenes I assembled the slightly colored frames, and ended with the grayish sections. I really enjoyed every part of this image, it was VERY entertaining.

Alright, it’s time to reminisce. Anyone watch The Flintstones when it was was a prime time cartoon? How about in reruns during the 70s? The series was no longer being made when I was born, but I remember watching the reruns when I was younger. The theme song has permanent residence in my brain; I think most of my generation could sing it from memory. It’s iconic.

The opening of the show, which changed several times, at one point had the family going to a drive-in restaurant where Fred ordered a slab of dinosaur ribs that tipped over the car when they were brought. Also an iconic image that is forever stuck in the far recesses of my brain. Nostalgia, huh?

This puzzle was so much fun, it is definitely recommended. If it looks like something you’d enjoy – go for it – it gets two Brontosaurus ribs way up!🍖🍖

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! ❄❄

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!

Fantasy Golf (What If? #18)

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Fantasy Golf by Geoff Tristram (What If? #18) – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

It’ll be no surprise that I had a great time assembling this puzzle, Geoff Tristram’s artwork is always so bright and colorful and full of his sense of humor. It makes for excellent puzzling!

With mystery puzzles like this where the box image is not the final image of the puzzle, I only show you the one character shown on the box as a hint. In this case the character was reversed and facing the other direction on the box, so I reversed the image of my picture to make it match. I also darkened around the edges so the character is the focus.

When I was starting my first What If? puzzle I searched for an image of the box to put on my homepage to show what puzzle I was working on, and the first thing that popped up in my results was a picture of the finished puzzle. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I couldn’t un-see it, and it ruined the fun I would have had figuring out the puzzle for myself. I never want to do that to anyone else, so I do not show the completed puzzles here. Ever.

In Fantasy Golf, the box says “Have you ever experienced the frustration, fury and despair that only golf can deliver? What If golf suddenly became easier to play – almost a “walk in the park”? The picture on this box shows the disheartened and gloomy golfers at Hacketton Hope Golf Club. The puzzle inside this box shows a new way to play this most challenging sport!”

In my opinion these puzzles aren’t terribly difficult. The box image shows you what the characters are wearing (most of the time), and you just have to figure out how things end up. You do that the same way you would assemble any other puzzle, by finding colors or patterns that match and putting them together. The more you assemble, the more the idea of the image takes shape and before you know it the mystery of the image is clear. The puzzles are in cartoon form, so the colors are bold and bright, and it’s easy to pick out a pattern or color and start building.

The wordplay is always entertaining as well. Did you catch it earlier in the name of the club? Hacketton Hope. Hack it and hope. It’s all over this puzzle in the names of golf clubs, people, even the brands of clothing. It’s one of the reasons his puzzles are a favorite of mine, we have similar silly senses of humor. 😁

If you’ve never given What If? puzzles a try, I highly recommend them. Great Ravensburger quality, excellent images, and a fun little mystery to solve.

Fantasy Golf In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

Fantasy Golf (What If? No. 18) by Geoff Tristram- Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

Obviously I cannot show you the puzzle that I’m currently assembling; it’s a mystery puzzle and showing the image, even just in progress, is a spoiler. Instead I’m sharing the picture on the back of the box. This is the artist, Geoff Tristram; his photo is on the back of every What If? puzzle that he draws, and he’s always dressed up in outfits that relate to the theme of the artwork.

The box says “What If? Golf suddenly became easier to play? Just imagine how delightful a round could be…” From what I can see so far, it’s going to be another beautiful bit of cartooning from the artist, and more fun and funny characters and situations to assemble.

Hubby is off at a golf tournament today, so I’m hoping working on this puzzle brings him good luck. 🍀⛳

*If he wins, we can use the cash prize to buy more puzzles! 😎*