Minnie Mouse

Minnie Mouse – Mega Puzzles (Multipack) – 150 pieces

This is another thrift store purchase that I got the other day, ain’t she cute? I thought so too. The quality was pretty awful, but I knew going in that it most likely would be, so it wasn’t a surprise. Puzzles from a multipack usually aren’t premium quality, but 8 Disney puzzles for $4.99 with adorable images was just too good a bargain for me to pass up.

I documented my progress with this one, as I knew it would go together quickly. It didn’t start the way most of my puzzles do, there was no sorting at all. All the pieces were laid out on my board and the edges were separated…

Once the edge was assembled I smushed all the pieces a little closer together so I wouldn’t have to lean or reach for any of the pieces…

Then the assembly really began. I started with the words in the yellow bubble in the corner, and as many pieces of the faces of Minnie that I could find. She’s coming together and looking adorable isn’t she?

At only 150 pieces this one was started and finished quickly, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable. Even with the questionable quality it was fun and entertaining and has me looking forward to working with the other cute images in this box of 8 puzzles.

I am most definitely a puzzle snob who prefers a premium puzzle like Ravensburger, Pomegranate, or Jumbo to name a few, but I also don’t limit myself to only the very best of puzzles. I enjoy expensive puzzles and cheap ones alike; there’s nothing like finding an amazing deal at the thrift store. I still have hopes of finding a Stave puzzle at a thrift store, although I doubt it will ever happen!

Thoughts of mom had me going out of my way to get to a thrift store that has always had a very good jigsaw puzzle selection this week after I went in for a mammogram. (Ain’t it great being a lady? *sigh* It definitely isn’t much fun, but it is necessary – take care of your ta-tas ladies!)

I’m glad I took the time. I feel the teeniest bit closer to mom when I’m working a puzzle from the thrift store, and now I have quite a few of them here to choose from.

Sunny Palms

Sunny Palms
Sunny Palms by Patrick Reid O’Brien – Mega Puzzles – 300 pieces

This puzzle was not fun, the image didn’t make for entertaining assembly at all. The fit wasn’t great either and it was an all-around pain in my behind until I was able to finish it and get it off my table.

Mega Puzzles aren’t a premium brand, and I knew that going in, but this one was the worst quality of theirs that I’ve found. I usually don’t have a problem with them for the most part, but this was a bad picture mixed with bad chipboard and it didn’t add up to entertainment.

Sunny Palms 1

All pieces looked like a variation of these, not easy to work with. The best part of this puzzle was giving it away! 😉

Paradise Found

Paradise Found
Paradise Found by Bill Drysdale – Mega Puzzles – 300 pieces

This was a quick and fun puzzle; not my normal image choice but I’ll give pretty much anything that’s a small piece count a try. 🙂

I don’t normally recommend Mega Puzzles for larger piece count puzzles, but the smaller counts are pretty darn good quality. The board is much thicker than I’ve found their 1000 piece puzzles to be, and there is more variety in piece shape as well. Many companies seem to go the extra mile for their 300 piece puzzles – perhaps because many seniors choose them because of the easier to handle pieces – and most people (erroneously) think that puzzling is mostly for old people.

It isn’t, of course, it’s for everyone – from the very young to the very old we can all benefit from the stress-reduction, peaceful meditative state, and many other wonderful health advantages that puzzling brings.

 

Dapper Dandies

Dapper Dandies
Dapper Dandies by Amy Lynn – Mega Puzzles – 300 pieces

Dapper Dandies was the first of my Facebook Marketplace purchases that I assembled, and what fun! I love the artwork by Amy Lynn, and it made for an excellent and entertaining assembly. 🙂

I find Mega Puzzles to be hit or miss, sometimes the quality is much better than expected and sometimes not so much. The fit was fine on this one but the chipboard was on the thin side and it definitely didn’t lay flat.

Dapper Dandies 1

Still, if we’re discussing the puzzling itself I enjoyed this one very much. It gave me a bit more challenge than I would have thought, but I find the challenging ones are pretty darn fun too! Looking at the finished image I’m surprised that it was as difficult for me as it was, but I can’t only blame the puzzle. I was recovering from a long trip and on pain medication; that sometimes slows down my brain function, which slows down the assembly. 😉

Mousing Around

Mousing Around
Mousing Around by Tim Rogerson – Mega Puzzles – 300 pieces

My very last puzzle of 2018 was this Mickey Mouse puzzle that was great fun even though there were basically only 4 colors to work with. It’s such an interesting look for Mr. Mouse, and it made for excellent puzzling. 🙂

*I’m not feeling very chatty this morning, perhaps it’s my PADS diagnosis*