Tag: Puzzle Warehouse

Review: Spot It Winter Wonderland

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Game Reviews2 Comments
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse. 

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Spot It Winter Wonderland is the most fun game! I wasn’t sure about it when I first saw it, I’m not sure what I thought. Whatever it was, I was completely wrong!

It’s extremely easy to learn and play, and is wonderfully entertaining for kids and adults alike. Definitely adults because my mother and I have been playing it a LOT and having the best time. So it’s fun for kids, and just as fun for “adults” (I don’t consider myself an adult really, I’m a grown up – but in my mind I’m still a fun-loving kid 😉 )

The game is simple, there are 6 images on each card (for this edition they are winter symbols – mittens, hockey stick, snowflake, etc.) There is one, and only one matching symbol between any two cards. Whichever version of the game you choose to play the object is to find the matching symbol between one of your cards and the face up card. Mom and I play by dealing 10 cards to each player (less if you have more than 3 players) and turning over the top card of the remaining deck. Find a matching symbol on your card, call it out and put your card on top of the center card. The winner is the first person to run out of cards.

Sound too easy? Sound boring? It isn’t! When the pressure is on and speed is important it isn’t easy at all! When someone calls out their match your brain tells you to look for that symbol instead of just looking for any match; and the symbols can be different sizes, so if you’re looking for the purple hat it may be very small or very large…

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There are instructions included for 5 different ways to play, or you could even make up your own version of the game. Puzzle Warehouse has many different editions of Spot It to choose from; animals, shapes, numbers, sports, several licensed Disney editions, and even larger editions for parties including one with a timer. Click here to see all the matching/memory games available at Puzzle Warehouse.

The tin is small, about 3 inches in diameter, so it’s the perfect travel size. I keep it in my purse so it’s always available for a quick game. We use the lid of the tin to keep the card pile from sliding all over, so we can play just about anywhere. They even make a waterproof version for playing poolside! It’s great for a quick game for any reason – waiting for food in a restaurant, to decide who gets to take out the trash, etc. – it’s fast and fun and I end up laughing every single time we play. Also, for other grown ups out there, it would be an excellent game to play while enjoying adult beverages. 😉

Most of the Spot It games aren’t available for online purchase at Puzzle Warehouse due to a vendor agreement, but there are several ways to order it. You can call Puzzle Warehouse toll free at 866-539-4278, you can order through their catalog (click here to request a free catalog), or if you’re lucky enough to live near their brick and mortar store you can buy it in store while puzzle shopping. 😎 Also, if you live near their store in St. Louis would you like to be my new best friend???

 

I received this product at no charge in return for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are truthful and 100% my own.

Review: Paris Opera House

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviews1 Comment
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse.
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Paris Opera House – Masterpieces (Masters of Photography) – 500 pieces

An absolutely beautiful puzzle that I was scared of, to be honest. It looked like it was going to be too difficult to be fun – of course I was wrong. As usual. 🙂

This gorgeous puzzle is part of the Masterpieces Space Savers collection – 500 piece puzzles in smaller boxes for a smaller price. I had it in my mind that because the box is smaller and has a flip up top that the puzzle wouldn’t be very good quality, I mean how good can a puzzle that costs $5.99 be? As it turns out, pretty darn good. 🙂 Click the link above to see all the Space Savers available at Puzzle Warehouse.

The pieces were a good thickness and fit together very well; I never thought a piece went where it didn’t belong. The image reproduction as you can see is excellent and the finished image is flat and seamless. The piece shape isn’t obvious partially because the image itself is quite busy and also because of the fit. The only issue I had with this puzzle is that the finish is a bit shiny which can cause glare, and you may have to be careful when working under lights.

This is the second Space Saver that I’ve done and I’m very impressed with the quality. I definitely recommend them – they’re the perfect size to throw in your suitcase when you’re off for a weekend away. Don’t want the kids to sit and stare at their phones or the television? Pack a puzzle! It’s pretty hard to walk past a partially assembled puzzle, you can see exactly where that piece should go and you’ll just sit for a few minutes and work on it too. It’s a great activity for one person or the whole family.

Photography puzzles aren’t usually what I like to assemble, or at least I used to think so. Looking at all of the photography puzzles available at Puzzle Warehouse there are so many I would love to do! They have puzzles of just about everything – pets, food, landmarks, nature, architecture, people, landscapes and so much more. My poor wallet, this wishlist is getting out of hand!

I’m really enjoying these reviews because I’m assembling puzzles I normally wouldn’t have chosen for myself and enjoying them immensely! I know what I like as far as puzzles go, but just because the picture isn’t something that jumps out at me doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy it. Because honestly, so far, there hasn’t been one puzzle that I haven’t enjoyed. 🙂

I enjoyed this one even though I was scared of it! Unfortunately this puzzle is no longer available at Puzzle Warehouse but there are plenty of puzzles from Masterpieces to choose from; or click the links above to look at the Space Savers collection and the photography puzzles available. Masterpieces space saver puzzles are definitely recommended. 👍

 

I received this product at no charge in return for an honest review, all opinions are truthful and 100% my own.

 

Review: Sunsout Puzzle Preserver (Glue)

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlingLeave a comment
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse. 

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I don’t glue most of the puzzles I complete, but I have glued several puzzles for framing. This was my first time using Sunsout Puzzle Preserver and I liked it!

Some puzzles I’ve purchased specifically to frame after assembly, a Marine Corps puzzle for my husband last Christmas, Vintage Love Letters to hang in our bedroom, and several golf puzzles for hubby’s golf room. I’ve done my share of gluing puzzles, and while it seemed daunting at first, it’s really not difficult at all.

Sunsout Puzzle Preserver is very easy to use. The applicator brush is built into the lid so you can’t lose it, which is handy for those of us who can be absentminded and lose track of things. And the glue itself is opaque, so you can see where you’ve applied it, but dries clear and quickly.  I think the high gloss finish brightens up the colors of your puzzle.

Also, if you have a puzzle where the piece shape is obvious in the finished image, gluing it can soften the look of those lines and make it look more like a picture instead of a puzzle. I recently reviewed a Eurographics puzzle called Tsuki Hoshi that my daughter loved – but the piece shapes were very obvious. I glued it for her using Sunsout Puzzle Preserver and the shapes were quite muted afterward! Check it out before and after…

Tsuki Hoshi by Haruyo Morita – Eurographics – 1000 pieces

You can tell especially in the moon and the lighter top portion of the puzzle, it looks more like artwork and less like a jigsaw puzzle. I was extremely pleased, it looks beautiful!

I prefer to apply it by pouring the glue directly on the puzzle and spreading it around with an old credit card, I find it gets applied more evenly that way. I did use the attached brush for gluing Paris Opera House, but it ended up needing a second coat. I didn’t have that trouble when I used my regular method.  Be sure you put wax paper or plastic wrap underneath your puzzle so if any seeps through you won’t damage the surface beneath. Also, be careful not to apply too much, or it can get tacky – I went a little crazy the first time I used it. Oops!  😉  It’s a high gloss finish, so if you prefer matte I would use a different glue.

This is the before and after for Paris Opera House. In my opinion it sharpens the definition and makes the colors pop. You can see the darker colors more, but showing the shaded areas defines the arch of the ceilings. Compare the ceilings – the after picture shows more depth and the colors are brightened. I think it’s gorgeous!

Paris Opera House – Masterpieces (Masters of Photography) – 500 pieces
Paris Opera House – Masterpieces (Masters of Photography) – 500 pieces

I’ve used this glue on puzzles from Masterpieces, Sunsout, and Eurographics, and it has turned out beautifully every time. Like I said, I don’t glue most of my puzzles, but for the ones I do I would definitely trust Sunsout Puzzle Preserver. It’s only $3.99 at Puzzle Warehouse for a 4 ounce jar that will do 2 or 3 1000 piece puzzles. That’s an excellent price compared to Amazon at $6.60!

 

 I received this product at no charge in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are truthful and 100% my own.

Review: Santa’s Highway

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviewsLeave a comment
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse. 
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Santa’s Highway by Jim Todd – Sunsout – 1000 pieces

Santa’s Highway is a great shaped puzzle from Sunsout. It was so much fun that it went together more quickly than normal for a 1000 piece puzzle. Another puzzle for Christmas in July! 🎅🤶

While I’m not a big fan of the way Sunsout rectangular puzzles fit together, their shaped puzzles are altogether different. The fit of their rectangular puzzles is very tight and you have to work at putting two pieces together – really press down on them. The shaped puzzles they produce fit together differently and I enjoy the fit much more. Sunsout has an excellent catalog of shaped puzzles, click the link above to see Sunsout puzzles available at Puzzle Warehouse.

Sunsout quality is very good in my opinion. The pieces are thick and sturdy and fit together well with a random cut that gives you a wide variety of piece shapes. The image reproduction is excellent with a slightly shiny finish that can cause glare under lights. Their boxes are large and square with the name of the puzzle, artist, and manufacturer along with the piece count on all four sides – making it easy to shelve either vertically or horizontally.

The finished puzzle is 27 x 32 in. (68 x 81 cm) which is an impressive size! It’s one thing to read the number and have an idea in your head of how big it is, and it’s another thing to actually see it. It definitely makes a statement, and would look amazing framed – or even better, glued and mounted on foam backing that is cut to fit the shape. It would make more of a statement in it’s highway sign shape I think. This puzzle is part of The Highway Series by Jim Todd – gorgeous puzzles shaped like highway signs with scenes from along the route; they’d make a great wall hanging for a car enthusiast or frequent traveler! Click the link above to see all the Highway Series puzzles and others from this artist available at Puzzle Warehouse.

Santa’s Highway went together quickly as it was easy to pull out sections to assemble. Unlike rectangular puzzles it isn’t as easy to start a shaped puzzle with the edge. I started with the cactus and reindeer flying across the moon, then moved on to the map and pictures. One after another each section went into place quickly because it was so much fun to assemble that I couldn’t leave it alone! Also, I loved how the edge looks beveled; it makes the puzzle even more striking and distinctive. I had a great time with it and am now looking at getting Lincoln Highway from this series to assemble next – it has gorgeous scenes from Historic Pennsylvania Highway 30. Another one added to my wish list, which is getting quite large! 😉

This puzzle was a wonderfully entertaining assembly and I enjoyed it from start to finish! If you enjoy Christmas or shaped puzzles, or even want to give shaped puzzles a try I highly recommend Santa’s Highway. Two thumbs way up! 👍🎄👍

 

I received this product at no charge in return for an honest review, all opinions are truthful and 100% my own.

 

Review: Puppies in a Basket

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviewsLeave a comment
This post is sponsored by Puzzle Warehouse.  
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Puppies in a Basket by Susan Brabeau – Ravensburger – 500 pieces

Puppies in a Basket is an adorable 500 piece puzzle from Ravensburger – my favorite puzzle company! Click the link above to see all the puzzles available from this manufacturer at Puzzle Warehouse. Their catalog is large and varied, and there’s something for everyone – from 10 pieces to the world’s largest puzzle at 40,320 pieces! (I don’t want to brag too much, but the 40,320 piece puzzle?–I did that! 😎 )

This puzzle full of puppy cuteness was an entertaining assembly from start to finish! The pieces for this 500 piece puzzles are little bigger than their average pieces, which I enjoy. They feel good in your hands and make for a nice size finished puzzle.

Ravensburger pieces are about the nicest, most premium pieces on the market and they are what I compare all other puzzles to. The fit is excellent and their “softclick technology” makes it so that you know when you’ve found the correct piece and the finished puzzle is absolutely smooth. The variety of piece shapes is excellent and makes for a fun puzzling experience. Their quality is exceptional in my opinion and I never hesitate to purchase a Ravensburger puzzle because I know I’ll be getting wonderful quality.

The artwork by Susan Brabeau feels homey and warm, and is an excellent image for puzzling. There are plenty of different colors and textures to help with assembly, and enough sameness so that it isn’t so easy that it’s boring. Susan’s artwork is nostalgic and beautiful and has been made into many puzzles by several different manufacturers. Click the link above to see all the puzzles available from this artist at Puzzle Warehouse.

These puppies made for a fun puzzle that was quick to put together. I started with the light blues of the window frame and pillow, and then assembled the basket. It was easy to pick out colors or textures to assemble without having to check the box image for reference; the quilt was fun with some repeating fabrics and colors. An excellent puzzle that made me smile every time I looked at it. The picture still makes me smile. 🙂

Dogs (especially puppies) are a popular puzzle image – who can resist all that sweet cuteness? I sure can’t! Unfortunately this puzzle is no longer available, but with almost 20 pages of dog puzzles to choose from at Puzzle Warehouse you’re sure to find an adorable four-legged friend to puzzle with. 🙂

 

I received this product at no charge in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are truthful and 100% my own.