Review: Wild Animal Park

On January 8, 2018January 8, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviews, Thrift Store PuzzlesLeave a comment

Wild Animal Park – Ravensburger – 380 pieces (Family Puzzle)

I had no idea that my favorite puzzle manufacturer made family puzzles! It doesn’t look like they’re being produced anymore, but I was happy mom came across this beauty on one of her thrift store runs. I enjoy working a family puzzle once in a while, even for just one person I think they’re an entertaining departure from the “normal” puzzle.

The entire bottom section has the largest pieces (approx. 55) and are the easiest to assemble for the youngest children; the top left of the puzzle has the medium sized pieces (approx. 80) and are a bit more difficult, and the top right of the puzzle has the smallest sized pieces (approx. 250) and is the most challenging section. This section isn’t easy, and if you’re not someone who assembles puzzles regularly you may find this section a bit difficult. I really enjoyed the fact that the adult portion of the puzzle wasn’t super easy, which I’ve found to be the case with some family puzzles I’ve worked. I found every section entertaining to assemble and it was hard for me to walk away from working on it. I get a little obsessed sometimes. 😏

I’ve enjoyed every family puzzle that I’ve done, no matter who the manufacturer is. I think they’re an excellent idea and great fun to work with others. I’d love to find more of the series of family puzzles that Ravensburger produced, as I think they’re one of the best quality family puzzles that I’ve assembled. They’re not too simple, and I think that challenging images/puzzles are important to keeping a person’s interest; every different section was just the right amount of challenging. I would definitely recommend this puzzle, it’s extremely well done!

*This is post number 500 for My Jigsaw Journal, wow!*

Details:

Title: Wild Animal Park
Artist: Unknown
Brand: Ravensburger
Piece count: 380 pieces
Size: Approx. 27 x 19 in. (69 x 48 cm)
Purchased: Used, thrift store

Quality:

Board: Excellent
Cutting: Excellent
Image: Excellent
Box: Quite large to accommodate larger pieces
Fit: Excellent
Puzzle Dust: Moderate amount
Piece cut: Grid cut
Piece shapes: Very good variety
Finish: Matte finish, lays flat

Overall Rating: Excellent, highly recommended

Review: The Christmas Library

On December 22, 2017January 15, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviews7 Comments

The Christmas Library by Aimee Stewart – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

Aimee Stewart and Ravensburger, always a fantastic combination! Her artwork is beautiful and colorful and ever entertaining, and her puzzles have never disappointed. 🙂

The Christmas Library made for excellent puzzling – I enjoyed every single piece. Having words to assemble always makes me happy, and the style of the vintage books, ornaments, and images was absolutely gorgeous! The quality was excellent, as usual. It’s very rare that I have any quality issues with Ravensburger. The pieces look and feel like a premium puzzle, and fit together like one too. An all around fantastic Christmas image!

I’ve never really been a Christmas puzzle person, most holiday puzzles are so similar that they don’t interest me much. This year though, I’ve been lucky enough to find a few puzzles that are outside the norm, and they’ve been quite fun to assemble. I’m putting this one in that group, it’s more of a collage and that’s more to my liking then the standard Santa and the tree puzzles.

Stay tuned, the next 3 days will be all Christmas puzzles that I’ve assembled this season; I enjoyed every one. (I can hardly believe I just wrote that! 😮 )

Details:

Title: The Christmas Library
Artist: Aimee Stewart
Brand: Ravensburger
Piece count: 1000 pieces
Size: Approx. 27 x 20 in. (70 x 50 cm)
Purchased: New

Quality:

Board: Excellent
Cutting: Very good
Image: Excellent
Box: Average
Fit: Very good
Puzzle Dust: Small amount
Piece cut: Grid cut
Piece shapes: Very good variety
Finish: Slightly shiny finish, lays flat

Overall Rating: Excellent, recommended

African Splendor

On December 2, 2017 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles6 Comments

Another beautiful 500 piece Ravensburger, mom and I started this one the day after Thanksgiving but didn’t finish it before I left. Mom completed it that night; isn’t that just like a mother – having to finish things for their children. 😉

The 300 and 500 piece puzzles have become a favorite for mom and I to do together. Unless it’s a remarkable image we usually don’t have enough time to finish a 1000 piece puzzle, so the smaller piece counts are perfect. That leaves plenty of time to chit chat, laugh, and even pull the Spot It game from my purse for a couple of quick hands. (If you saw us play this game you’d be shocked at the little old ladies cussing at each other while laughing hysterically, it’s so much fun!)

This was another puzzle that is easy to work with someone else. Easy enough to pick out one of the animals and work on it without getting in the other person’s way. It’s not an image that mom and I would normally choose, but we’ve found we’re not nearly as picky when the prices are amazing. Tightwads we are, and proud of it! It was a fun assembly but challenging; and absolutely worth the 69 cents we paid for it.

Mom and I work puzzles together every week, and I’m so glad we get that time. I enjoy being able to assemble puzzles with someone, and it’s even better when that someone is mom. 💗 We’re so lucky to have each other!

Hang Loose

On November 30, 2017 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store PuzzlesLeave a comment

IMG_E3971 — Hang Loose by Scott Westmoreland – Ravensburger – 500 pieces

This is a puzzle that I probably wouldn’t have purchased new; it’s not the typical artwork that interests me. But as usual I am proven wrong because this was so much fun to assemble! Will I ever learn? Probably not. But it is fun that I’m still getting surprised by how fun a certain image is to assemble, so I guess I’ll just keep on being me! 😉

In addition, it was a great puzzle to work with someone else (my mom ❤) – the towels and surfboards on opposite ends of the puzzle make it perfect for working with others. It’s easy to grab the pieces for one of the boards or towels and assemble it without getting in someone else’s way. We had a great time with this puzzle, and it was just the right amount of challenging with the sky and ocean. I highly recommend it!

This would be a great puzzle for a summer vacation with family, or even for a holiday get together where you’re snuggled in front of a fire wishing for the beach. Hang loose, and happy puzzling! 😎

Santa & Rudolph

On November 26, 2017 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Not counting my “Christmas in July” on the blog, this was my first Christmas puzzle of the season! As usual, I’m only showing the character shown on the box – no spoilers. You’d miss out on the fun of discovering for yourself why it’s better if Santa keeps his job instead of handing it over to Rudolph. 😉

I adore Geoff Tristam’s sense of humor – even the gift tags on the presents were funny! His partnership with Ravensburger for these What If puzzles is a great pairing in my opinion; I hope it continues for a very long time!

I really appreciate the quality of a Ravensburger puzzle, especially after I’ve worked on another brand that isn’t as “premium”. It even makes me happy to lay all the pieces out, because I just know it’s going to fit well and that there will be enough variety in the piece shape so that the assembly isn’t overly tedious. (I’m working a puzzle with not much variety in the shape of the pieces and I’m feeling frazzled 😳 )

If you haven’t tried a What If or Wasgij puzzle yet, I highly recommend it! You’re not really working completely from scratch, most of the time you can tell from the picture on the box what the background, flooring, or scenery will be, as well as the clothes people are wearing. You can get a general idea of what might go where, you may just have figure out where the scene might end up. For me, it focuses the attention. If I’m looking at the image on the box I don’t have to pay super close attention to background items or colors to tell me where a section will end up. Without an image you’re guided by only the colors and shapes – and the hints on the box of course. It’s a pilates class for your brain cells, it makes them use their “muscles” in a different way. 😀

Santa looks pretty cute with his antler hat, but I think it would be better for everyone if he drives the sleigh!