MikesAPuzzler, Author at Puzzling For Fun

Colorful Umbrellas in Bali Puzzle from Big Ben

This Colorful Umbrellas in Bali puzzle from Big Ben (once part of Milton Bradley and now Hasbro) was very tough for us to finish. It took us about as long as any 1000 piece puzzle has ever taken. It’s no longer made as far as I can tell but you can find it on eBay. At several points throughout the process I said “Good, no one else will have to go through this!”. But we made it. And we enjoyed the final result more, I think, if nothing else because of the challenging times we had.

Cross & Glory – Umbrella Festival: Parade of Parasols – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle | Puzzles for Adults 1000 Pieces | Colorful Market Scene

Nice ‘Ellas

Yes, it was the bright colors that drew us to this Colorful Umbrellas in Bali puzzle from Big Ben. We found it at a garage sale. I’m pretty sure it had never been assembled before. I can see why, too. This puzzle could easily scare off even the most-seasoned puzzle veteran. Once you get past the umbrellas and what little identifiable beach sand there is, it’s tough. Way tough.

See More Nature- and Scenery-Themed Puzzles

The Last Piece

This is a 1000 piece puzzle. It did not include a poster. The picture on the box did not show the entire puzzle. The assembled puzzle is about 20″ wide and 27″ high, although you can assemble it either in portrait or landscape orientation. The pieces are thick, fit well. The image quality on the pieces is not so good. This puzzle was difficult to assemble but still fun to sit back and enjoy.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Rooster Express Puzzle from Buffalo Games

There’s always something about a Charles Wysocki puzzle. The scenes are always relaxing. Enjoyable. Peaceful. And although there are often common elements in his artwork, each is totally different. We love assembling puzzles of his paintings. The Rooster Express puzzle from Buffalo Games was another great work. Wonderful colors and a witty image made it a joy to assemble.

Much Ado Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

There are some really fun elements in this Rooster Express puzzle from Buffalo Games. The chickens in the yard. The vegetable cart. And of course, the super large rooster pulling it. It’s whimsical and fun. But not without it’s challenges. The grassy areas and dirt path were a bit challenging. As was the rooster itself. This was a fun puzzle to stand back and enjoy when it was completed.

Buffalo Games – Charles Wysocki – Rooster Express – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle For Adults -Challenging Puzzle Perfect for Game Nights – Finished Size is 26.75 x 19.75

The Last Piece

This 1000 piece puzzle did not include a poster. The assembled puzzle is about 25″ wide and 22″ high. The pieces fit pretty well and the image quality on the pieces is good. We did not get a single piece wrong which is pretty rare. The colors were great and bright.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Christmas Houses Puzzle from Ceaco

Surely we can’t be the only ones that this happens to. The temperature outside drops just a little (it’s the beginning of Fall here) and suddenly, we have to do a Christmas puzzle. It’s really still way above freezing and nowhere near time to snow, but by golly, we gotta do a snowy, Christmas-tree, crowd-singing-carols, snowmen-everywhere puzzle. And we did. And we so enjoyed the Christmas Houses puzzle from Ceaco. It was fun from the first piece to the last!

Ravensburger 50th Anniversary Christmas Village – Limited Edition 1000 Piece Holiday Jigsaw Puzzle – Festive Scene with Carolers – Lights & Christmas Tree – Collectible Puzzle for Adults

Warm Snow

It may seem odd but we thought this Christmas Houses puzzle was ‘warm’. Despite the snow. And people in coats. There was a warmth to it. The colors. The glow from fires and handles. It just felt warm.

We cannot find this puzzle from Ceaco available for sale new online even though it’s not that old. You can visit their store and find plenty of other amazing puzzles, though. Or maybe you’ll get lucky and find one in your parents’ attic, like we did! New even!

The Last Piece

This 1000 piece puzzle included a wonderful, large poster. The puzzle is very frameable. For that matter, the poster is too! The assembled puzzle is about 27″ wide and 19″ high. The pieces fit rather loosely. The puzzle picture is amazingly bright and colorful.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Buc-ee’s Craves Puzzle

We’ve apparently become Buc-ee’s addicts. We can’t take a roadtrip without planning at least one stop at the ‘Disneyland of convenience stores’. We eat there. Of course, we get gas there. We shop there. And yep, we get puzzles there! This Buc-ee’s Craves puzzle shows some of the favorite items at the craziest roadside destination we’ve ever seen!

Be a Beaver Believer

This Buc-ee’s Craves puzzle didn’t take too long to complete. But it sure was fun. It made me hungry for the Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich (chopped or sliced, it’s your choice!). I love those. And the pulled pork. And the pecans. Oh, it’s easy to see why people love Buc-ee’s so much!

You’ll have to go to a Buc-ee’s to buy this puzzle (and ton of other things) as they are not available online.

ALL4JIG 2000 Piece Rotating Puzzle Board with Drawers and Cover,29.7″x41.3″Portable Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Table for Adults Portable,Lazy Susan Spinning Puzzle Boards Birthday Gift for mom

The Last Piece

This puzzle does not include a poster. Some of the graphics on the front of the box cover the picture so you’ll need the pictures on the sides of the box if you get stuck.. There are 500 pieces in this puzzle. The assembled puzzle is about 15″ high and 21″ wide. The pieces fit fairly loosely. The colors were great. There are definitely a few challenging spots to be found, especially with all of the brown pieces!

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Witch’s Bay Puzzle from Buffalo Games

The Witch’s Bay puzzle from Buffalo Games is a favorite of ours. It’s another great example of Charles Wysocki’s artwork. This was one of the busiest puzzles from Mr. Wysocki that we’ve done. There’s a lot going on in it. And there were a lot of challenges, too. Sometimes we find ourselves completing a Wysocki puzzle in rather short order. Not this time. The trees and the buildings (in particular some of the windows) definitely tested us.

Same. And Different.

It seems that many of the Wysocki puzzles we do have similar elements in them. There’s always a heart. The chimneys and smoke on the buildings are often the same. The carriage wheels and horses are kinda the same. We often find things that are common between the puzzles. This Witch’s Bay puzzle from Buffalo Games has those common things but I assure you that doesn’t mean the puzzles are all the same. Each has its challenges. And all are rewarding in the end.

Buffalo Games – Charles Wysocki – Witch’s Bay – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Adults -Challenging Puzzle Perfect for Game Nights – Finished Size is 26.75 x 19.75

The Last Piece

This is a 1000 piece puzzle. It includes a very colorful, large poster. The assembled puzzle is about 30″ wide and 24″ high. The pieces fit well and the image quality on the pieces is good. The colors were great and bright. This puzzle was fun to assemble and even more fun to sit back and enjoy. This is another great puzzle of Charles Wysocki’s artwork.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Winter Reading Nook Puzzle from Buffalo Games

The Winter Reading Nook Puzzle from Buffalo Games is a great example of Aimee Stewart’s amazing artwork. Fantastic scenes. Bright colors. And wonderful detail. Although at first glance this looks like it might be a terribly challenging puzzle, it actually ended up being completely frustration-free and a true joy to complete. That’s not to say there weren’t spots that made us go ‘hmmmm’, but there is still lots of fun to go around.

Stop And Look

It pays to take some time after you complete this Winter Reading Nook Puzzle from Buffalo Games and just enjoy the many great objects you will find. A genie lamp. An Alice in Wonderland book. A snow globe. The northern lights. So many, many things. And of course, there’s Ms. Stewart’s signature fox. This puzzle is why we are big fans of her work. We know that we are always going to have a puzzle that makes us happy, from the first piece to the last!

Buffalo Games – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle – Aimee Stewart – Northern Lights Cats – Winter Scene – Challenging Puzzles for Adults and Families

The Last Piece

This puzzle contains 1000 pieces. There is a poster included in the box. The final puzzle is about 20″ high and 27″ wide. The pieces fit well and it was difficult to get a piece wrong, which is always a ‘whew’ thing. The artwork is amazing and the colors are fantastic.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Holiday Village Square Puzzle from Vermont Christmas Company

Whew. I gotta admit it, I’m kinda glad my wife did most of the heavy lifting putting together this Holiday Village Square puzzle from Vermont Christmas Company. I found it to be quite difficult. So, I just did the sky. She took on the buildings and her favorite, the Christmas trees. In the end we both stepped back and enjoyed the final result and I breathed a breath of relief! The colors and imagery were amazing!

A Wonderful Holiday Puzzle

This Holiday Village Square puzzle from Vermont Christmas Company would make for a great gift. It’s a wonderful picture. It’s a happy picture. And even though it’s snowing and icy in the picture, it feels warm. This would be an excellent way to pass a cold fall or winter’s day. Well, days really because it’s not that easy!

Vermont Christmas Company Holiday Village Square Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle 1000 Piece

The Last Piece

This puzzle did not include a poster but the picture on the box is nice and large and easy enough to reference instead. There are 1000 pieces in this puzzle. The assembled puzzle is about 30″ wide and 24″ high. The pieces fit very well. The colors were great and the pieces are thick and cut perfectly.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Charleston Puzzle from Dowdle

This was our first puzzle from artist Eric Dowdle. We have been attracted to his works from the moment we first saw them. This Charleston puzzle from Dowdle did not disappoint. The colors are amazing. The image is amazing. And oh, was it ever a challenging puzzle to complete! This is one of the most enjoyable final results we’ve done. It took us a while, but it was oh so fun! We are looking forward to more puzzles from Mr. Dowdle!

Fun Cuts

The pieces in this Charleston puzzle from Dowdle are cut fairly ‘weird.’ They’re all sorts of shapes and sizes. They really threw us for a loop at first. But then we realized that those random cuts are a lot more fun than ‘ribbon cuts’, where all of the pieces are similar if not the same. You can see a few of them in the close-up picture, below.

Dowdle Jigsaw Puzzle – Charleston – 1000 Piece

The Last Piece

This 1000 piece puzzle included a wonderful, large poster. The puzzle is very frameable. For that matter, the poster is too! The assembled puzzle is about 20″ wide and 27″ high. The pieces are random-cut and fit really well, although we did encounter a few pieces that weren’t completely cut. The puzzle picture is amazingly bright and colorful. This is a tremendously fun puzzle!

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Paint Party Puzzle from LEGO

The Paint Party puzzle from LEGO was our second LEGO-themed puzzle. It definitely had its challenges. The first, Ice Cream Dream, was a tough one too. Although fun and rather whimsical, the LEGO pieces are very similar in color from bucket to bucket. This made it quite difficult at times. And so did the similar ‘paint’ cans. But, in the end, when that last piece went in, we got to step back and enjoy another fun LEGO-inspired puzzle!

LEGO Paint Party 1000 Piece Puzzle

Keep An Eye Out

We found both of our LEGO puzzles in antique malls. It pays to look around antique malls or thrift shops or flea markets. We’ve been really fortunate in that we almost always get gently-used puzzles for great prices. Like they say, it’s often the thrill of the hunt that makes it fun. But so does working on great puzzles like the Paint Party puzzle!

The Last Piece

This 1000 piece puzzle did include a poster, but it was quite small. We found ourselves using the picture on the box more than the poster. The assembled puzzle is about 25″ wide and 20″ high. The pieces fit very tightly. They are cut in very simple patterns, which did help make it a little easier to assemble. That’s good because the similar colors definitely posed a challenge.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers

Whiskered World A Kitty Kaleidoscope Puzzle from Cross and Glory

I thought it was funny that when we were done with this Whiskered World A Kitty Kaleidoscope puzzle from Cross and Glory, one of our favorite puzzle makers, I thought “Boy, that’s odd. There’s a cat eye in the middle of that cat’s hoodie.”. Really? That was my first thought? Not the great colors. The magnificent faces. Or the missing ears. Yeah, that one eye. Just staring at me.

Cross & Glory – Whiskered World: A Kitty Kaleidoscope – Cat Jigsaw Puzzles for Adults, 1000 Piece Puzzle, Vibrant, Challenging & Detailed

But seriously, what a great puzzle this was to assemble. And a great challenge too. This puzzle took us quite a while to assemble. But it was more than worth it. It’s different and amazing. You’d half think that it’s a photograph it’s so well done.

Whiskered World A Kitty Kaleidoscope Puzzle from Cross and Glory

One Piece

The interesting thing about this Whiskered World a Kitty Kaleidoscope puzzle from Cross and Glory is that once you get beyond the border, there’s just one style of piece. There aren’t any fancy cuts. No weird fits. Just one piece. You’d think that’d make it super-easy. But it doesn’t. Oh no, not at all. This puzzle is a test of your endurance and perseverance.

The Last Piece

This 1000 piece puzzle included a poster. It’s a small poster, about the same size of the image on the box. The assembled puzzle is about 20″ wide and 27″ high. The pieces fit very well and the image quality on the pieces is quite good. The colors were great and bright. The imagery is fun and enjoyable. If we had room to hang our finished puzzles, we’d definitely hang this one.

Got questions about puzzling? Are you new to this great hobby? Check out our FAQ and guide to puzzling!

Ceaco – The Puzzle Scoop – A Lifting, Moving, Illuminating, and Magnifying Puzzle Accessory for All Puzzlers