MikesAPuzzler, Author at Puzzling For Fun

Book Nook Puzzle from White Mountain

We often go from easy puzzles to hard puzzles and back again. The easy puzzles give us a little breather before diving in on the ones that are more challenging. Like this Book Nook puzzle from White Mountain. Although not super difficult, it did offer a few challenges along the way. There are some decidedly darker areas of this puzzle making it a little harder to tell the pieces apart. But the hope of a great looking puzzle kept us going until success!

Kinda Spooky

I found parts of this Book Nook puzzle from White Mountain a little spooky. Not scary spooky. There are lizards around. And mice. Little things like that. You’ll find them as you go and think “wow, look at that!”. And the lighting made me think “spooky”. But it’s a fun picture and quite relaxing to sit back and enjoy. So I guess it’s spooky in a good way!

My wife did not find it spooky but instead thought it’d be a great place to read!

White Mountain – Book Nook – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Adults, Children, + Grandparents

The Last Piece

This puzzle included a nice large poster. There are 1000 pieces in this puzzle. The assembled puzzle is about 30″ wide and 24″ high. The pieces are large, fit together very well and the image quality on the pieces is great. The colors were great and the pieces are cut perfectly. This is a quality puzzle that brings hours of enjoyment.

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

Home Sweet Home Baking Bread Puzzle from MasterPieces

This Home Sweet Home Baking Bread puzzle from MasterPieces was one of the first puzzles we made when we started getting into puzzling. This is the kind of puzzle that got us to where we are now: addicted. We tend to make puzzles that remind us of days gone by. Old toys. Old trucks. Or Vintage kitchens. This puzzle has wonderful imagery and color. It’s not the hardest puzzle we’ve done, but it did have its challenges. And rewards.

Smaller But Still Great

We started out our puzzling addiction with smaller puzzles, like this 550 piece Home Sweet Home Baking Bread puzzle from MasterPieces. We thought it was big enough at the time. And challenging enough for sure. Now, we find ourselves doing larger (but not crazy large!) puzzles, often with 1000 to 2000 pieces. But, as long as they have wonderful images like this one, we’ll do any size puzzle. It’s about enjoying the journey, from opening the box to putting in that last piece!

MasterPieces 550 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Adults, Family, Or Youth – Baking Bread – 18″x24″

The Last Piece

This puzzle contains 550 pieces. The final puzzle is about 24″ wide and 18″ high. There is a large colorful poster included. The pieces are large, thick and fit really well. The image is crisp and bright with wonderful detail. If you are looking for a quality puzzle that provides a whole lot of entertainment this is a great choice!

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

Animal House Movie Poster Puzzle from Spin Master

We’re still kind of new to puzzling so we’re learning as we go as to what puzzles exist. We’re constantly discovering new artists, new companies, new designs (like round or clear puzzles). We were in Bushert’s Antiques in El Paso, Illinois, when I came across this Animal House movie poster puzzle from Spin Master. I thought, “Wow how cool is that!” and grabbed it. We both love the movie Animal House and thought this would be a great flashback to the many characters and scenes in the classic. And it was!

Great Memories. Challenging Puzzle.

There was one part of this Animal House movie poster puzzle from Spin Master that was more challenging than the rest: the white background. The edges really threw me for a loop. Many pieces fit in more than one place. And they fit well, making it very difficult to spot the incorrect pieces. The rest of the white was challenging too, but nothing like the edges. Once we got past that the rest of the puzzle was pretty easy and fun. It was definitely a joy reminiscing about the movie while we put it together.

Turns out you can also buy this movie poster puzzle in a VHS tape-like box. How fun! You can also find other famous movie poster puzzles.

Animal House Movie 500-Piece Puzzle in Plastic Retro Blockbuster VHS Video Case

The Last Piece

This 500 piece puzzle did not include a poster. We really wish that it had. The small box made the small details hard to discern. The assembled puzzle is about 18″ wide and 24″ high. The pieces are large and fit fairly well. The image quality on the pieces is good. The colors were great and the pieces are cut well.

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

For The Love Of Cats Puzzle from RP Studio

My wife’s sister gave us this puzzle. She gave it to us as a gift for taking care of her wonderful kitties while she was out of town. She certainly didn’t have to do that because her kitties are so sweet! We used to have kitties too, four of them, but we have entered a stage of our lives where we just enjoy other peoples’ cats instead. Or we do cat puzzles like this For the Love of Cats puzzle from RP Studio. This was one of best puzzles we’ve made, and certainly one of the most enjoyable.

A Happy Time Puzzle

This For the Love of Cats puzzle from RP Studio isn’t particularly difficult. It’s more the kind of puzzle where the pieces just make sense and fall into place. It’s definitely the kind of puzzle where you sit back when you are done and just enjoy the images.

This puzzle also includes a wonderful booklet with info on cats. It makes (and made!) for a great gift!

For the Love of Cats 500-Piece Puzzle (This Is a Book for People Who Love)

The Last Piece

This puzzle contains 500 pieces. The final puzzle is about 20″ wide and 16″ high. The pieces fit well together. The image is amazingly bright and colorful. This puzzle won’t take you long to complete but it is a joy to do. There is a great poster included along with a booklet on cat breeds.

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

Budzen’s Puzzle from Buffalo Games

This Budzen’s puzzle from Buffalo Games was our first puzzle with artwork by Charles Wysocki. We’d heard his name many times in various puzzle circles but honestly, we didn’t really know anything about him. So like anyone else, we looked him up on Wikipedia. Wysocki was an artist that painted mostly primitive works that depicted an early American life. We both enjoyed the artwork and the challenge of this puzzle. It was definitely tricky in spots, with lots of similar colors and textures making it easy to confuse the pieces. That’s good. A good challenge is a good thing.

See More Nature- and Scenery-Themed Puzzles

Quality In Every Way

Puzzle quality comes in several ways. Of course you want quality, well-cut thick pieces that fit well. And you want amazing art. A poster is a plus, for us. And a bit of a challenge is a good thing. This Budzen’s puzzle from Buffalo Games was quality all-around. This won’t be our last Charles Wysocki puzzle. In fact, we already find ourselves seeking them out now when we go puzzle hunting.

Buffalo Games – Charles Wysocki – Budzens – 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Adults -Challenging Puzzle Perfect for Game Nights – Finished Size is 21.25 x 15.00

The Last Piece

This puzzle includes a poster. There are 1000 pieces. The assembled puzzle is about 27″ wide and 20″ high. The pieces fit very well and the image quality on the pieces is fantastic. The colors were great and the pieces are cut perfectly. This is a quality puzzle that brings hours of enjoyment.

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

Reader’s Paradise Puzzle from White Mountain

Some puzzles make you feel warm. Comfortable. Relaxed. Or at least they do me. I think a lot of that is the colors in the picture. Soft colors. Pleasant images. It’s not a coincidence that often those puzzles are made by artist Aimee Stewart. Her puzzle artwork is by far some of my favorite. The Reader’s Paradise puzzle from White Mountain has its share of challenging areas for sure. It’s a great puzzle to relax to. It’s fun to put on your favorite music and sit down and enjoy a pleasant puzzling experience!

It’s a Good Time For a Magnifying Glass

I made heavy use of my magnifying glass when putting together this Reader’s Paradise puzzle from White Mountain. The colors alone weren’t enough to distinguish many of the books.

There’s a bit of brown in this puzzle. That definitely added to the challenge. As did the white and more, the balusters. There are lots of great details in this puzzle. Fun things. You get that with Aimee Stewart‘s puzzles and that’s what makes them so great!

White Mountain Puzzles Readers Paradise – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

The Last Piece

This puzzle contains 1000 pieces. They come in a baggie, but it is not resealable. The final puzzle is about 24″ high and 30″ wide. The pieces are large and thick and fit really well. The image is crisp and bright. This is a great, quality puzzle! There is a poster included that is clear and easy to work from.

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

Family Campsite Puzzle from Buffalo Games

This Family Campsite puzzle from Buffalo Games was our first puzzle with hidden images. Honestly, I didn’t even notice it on the box. I just saw that the artist was Aimee Stewart. That’s all I needed to know that it would be a great puzzle. The hidden image thing ended up being a bonus.

Fun Things. Everywhere.

This is not our first Aimee Stewart puzzle that was absolutely full of objects. Everywhere. If you ever went camping back in the 70s or 80s, chances are a lot of the items you packed for the trip can be found in this puzzle. There’s definitely no shortage of things, colorful and fun, in this Family Campsite puzzle from Buffalo Games.

After you’re done, there’s a list of 10 images you’ll need to find inside the puzzle. They’re not too hard to find. And it’s fun to find them.

You could also do like we did and kinda keep an eye out for the hidden images as you put the puzzle together!

Buffalo Games – Aimee Stewart – Family Campsite – 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle with Hidden Images

The Last Piece

This puzzle includes a poster which is a good thing because there were graphics on the box that hid parts of the puzzle. There are 500 pieces in this puzzle. The assembled puzzle is about 21″ wide and 15″ high. The pieces fit very well and the image quality on the pieces is fantastic. The colors were great and the pieces are cut perfectly. This is a quality puzzle that brings hours of enjoyment.

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

The Kitchen Cupboard Puzzle from Ravensburger

We both agree that The Kitchen Cupboard puzzle from Ravensburger is the most fun puzzle we’ve made. There are so many whimsical items to be found in it. Everywhere. All over. Weird things. Funny things. Cute things. It’s just a joy to put together and will remain as one of our favorites forever!

Quality. And Challenging.

A hard puzzle is more fun when you’re dealing with quality pieces. Just the right thickness. Brilliant colors. A matching poster (great when there are two of us working the puzzle at the same time!). We’ve always had great success and fun with Ravensburger puzzles. This one was no exception. We really enjoyed putting The Kitchen Cupboard puzzle, from opening the box to stepping back and enjoying the final result.

Ravensburger Kitchen Cupboard Jigsaw Puzzle | 1000 Unique Pieces | Anti-Glare Surface | Ideal for Adults & Kids | Certified Sustainable Materials

The Last Piece

This puzzle contains 1000 pieces. The final puzzle is about 27″ wide and 20″ high. The pieces come in a baggie but it is not resealable. There is a small poster included. The pieces are small but thick and fit really well. The image is crisp and bright. If you are looking for a quality puzzle that is fun and whimsical, this would be a great choice!

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

Tiki Beach Sunset Puzzle from Buffalo Games

This Tiki Beach Sunset puzzle from Buffalo Games had us quickly crowning Aimee Stewart as our favorite puzzle artist. The colors, the images and the objects in her puzzles just cannot be beat in our opinion. We are always drawn to her work. And often, we can recognize it from across the aisle in the store. There’s nothing else out there like it. We always have a stack of her puzzles on-hand, some waiting to be started and many already completed.

Enjoy The Challenge

We found a few areas of this Tiki Beach Sunset puzzle from Buffalo Games to be a bit challenging. Mostly because of the colors and shading. The rug on the floor, the ceiling and the fish tank were definitely harder areas than others.

It was also easy to get distracted by the many great objects in this puzzle. A turntable, skulls, model boats… a lizard… You name it. It’s just fun to assemble and more fun to sit back and enjoy when completed.

Buffalo Games – Aimee Stewart – Tiki Beach Sunset – 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

The Last Piece

This puzzle included a brightly colored poster. There are 1000 pieces in this puzzle. The assembled puzzle is about 27″ wide and 20″ high. The pieces fit very well and the image quality on the pieces is fantastic. The colors were great and the pieces are cut perfectly. This is a quality puzzle that brings hours of enjoyment.

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

Full Moon Puzzle from BetterCo

I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad when a co-worker gave us this Full Moon puzzle from BetterCo. It didn’t take us long to realize that this one was going to be a challenge. We’d never done a round puzzle before, for starters. And we’d never done a puzzle with absolutely no colors in it before. We knew were in for hours of…. well, pain.

Where To Start

We started the Full Moon puzzle from BetterCo like we do any other puzzle: by sorting the pieces. Well that didn’t last long. How do you sort this one? Gray. Sorta gray. Lighter gray. And edges? Well that’s what we did. And in hindsight I think I’d maybe try a suggestion I read online: start with the middle. The pieces there are shaped a bit differently because you have a tight circle to begin with. Then you work around the edges of that, building as you go. I don’t know if that’d be a lot easier. But boy was our going ever slow the way we did it!

Antelope – 1000 Piece Puzzle for Adults, Space Moon Jigsaw Puzzles 1000 Pieces, Telescope Planet Close-up Round Puzzle, High Resolution, Matte Finish, No Dust Space Puzzle

The Last Piece

This puzzle contains 1000 pieces. The final puzzle is a 26 1/2″ circle. The pieces fit well together. The image is of the moon, so it’s as detailed as you would expect. In the end this is a great puzzle 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