Mixtape Afternoon

Brand: Galison

Pieces: 500
Size: 50.8cm x 50.8cm

Product Code: -

Can you believe we're already approaching the end of February for another year?! The weekends have just been hectic and flying by so fast. Today will be a relatively quiet day but tomorrow my husband is competing in a small triathlon in the morning, and then we'll be attending the wedding of one of my closest friends in the afternoon! Talk about a busy day! There was also a puzzle competition scheduled for tomorrow in Melbourne somewhere which I obviously won't be going to with all that's happening so I'll have to leave it till another time. 

That said, today I've decided to put up a puzzle that I did a short time ago (some of my photos are years old so this is a very recent one). The illustration drew me in straight away and reminds me of old-school playlist creation (whereas now I'd just make a playlist using Spotify). I figured it was relevant because of all the music playlists that are going through my mind right now with the approaching events this weekend. 

The colours are vibrant, it was a quick one to do, and as I already alluded to, the illustration is fun and bright. 

Have you got a busy weekend planned or will you be setting some time aside to do puzzles? 

Disney Double Sided

Brand: Typo (Cotton On)

Pieces: 1000
Size: 80cm x 50cm

Product Code: -

I said I'd try and do a 'love-themed' puzzle today because it was Valentine's Day during the week but of course, I never got around to it. So I had to search through some previously completed images and find something. The above was the most 'romantic' one I could find in my quick search and so here it is!

I did this double-sided puzzle a few years ago, but it was not as great as I expected unfortunately. The Sleeping Beauty image was so pixellated and poor quality. It was almost as if they took the image, enlarged it and printed it, without a further thought! The other side wasn't quite as bad, but it also wasn't too great. Typo is a stationery store (an offshoot from the Cotton On clothing brand) so it was somewhat expected that it wouldn't be the best puzzle but still disappointing regardless. 

But enough said about that! I'll make sure I find a better image for next week! Besides, my photos of it aren't too bad and sometimes it's good to feature images that are a little less perfect...

Mystic Dragons

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 148394

This weekend is Lunar New Year and so I have decided to put up the only dragon puzzle I have completed in a while to commemorate the Year of the Dragon! 

I have a few others in my collection, including a beautiful one from Reverie Puzzles, but I never got the chance to complete it in time. 

This puzzle had it's challenges, despite being only 500 pieces, due to the similar colours and 'textures' in the design, but it was very satisfying to complete. I was lucky enough to win this puzzle in an online competition, with a company that has unfortunately now gone out of business. 

What's on for your weekend? Will you be celebrating Lunar New Year? Or having an early Valentines Day? I'll try and get a 'love-themed' puzzle done in time for next week to celebrate that one...

Woodland Picnic

Brand: Mudpuppy

Pieces: 500
Size: 51cm x 51cm

Product Code: -

Some puzzle designs are just cute... and this is one of them. When I saw this cute little illustrated scene, I knew I had to get it. The colours are vibrant, the animals are appealing and there is a lot going on within the design that draws your attention and makes you study the scene. And did I mention it's cute?! Haha

I timed myself doing this puzzle as practice for a puzzling competition last year. I finished it under 2 hours but it was trickier than I anticipated. 

Speaking of which, I entered a puzzling competition last week, but even though I got there on time this time around, I was unable to finish it within the two hour time limit. I had 42 pieces left. I was quite disappointed (with another 10 minutes I maybe could have finished) but was just glad I didn't have only one or two pieces left at finish (that would have been devastating to get so close). It seems that just over half of the entrants actually completed their puzzle and I was in the middle range for results. Not too bad, but next comp I want to actually finish it!

The Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association (AJPA) has also recently announced the dates for most of their state competitions this year, and I'm hoping to enter the Victorian one once more.

Have you ever entered a puzzling competition? How did you go?