Stranger Things Gang

Brand: Buffalo

Pieces: 300
Size:  46cm x 46cm

Product Code: 22702

My plans for a Christmas-themed puzzle December have unfortunately already come to an end!

Although I know I have plenty of puzzles of this style, I haven't had the chance to do any or take photos of them yet for this blog, and so that little idea comes to a complete full stop. 

Instead, I have put up a puzzle I purchased some time ago of the gang from the Netflix hit show Stranger Things (don't ask me what season, they've all blurred together since I last watched it and I'll have to watch a serious recap before starting the latest and final season).

I thought this puzzle was a cute and fun one to do, and is a passable alternative to Christmas puzzles considering the show is back on our screens for the last time.

Have you got a show that you enjoy watching that has been immortalised in puzzle form?

Liberty - Christmas Tree Of Life (Foil)

Brand: Galison

Pieces: 500
Size:  51cm x 51cm

Product Code: -

So I had the AJPA Nationals last week, and although I didn't get through to the finals, I did manage to finish my puzzle in the allotted time...just! We had 2 hours to complete the puzzle and I finished in 1:58:40 - with 1 minute and 20 seconds to spare! Phew! Haha, what a relief!

Anyway back to the usual blog fare... because we are now in December I thought I'd put up a Christmas-themed puzzle from Galison. This one has foil accents but they're hard to see in the photo. In real life, there are nice golden parts scattered throughout the design. This puzzle was very busy and a little more challenging than I expected but still fun to do. Have you got some Christmas designs in your to-do pile?

Sweet Shop

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size:  49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 146536

Today is the day of the AJPA Nationals competition at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and I'm so excited to be attending and competing. I went last year to compete and finished the above puzzle during the solo competition. I thought I'd put up a photo of it for nostalgia reasons. 

This year's solo competition is slightly different- instead running over 2 days - with two qualifying heats on the Saturday and the finals on Sunday. I'm in heat 2, and although I don't think I'll be fast enough to qualify for the finals, I hope I have some sort of chance. I'll definitely try my best anyway. I wonder what the puzzle will be?!

Wish me luck!

Instagram Post 500

Hi,

It's hard to believe that I have finally reached Instagram Post 500- it's definitely been a long time coming!

I started this blog 10 years ago, in 2015, and have tried to make it my goal to post a new image every Saturday since. I think I may have only missed one or two in all of that time, and I usually tried to make up for it when this occurred. 

If I was like other people, focused on creating social media content, I would have tried to do more posts more regularly. But this has always just been a small way for me to showcase some of the puzzles I have completed throughout the years, and therefore I have not spent as much time on it as I could have. 

Regardless, I am happy how my Instagram grid has turned out over the years and I have made a little montage video to showcase the last 100 puzzles I have posted. This can be found on my Instagram page if you feel like having a look!

If I continue to do this, it will likely be another 10 years before I reach 1000 posts haha and I'm not sure if you'll be sticking with me that long (or even if the platform will still exist!) 

But I will continue to puzzle, and compile, and post until the appeal is no longer there...

Until next week..

xo

Frozen 2: Destiny Awaits

Brand: Crown

Pieces: 300
Size:  61cm x 45.8cm

Product Code: -

I currently have my four-year-old daughter sitting on my lap and so today I have decided (through her input) to put up this puzzle from the film Frozen 2. She is a huge fan of Elsa and when we play games, I am usually Anna. 

This puzzle was quite easy and quick to do. I usually sell on most of my puzzles after I have completed them but I think I might hold onto this one for her to do in the future (cos she is also quite an avid little puzzler, and I'm sure she'll be able to smash this one out herself soon before long).

Have you ever been inspired to do puzzle designs simply because of the people you are with at the time? I'm pretty sure I would have done this one anyway without having a kid in the house, but she still has some influence...

Road Trip!

Brand: Skittledog

Pieces: 1000
Size:  49cm x 68.5cm

Product Code: -

Another (busy) weekend, another puzzle...

Today I have decided to put up this cool travel one which I purchased one day in Melbourne. I loved the mapped out design, and the references to North American scenery and landmarks. It reminded me so much of a Contiki tour I once took there, and was a big factor when it came to me purchasing this puzzle over others I saw there. 

I really enjoy doing map-style puzzles - I have such a fascination with geography and travel and love to see these kinds of puzzles come together...

Do you enjoy puzzles of a similar nature?

Lost Places: The Mad House (The Asylum)

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 170982

Yesterday was Halloween and I thought the above puzzle would be appropriate for the occasion.

Part of the Lost Places series by Ravensburger, this haunting image is part of a collection of photographic designs that feature lost and abandoned places. The above image features a Mad House setting- wouldn't want to be alone in that place! haha it definitely gives off creepy vibes. 

This is just another short post cos I'm in recovery mode after a horror-themed wedding celebration last night.

Hope you have a great weekend and happy puzzling!

Disney Princess

Brand: Crown

Pieces: 1000
Size:  69cm x 50cm

Product Code: 20415

I participated in a speed puzzling competition last Saturday, and although it was a fun experience, it was such a tough puzzle! This was the first puzzling comp in Geelong, so it was good to try it out in a place close to home for once. The puzzle was from Ravensburger and was titled Retro Mickey. Of the 13 people competing, only 3 finished it in the 2-hour time limit (I was not one of them haha)

This is the second Disney one I have done in a row for competitions - maybe I need to do some more Disney ones to practice?! I definitely have enough to choose from, and from a variety of brands. That's why I have decided to put up a Disney one today, featuring so many of the popular princesses. 

The above puzzle was fun to do, with the main challenge being the rose border on the edges. Regardless, I enjoyed doing it, the design was cute and the price was affordable (as is usually the case with this brand).

Have you competed in a puzzling competition recently? How did you go?

The Sewing Shed

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 198924

I did this puzzle a little while ago but it seems fitting for today, considering I saw my homecraft entry at the Geelong Show last night (which was a long stitch of some gerberas), that was created from a kit I had within my own craft 'sewing' room. 

Although the outside of the box didn't indicate it, I believe this design is part of the 'sheds' collection from Ravensburger, that features different 'men's sheds' and specialist rooms. I really enjoy doing puzzles from series' like this. 

Today is going to be another short post cos I have much to do, but at least it was a larger count puzzle this week than I've been putting up lately!

Gremlins VHS

Brand: Aquarius

Pieces: 300
Size:  25cm x 36cm

Product Code: VHS-015

Another filler post today - I'm heading to Melbourne for an overnight stay today because my husband is competing in the Melbourne Half Marathon early tomorrow morning (it was going to be the Marathon but he's downgraded to Half because of injury - go figure lol). Because of this, and because I'm trying to get my Geelong Show entries complete, it means that no puzzling is happening in the coming few days. 

This is unfortunate cos I have a local puzzle comp coming up next Saturday and it leaves me much less time to practice, but there's not much I can do with these time restraints. Oh well...

Anyway, I have decided to put up the above puzzle as my filler for today. I thought it would be fitting with the Halloween season approaching, even though I haven't actually seen the film.

This puzzle took a little bit of time to complete despite the piece count- this was due to all the white spaces, but the pieces fit together well so it wasn't too much of a hassle compared to what it could have been. 

I have quite a collection of 'movie poster' style posters, in a wide range of brands, and while some have been easier to complete than others, most have been a joy to do. 

Have you got or done many puzzles with this theme?

Happy Chappy

Brand: Journey Of Something

Pieces: 500
Size:  55cm x 38.5cm

Product Code: -

Don't you hate it when you stray from a path that you had previously planned out, but for no reason other than that you got distracted? 

I know sometimes these wanderings can have benefits and you may discover something different that you would not otherwise have seen, but if you have an end goal, this diversion can be more annoying than useful. 

This is the case with my horoscope/zodiac puzzles that have I have been trying to complete each month. I was on target for a while there, but because I have been so busy lately and haven't had the chance to puzzle, my plans have dropped wayside. I haven't done a new one in so long, and I'm so far behind! 

I'm putting this puzzle up as a place-filler today, but hopefully I'll be able to get back on track within the next few weeks or so. 

The above puzzle was a nice, pretty, and relatively quick one to do, illustrated by Anna Egberts. I don't think this puzzle is available anymore but if you come across it, I recommend it for it's lovely native floral design.

I've got to go and continue my cross stitching now cos I'm severely running out of time to get my entry completed for the Geelong Show but I'll see you all next week with another puzzle posting!