Disney Frozen: Always Close To The Heart

Brand: Arrow Puzzles

Pieces: 500
Size:  52cm x 38cm

Product Code: -

Once again this is going to be a quick post cos time is not my friend this weekend!

In a few hours we will be travelling to Sydney for a whirlwind weekend - my husband is competing in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday and we will be attending my niece's 4th birthday party in literally a few hours time! But first we have to get to her house from the airport - travelling through the suburbs of Sydney (wish us luck)! 

So it's gonna be rush, rush, rush!

My niece loves Frozen, has a dog named Sven and is having an Elsa-themed birthday party, so what better puzzle to put up than the one above? This one is just a cheaper brand puzzle that you can purchase at Kmart but it was still fun to do.

Sorry, I can't write more about it, but time is of the essence and I still have so much to organise before we leave.

Have a great weekend and keep puzzling!

The Cheshire Cat (Disney)

Brand: Clementoni

Pieces: 500
Size:  36cm x 49cm

Product Code: 35123

Yesterday (August 8) was World Cat Day and since I had already put up my cat puzzle from Enjoy Puzzles, I had to find a different completed one in my collection to post. Voila! I did this one quite a while ago, featuring the mysterious cat from Disney's Alice In Wonderland. I loved the bright colours and the interesting patterns. Although it was 500 pieces, it was somewhat challenging to do, but I enjoyed the challenge all the same!

Today I'm keeping it relatively short cos it's the Victorian State Puzzle Competition at Malvern Town Hall and I have to prepare for the drive up and then the solo competition which will be held at 2pm. I'm so looking forward to it! Especially since it appears that the puzzle will be from the Cherry Pazzi brand and I haven't yet done a puzzle by them!

Wish me luck and I'll talk to you next week!

Barbie: Global Style Icon Since 1959

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size:  52cm diameter

Product Code: 120014942

Although puzzle availability has become a lot better in Australia over recent years, there are still some puzzles that are only released exclusively overseas, meaning it can be difficult to get a hold of them without spending a fortune in shipping fees. 

The above puzzle is one such title. I found this Barbie illustrated puzzle on a UK-based website and made a relatively big order of this and other puzzles to justify the shipping costs. 

While the design was wonderful to do, I did however come across one problem- the puzzle was missing a piece! You can see in the photo (on the right hand side) that there is a little gap where the piece should be. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a replacement because Australia's Ravensburger branch doesn't stock the puzzle, and they weren't able to help me from any of the overseas branches because I am not in the country that the puzzle was purchased from. How disappointing! The people I messaged were lovely however, and I'm not terribly concerned as it isn't that noticeable. I'm grateful I was ale to get the puzzle in the first place!

Have you ever had a problem similar to mine where a replacement piece/puzzle wasn't an option? What did you do?

Cancer

Brand: Cobble Hill

Pieces: 500
Size:  67.6cm x 48.9cm

Product Code: 45014

Time to continue with my horoscope puzzles! Looking at the stats, it doesn't appear that these puzzles are as popular as I thought they would be. The number for views and likes of them drops significantly in comparison to puzzles of different images. Regardless, I am going to continue putting up the series because:

a) I like them

b) I've been actually doing them!

c) If you're hanging out to see your particular star sign and it hasn't come up yet, I don't want to stop midway

d) I'm doing this for myself, not for the amount of social media love they get

On a different note, tickets for the AJPA Nationals event went on presale yesterday and I've secured my ticket for the solos competition. I can't wait! Will you be attending the competition? Will you be competing? 

I now have three comps lined up for this year- need to get practicing! 

Care Bears

Brand: Aquarius

Pieces: 500
Size:  35cm x 48cm

Product Code: 62-228

It's been a turbulent news week, with America joining the overseas war drama and bombing various nuclear sites in Iran during the week. 

I hate that there is so much going on like this and that people can't just live peacefully together. 

I suppose that's why I'm taking a very simplistic view of it and putting up a cute puzzle of Care Bears- if only more people took their approach and used hugs and love to make the world go round. 

This puzzle was quick to do and very cute, especially if you're a fan of the nostalgic series. 

Enjoy your weekend, stay warm, and we'll see what happens next week...

Popcorn Puzzles: The Naked Gun

Brand: Arrow Puzzles

Pieces: 500
Size:  45.5cm x 61cm

Product Code: -

I'm not sure if you've seen the new trailers being released for the Naked Gun film reboot, but I was inspired to put up this puzzle of the original film after watching them on YouTube. 

The new film, starring Liam Neeson, looks to be just as ridiculous as the original starring Leslie Nielsen. 

(Sidenote: I wonder if they took the actors' names into consideration when they were casting the role for Frank Drebin Jr cos their names are also quite similar).

Anyway, I know that my husband will be keen to see the new one when it comes out because he's always been a big fan of the film and I know he's been following all the new trailers with interest. 

Back to the puzzle, this one was just a cheap one from Kmart that was as you'd expect for the price. The pieces fit together well enough though, and it came in 'popcorn-box' style packaging, hence the name Popcorn Puzzles. 

Will you be seeing the new film when it comes out? Or would you prefer to watch some other film?

Gemini

Brand: Cobble Hill

Pieces: 500
Size:  67.6cm x 48.9cm

Product Code: 45013

Yay! Finally up to date with the Horoscope puzzles! This one celebrates those born in Gemini and was just as enjoyable to do as the ones previous. I only have 5 more from the series to complete and I will try my best to put them up within their time frames (although no guarantees).

Have I put up your star sign yet? Or is it one of the ones to come later in the year?

Aries

Brand: Cobble Hill

Pieces: 500
Size:  67.6cm x 48.9cm

Product Code: 45011

I managed to get this one up within it's date timeline! Hooray!

But only just...

I figured I should put this one up today, with the anticipation that I can find something Easter-themed for the next few weeks of puzzles. There's only one 'normal' puzzle between this one and the previous Zodiac one, which doesn't really fit in with how I wanted the postings to look, but I guess that can't be helped if I want to put them all up within their time frames.

Anyway...

This is the next one in the sequence, and, like the others, it was a fun, relatively quick one to do. I've enjoyed keeping up with the different images, and reading about the qualities associated with each star sign, even if I don't believe them. 

What star sign are you? Have I put up the associated image for it yet?

Pisces

Brand: Cobble Hill

Pieces: 500
Size:  67.6cm x 48.9cm

Product Code: 45022

Once again, I'm running behind in the posting of my zodiac puzzles, even though I have actually planned ahead and done some of them in advance. 

This time I've posted it two days after the new one has begun, so I suppose it's not so bad, but I'm going to have to work on my timings to get them up in the timeframe they're meant to be in!

So yeah, this one belongs to last month (considering today is the 22nd of March). I'll try and put the next one up within the next few weeks. 

Sorry I haven't got much to add today- just busy trying to sort out and complete puzzles so I can get them ready to sell at an upcoming event that will be held next month in the Melbourne suburb of Melton. A little closer to home than the previous one in Blackburn, but hopefully just as (if not more) successful for the de-stashing of some of my many puzzles.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll talk to you next week!

Run Like A Girl

Brand: Educa

Pieces: 500
Size:  34cm x 48cm

Product Code: 19249

I'm not sure if you've ever experienced this... You see an image and for some reason just can't get it out of your head. It crops up now and again and, each time, your thoughts on the image are renewed and you once again want to get a hold of it. 

This was the case for the above illustrated puzzle by Esther Gili. 

I'm not sure what it was about the design that made me want to purchase it and complete it so much but every time I saw it, it would end up in my cart. One day, I just bit the bullet and decided to buy it.  

This image gives me such Stranger Things vibes - not a bad thing!

The above puzzle was a lot more challenging than expected, due to the watercolour illustration aspect of the design. Once I had completed the image of the girl, it took the process of elimination to work out most of the background and border. While the pieces were quite loose (you could not do that pick-up test with this puzzle, it would fall to pieces), they at least fit properly and so there were no false fits. It was an experience of trial and error to get the background done. But how stunning is it when it's finally finished?! 

Have you got a puzzle like this that keeps calling to you? Will you eventually cave and buy it? Or has it already happened and you've finally completed it?

Aquarius

Brand: Cobble Hill

Pieces: 500
Size:  67.6cm x 48.9cm

Product Code: 45021

So much for trying to keep up to date with series images as they happen! 

I was planning to put up each of these horoscope puzzles within the dates that they are suited, and I've already missed the second one by a few days! I realised on the day of the switch over (I should have put this one up last weekend) but oh well, better late than never I guess!

I'll try to keep with it as the year progresses but no guarantees I'll be on time haha

I'm really liking this collection- do you usually collect the whole sets of puzzle designs when they're released? I have a whole load of collections but unfortunately, not the time to do them all. I really need to sit down and dedicate some time to completing a set or two...although it doesn't help when new puzzle collections are released so often! 

What do you think is the best way to tackle this dilemma? I'd love to hear from you!

Puffinry!

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size:  49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 167593

So it turns out I am less organised than I thought, or at least, more forgetful. 

The puzzle sale I mentioned last week is actually being held tomorrow (on Sunday) and not today as I originally thought. So that means I have one more day to prepare for it (and I am able to put up a post this morning!)

Which puzzle to put up? I was hoping to go with a love theme today for Valentine's Day (which was yesterday). I even completed a cute puzzle by Cobble Hill called Be Mine for the occasion, yet I never got the chance to take a photo and it's way too dark right now to take one and be happy with posting it. That photo might have to wait for another day, but please know that I did attempt to get it done (and the actual puzzle was completed in time!) 

Instead, I'm going to put up the above puzzle (cos it sort of looks like the puffins are having a close and romantic moment (or is that pushing the theme a little too hard?)) Whatever the case, the image (illustrated by Ailsa Black) is cute and cheerful. I enjoyed putting together this design and it was a little more challenging than I expected, which is always a good thing. 

I'm glad I was able to put up a post today, and will aim to be more organised photo-wise next time. 

Also, if you're around the suburb of Blackburn in Melbourne tomorrow (Sunday 16th February) between 9am and 12pm, we'd love you to visit the second-hand puzzle sale at Blackburn Bowls Club. It looks like it will be great fun and you could pick up one or two amazing bargains!