Tropical White Sand Beach, Thailand

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 500
Size:  46cm x 28cm

Product Code: -

Have you ever been to a jigsaw puzzle-specific second-hand sale?

Through Facebook, I have recently found the opportunity to take part in one that will be held in Melbourne in February and I am so excited! Even though it will be an early start and a relatively long drive, it will also be a great opportunity to sell some of my puzzles and meet like-minded puzzle enthusiasts. I'm really hoping I can clear some of my finished stash and make some much-needed room in my house haha. Depending on the success of the day, I would be more than happy to participate in other sales like it.

The above puzzle is one of the ones that I hope to sell (probably as a mini bundle cos I have a few and they were so cheap). I put it up today for its calm, beachy vibes and the relaxing atmosphere it evokes. The actual puzzle itself was OK to do, although the quality was as expected for the Puzzlebug brand. 

What puzzling adventures are you getting up to in this new year?

Colorful Yarn

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 500
Size:  46cm x 28cm

Product Code: -

If you've been following this blog for a while (or even if you haven't), you'd probably be aware that I have many other hobbies besides building puzzles, such as crafting, reading, collecting (and much more). Because of this, I don't s[end as much time as I'd like doing puzzles, but it also means that my interest in certain themes of puzzles is vast.

The above puzzle was a cheap quality one that appealed because of its subject matter- I love crafts and am an avid cross stitcher. Although the image depicts wool or yarn rather than threads, I was still drawn to it, and have decided to post it today because I am currently stitching madly to complete something for my local show. This is just a short reprieve until I pick up my needle again in a few minutes!

Despite the price of the Puzzlebug puzzles (and the cheaper quality) they still have designs that appeal to me and the above one was no exception. You can usually find a random design to suit the mood you're in.

Well, back to it. After all this show business is over, I'll be jumping right back into puzzling... Until then... 

T-Rex On The Prowl

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm

Product Code: -

I thought I'd go with a quick and easy one today- only 100 pieces! 

The new Jurassic World: Dominion film has been released and although I haven't yet seen it, I thought this puzzle would be relevant.  Yes, these puzzles are cheap quality, but they have many interesting images and designs, and I still enjoy doing them! 

This one has been sitting in my collection of photos for a while so I thought I'd put it up today. I might put up something a bit more challenging next week- I'm just running a bit behind today...

Balloon Reflections

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm

Product Code: -

Hi all!

In keeping with what I planned on doing last week regarding puzzle posting in themes and by national days, boy have we got a lot of options for this week!

I'm going to have to make a proper list so that I can do the puzzles well in advance and have the photos ready to go when it's time. This weekend is Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee (and since Australia is still part of the Commonwealth, it's still relevant, although not as much as it once was). So I could have put up a puzzle I have of her, but unfortunately I haven't yet completed it. 

During the week it was National Reconciliation Week. I started doing an Aboriginal artwork designed puzzle but once again, didn't finish it in time for today's photo post. Maybe next week? 

It's also Pride Month so I have the option to put up a nice 'love is love' type puzzle within the next few weeks :)

We also had National Donut Day and National Cheese Day, but today I'm going with a day which is to be celebrated tomorrow (since it's the only one I am prepared for) and that is Hot Air Balloon Day! 

This was just a cheap Puzzlebug puzzle so the quality was passable but I liked the imagery so why not? 

I'm really going to need to make that list and work from it soon!

Running Horse Buddies

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

During the week it was the Geelong Cup Public Holiday. As a casual worker, I got the day off work but besides that, it just felt like any ordinary day. Usually I would see photos online of friends that had attended the races, or see people's sweepstakes for the event, but there wasn't anything this year because the Geelong Cup wasn't open to the public. I didn't even realise the race had run till that evening- there was hardly any fanfare around it this year!

But I have decided to put up a picture of a puzzle I did of running horses, just to give it a look in (especially since I got a day off for it). The above puzzle was only 100 pieces, and was through the Puzzlebug brand (which are very hard to find nowadays since they are no longer readily available at Kmart). The quality was cheap as you'd expect but the image quality was good. 

I have a few more of these smaller piece counts to do and then I'll be done with my collection unless something else pops up!

Flame Grilled Burger And Fries

 

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

Yesterday (May 28) was International Burger Day, so I thought it would be fitting to put up a picture of a burger that I once completed.  This one was by Puzzlebug and the quality was typical for the brand but I thought the image was quite enticing. I must have been hungry when I bought it!

While I have preferences for the brands of puzzle I do (because they have better designs or are better quality), I also love to pick up other, cheaper puzzles just for the image. While the Puzzlebug puzzles are super cheap and often low quality, they have a lot of everyday images that are useful for posts like today. I don't think any of my ordinary puzzle brands would feature a burger puzzle like the one above!

Do you buy cheaper puzzles if it means a variety in design subjects?

Ice Cream Desserts

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

Since my pregnancy began, I have had so many people asking me if I've had any cravings at all- real food or otherwise! I honestly didn't think that I had, until I thought about it more closely and realised that I've been eating (and wanting to eat) a lot more ice cream, sorbet, gelati, etc lately! Despite what my husband believes, I know it's true (he thinks I always wanted it anyway).That's my craving haha

I decided to put this puzzle up to celebrate this realisation, and also because I haven't put up any food ones in a while. This Puzzlebug puzzle was lower quality as expected (they usually are) but I still enjoy most of their designs and imagery. With this one, I was missing two pieces (as you can see in the background and corner) but for some reason there was one extra of another piece? So disappointing but not totally unexpected.. oh well! It's the first time that's happened in a while so I'm not too fussed, especially considering the price of the puzzle!

We'll see what next week brings!

Cute Giant Panda

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 100

Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code: -

How cute are Giant Pandas? I was going to put this picture up a few months ago following the news that a Panda had given birth to twins at a zoo somewhere overseas, but obviously that never eventuated and I ended up putting up something else instead. 

Having remembered it now, I have decided to put the photo up. 

This was a cheap Puzzlebug puzzle, so the quality wasn't particularly great, but despite this, I still continue to buy them for their images and designs. They always look so appealing! Oh well...

Healthy Breakfast

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

I couldn't resist putting this one up this morning- I haven't put many food-related puzzles up in the past and this one was simply too enticing. How yummy do all these fresh foods look?! 

Many cafes and restaurants are starting to open to sit-in customers now, although there are strict rules in force regarding how many people can be seated and how far away from each other they have to be. I can't wait till the day when we can once more go out to eat without having to worry about covid-19 restrictions!

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this puzzle, and hopefully you'll be able to enjoy something similar at your local cafe sometime soon.

Cute Cupcakes

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

I feel like today is a cupcakes kind of day. 

Who doesn't love pretty-looking baked goods? 

The above image is just a cheap brand from Kmart but they always have interesting designs which are alright for the quality and price. 

This is one of my last few days off left before I head back to work full time following the Corona-virus pandemic so I'll be more than happy to sit and eat a few of these before heading back. I'm sure I'll be able to drop the weight from consuming so much extra food while I'm there and walking around all day! 

I'm actually quite surprised that my long stint of less work is almost over and yet I didn't get that much extra puzzling done during this time. I definitely had plenty of puzzles to work on- enough for a few lifetimes at least!- but I just never got around to doing much. 

Maybe cos I was focusing on other projects? Or on social media too much? Or cos I ran out of boards to do them on for a short while? Who knows?! I definitely have a few sitting around that I need to photograph though so I can get onto that when the light is good and then find somewhere to get them developed for my album. 

In the meantime, enjoy the cute cupcakes above (or a real alternative if you're able)

Majestic Tiger

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code: -

I thought I'd get topical for today's post and put up the above picture...

Has anyone been watching the Netflix doco-series Tiger King? 

It has to be the most insane thing I have watched recently! 

I am only two episodes in at the moment but I guarantee I will have watched it all by the end of the weekend. I can't believe that the craziness that we have watched is real, and that people can truly be like that! Every episode so far has been so full-on and I can only imagine that it gets more crazy as the series progresses. 

The missing limbs. The missing teeth. The cult-like parks. The power-hungry owners of the parks. The poor animals stuck in the middle of it all. It's all just insane!

So I have decided to put up a tiger puzzle for today. Because it's relevant. And it's majestic (as the title suggests). 

This puzzle was a cheap Puzzlebug one and the quality was as expected. Vibrant colours and an alright design. We'll see if my puzzle choice for next week is influenced by what I watch over the coming few days...

Summer Doggy Days

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code: -

I'm not sure what the weather is like where you are, but at the moment, we're going through a bit of a heat wave! Over the last few days, we've had temperatures reaching over 40 degrees celcius! Wayyyyy too hot for me! Luckily I've been inside most of the time at work (with air conditioning)  but I've still felt the heat.

I thought I'd put up a 'summery' picture today because of this. This was one of the cheap Puzzlebug puzzles that I came across one day at Kmart. These puzzles usually have images different to those you would normally find,and I thought the above design was relevant to this post. Quick, easy, and relatively good quality for the price, these puzzles are alright for a bit of cheap fun. 

Cuddly Love Birds

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

Well, I said I was probably going to miss posting up a puzzle last week and that was absolutely true! I had a valid excuse though- the wedding of one of my brother's! He married his beautiful fiance and I couldn't be happier for them! Hence the small puzzle post this week of a pair of cute little Love Birds!

This was just a cheap, small-piece puzzle that I picked up at Kmart but the quality was adequate for what I paid and the colours were bright and clear. 

Next week I hope to put up a picture of a more substantial puzzle but we'll just have to see how I go...

Mare And Foal

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

This week is the Geelong Cup- a public holiday for my area- and I couldn't be more excited to have the day off! I haven't actually been to the horse races for a long time, since my uni days in fact! But even though I won't be heading to the track, I'll still be making the most of my day. I plan to travel to Melbourne with my mum and go dress-hunting for my brother's wedding next month. Can't wait! 

Because I won't be going to the Geelong Cup, the Melbourne Cup (2 weeks later), or any of the Spring Racing Carnival in fact, I thought I would put up this picture now.

This was just a cheap Puzzlebug puzzle but I liked the simple design. The quality was as expected, and it was quick and easy to do.

Little Kitten

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code: -

I'm not usually a fan of cats, but this time around, I thought I would share a pic of a puzzle I did not so long ago. 

The relevance? Well there are three points:

1. I saw the live-action remake of The Lion King last week, and, not having completed any puzzles of lions recently, thought that this was the closest option to it!
2. There are balls of yarn in this picture which relate to the loom-weaving crafts I am working on at the moment.
3. It's actually quite a cute kitten.

Yep, I know. 

I haven't had the chance to do much puzzling lately but I'm hoping to get back into it soon, especially with some of the new additions to my collection which I have recently purchased (despite an already overflowing cupboard).Can't wait to show you what's next in store!!

Garden Boots And Tools

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

It's Autumn here at the moment and the weather is as unpredictable as ever! 

Yesterday was freezing cold and felt like winter, while only a few days ago (around the Easter public holidays) we had such beautiful sunny and warm weather! 

I basically chose to post this puzzle because I felt like the bright vibes of spring were evident in the design and I needed to see that to rid myself of the negative feelings this weather is bringing. It's not that I hate the cold - I actually prefer it- but only when it's winter!

This puzzle was very easy to do, and as I mentioned earlier, is vibrant and bright which instantly made it stand out to me.

Boxes Of Vintage Chalk

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

Even though their puzzles are quite cheap ($2 each- bargain!), I have rarely had any problems with the Puzzlebug brand. 

Available for purchase at Kmart in Australia, these puzzles come in a variety of interesting designs that are very different to puzzles of a more superior quality. They also release new designs quite regularly, so there is always something different to choose.  

As I mentioned earlier, they are extremely affordable, which can be a hazard if you're trying to save your money. You'll end up buying all of the puzzles of a new release because it will only cost as much as one ordinary puzzle of the same piece-count! What a trap!

The pieces generally fit together well and I've only had a few where the pieces were super poor quality (or where there was a piece missing), although this is not really a concern when you consider how much it cost to buy it. 

I came across the above design and thought it was quite different. I have to admit that I do like collage-style imagery so this was a perfect little spend- just something extra to add to the collection :) 

Lounging Around

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

You know how sometimes you just don't feel like doing anything productive? 

That was me this week. 

Sure, there were a lot of things that I wanted to get done but I had absolutely no motivation (and it didn't help that I was feeling sick for a few days). 

The above image pays homage to my week. I felt like lounging around, much like the cute kitten above. 

This is a Puzzlebug puzzle (only 100 pieces) and took all of 5 minutes to complete. Like I mentioned, I wasn't in the mood to do much, so a quick and easy puzzle was the best thing for me at this time!

This was bright, colourful, cute and fun to do, but hopefully I can put up a puzzle of more substance next week!

Colorful Houses, Burano, Venice Italy

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code: -

I'm not sure if you've seen the extraordinary footage or photos of Venice at the moment, but if you haven't, it's well-worth checking out! 

I know that they're used to the occasional sinking of their city into the water, but the way they just accept that it's happening and adapt to suit the situation is so bizarre to me! 

I saw a video on Facebook last night of people in a restaurant just wading through at least 10cm of water- dressed in their ordinary outfits and with the addition of gumboots (or bootie-type things to cover their shoes). They didn't let a little bit of water sloshing on the floor stop them from living their lives! I guess Venezians are just used to it...

I have decided to put up a photo of a Venetian scene which I found in the Puzzlebug range. Although the puzzle was cheap to buy, the vibrant colours and attractive image were a drawcard. It was quite easy to do if you sorted the pieces by colour (for the buildings), and the pieces fit together adequately (as expected for the price). 

Beautiful City Architecture And Colors In Summer Season, Oslo, Norway

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code: -

The Puzzlebug brand, while cheap, always has interesting designs, and this one is no exception. 

I like how they find images to represent various towns and cities, that you may not normally see in a jigsaw puzzle design. 

This one, featuring the Norwegian city of Oslo, is charming and picturesque- making you want to just pack your bags and visit!

The only fault I have with these puzzles (besides the fact that they sometimes don't join that well) is that they have such long and convoluted titles! Sure, that's not a terrible thing, but they do seem a bit too long-winded sometimes! Oh well, what can you do? 

Otherwise, they're not too bad for the price and at least there's plenty of variety in designs to choose from...