Underwater Wonders

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 100 XXL
Size:  49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 129720

We're starting to approach the end of the year and now a lot of puzzle-selling businesses are starting to offer sales on their stock in the lead-up to Christmas. Others, like Reverie Puzzles, are launching new collections.

If you're trying to be good and stop purchasing puzzles, this is an absolute nightmare! (But of the good kind, if there's such a thing)

Do you tempt fate and browse in case there's something you see that you want at a discounted price? Do you check out the new collection so that you can add to what you already own? Do you buy more, knowing that you don't even have the time or storage space required for any new additions? 

This is the dilemma I'm facing right now! 

If my husband knew that I was looking at sales and more puzzles, let's just say he wouldn't be too happy with me right now... Will have to keep it all on the down low..😐

Meanwhile, I have decided to put up the above puzzle today- because I am no longer the only one in my house who loves to put together jigsaw puzzles! My three-year-old daughter is now very much into the hobby and has tackled and completed this puzzle by herself, even though I originally thought it would be much too hard for her. She loves it! As do I, because the design is by Demelsa Haughton and who doesn't love her whimsical illustrations?!

I'm going to head off now, and try and talk myself out of looking at purchasing yet more puzzles! Have a great week! 

Ariel's Underwater Paradise

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 133277

Have you seen the new Disney live-action remake of The Little Mermaid? I haven't yet but it has recently opened at the cinemas and I am keen to see it, despite the mixed reviews. 

One of my friends saw it during the week and she was unsure about whether she enjoyed it or not- I think she was comparing it too much to the original Disney film. She liked some aspects of it, but disliked others. I guess it's a personal preference thing but I'd still like to form my own opinion on it. 

Anyway, I decided to put up this image from the original Disney film, featuring Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian. This is one of Ravensburger's Brilliant Series puzzles, where you also get a little packet of diamontes in the box to decorate the finished puzzle. I obviously didn't go that far- they are still in the packet they came in- but I made sure to complete the actual puzzle. 

At 500 pieces, this was a nice and relatively quick one to do, that satisfied my nostalgia/Disney craving at the time. The quality was as expected, but the colours seemed brighter in real life than what they appear in my photo. 

I'll let you know if I get around to seeing the new film, and what I think about it...

Mermaid

Brand: Re-Marks
Pieces: 250
Size: 27.9cm x 35.6cm
Product Code:  -

I've always been fascinated by illustrated artworks, whether they be adaptations of familiar characters or something completely unique. That's why I enjoy doing puzzles like the one above. Although I don't know who the artist is for this puzzle (I have also done several other designs by the same illustrator), I really love the style. The colours are so vibrant and the people (or mermaid in this case) who are featured are just so pretty. 

This puzzle was one of the first I ever did from this brand and I really enjoyed it. The pieces fit well together and there was a great collection of designs available.I'm hoping to purchase and complete more over time, but it's all dependent on the exchange rate, as I've only ever seen this brand available in the USA. 

If you get the chance to try Re-Marks out, however, I highly recommend it!

Underwater Sanctuary

Brand: Cardinal
Pieces: 500
Size: 35.5cm x 27.9cm
Product Code:  -

I've always loved images of dolphins, whales and other exotic and colourful marine life. 

There is just something so tranquil about these designs, with their aquamarine water- it almost feels as though you are part of this underwater landscape, frolicking with the creatures as they swim among the brightly coloured coral. Although I know that scenes like this one are fanciful and the reality is much different, I still enjoy doing puzzles like this one every now and then.

This Cardinal puzzle had very small pieces but they fit together really well to produce this well-designed image. The vibrant colours and busy scenery made it interesting to complete- there was always something different to look at as you put the pieces together. 

I've really grown to enjoy doing puzzles from this brand- they have a wide range of designs and the quality is usually really good. 

Dolphin World

Brand: Cardinal
Pieces: 500
Size: 35.5cm x 27.9cm
Product Code:  -

It's quite rare, but occasionally you come across a brand new puzzle that has a fault or two in it. 

Sometimes the pieces aren't cut correctly or they're cut so finely that a knob piece has snapped off in the packaging. 

Sometimes (although rarely) there is an extra piece in the box that has no place in the actual puzzle (or is a duplicate of a piece that has already been placed).

But this is the kicker- the real and very frustrating problem that some puzzlers face- a missing piece!

Sometimes it is the fault of the puzzler, having dropped a piece. Sometimes the missing piece is the result of a wayward pet who has decided that they would like a tasty cardboard snack. But sometimes it IS the manufacturers fault and the piece is simply not in the box. 

This was the case for the above puzzle. I didn't bother contacting the manufacturer or the place that I purchased the puzzle- it was not worth the trouble for the price that I paid for it- but it was extremely frustrating. 

Luckily it isn't terribly noticeable in the overall scale- can you see where the piece is missing in my above photo? But my point is that it does occasionally happen, and it can be a very annoying deal, especially if the piece count is high and you've been working on completing the puzzle for some time. 

That said, despite the missing piece, I quite enjoyed the above puzzle and was happy with the design. If it was fully complete it would have been a treat to do!