It's no secret that I LOVE doing puzzles. LOVE THEM! I've always enjoyed a puzzle and once my kids were all out of toddlerhood have pretty much always had one going during summer and breaks from school. During quarantine back in 2020 my love really ramped up and this is when I was able to get my kids a bit more in love as well. Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite kinds of puzzles, brands of puzzles and answer some puzzle questions I get ;)
We pretty much always do puzzles on our dining room table. It's a big space, but doesn't interfere with daily life and we don't use a puzzle board or anything and it works just fine!
When we're done with our puzzles we take them apart, put them back in the box and keep them in our game closet. Yes... we have quite the collection but we like to do them again and share with friends who love puzzles as well.
This past Summer I gave the bulk of our puzzle collection to one of the 5th grade teachers at school - her family loves puzzles and their plan was to do them and then bring the puzzles to her classroom to keep on a puzzle table she has for kids who finish early.
This one was a summer find that we loved...
... and panoramic puzzles are extra fun like this one from Mudpuppy....
I bought several of these Elena Essex puzzles last summer and was SO IMPRESSED!
White Mountain puzzles are some of our favorites - specifically the ones with lots of little sections like this. I will say that these are the puzzles that I gave away this summer - they're super fun to do but not special enough for me to hold onto.
My family loves puzzles as well, we will have to try out the Magic Puzzle Company ones, sounds interesting! :)
ReplyDeleteI love puzzles too, but limited with 18 month old! Haha! I love the 500 piece Galison ones in this season and find lots at TJ Maxx, esp around holidays! 🧩
ReplyDeleteWe love puzzles too! My kids are grown and we started doing them during Covid when we were stuck at home all the time. The kids would come over and we would set up a table outside and do a 1000 piece puzzle in about 3-4 hours. We typically buy White Mountain. Love all your recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! I love puzzles with lots of color and interest. My daughter thrifted one that I am not loving! It's a puzzle featuring Degas: The School of Dance. So much brown wood floor! 🤣 It may be the first puzzle we do not finish!
ReplyDeleteIt's SO funny how the more puzzles you do, the more you realize that there are GOOD puzzles and TERRIBLE puzzles. I hate a puzzle that doesn't "click" together and you're left wondering if it's the right piece or not, but I also hate one that "sticks" together where it's so hard to TAKE apart. I love a puzzle with sections, like you. I've learned we don't enjoy ones that are over 1000 pieces AND if a puzzle is too hard...it's supposed to be fun!
ReplyDeleteI hate puzzles where it feels like each piece can just fit anywhere and I never know if I have it in the right spot or not. My sister gifted one to us this Christmas that is a giant Banyan tree and it is SO hard because all the colors are so very similar throughout the whole puzzle but I am determined to finish it. I typically enjoy landscapes/photos looking puzzles but if I'm picking them out myself I do look for ones with lots of detail and colors so I have an easier time putting them together (or less pieces).
ReplyDeleteI love puzzles too! I finally figures out that the reason I love them is because my love language is quality time-to do a puzzle with someone they sit with you and chat and just be. I love that. Have you ever tried a Nautilus puzzle? They are pricey but they are so fun. The pieces are wood and the shapes are so fun as they are not cut like regular puzzles. You should check them out! They are a bit harder due to the pieces shapes, but the feel of the smooth wood pieces-so satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE puzzles too. Like you, I put the edges in a ziploc when I take them apart...it's smart, not cheating in my book. I usually do 1000 pieces and stay away from landscapes mostly for the same reason you mention. Love White Mountain puzzles...thanks for the other options above, I will try some new companies!
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