Puzzle Adventures - May 2021

 Since Mother's Day gifts arrived early this year, I started with those : 2 Ravensburger Puzzles. Great quality, love them!

I started with the 1500 piece cottage scene. Needed the larger puzzle board for this one, but it worked well, and for a 100% digitally generated image, it was not too bad. I rather enjoyed doing it and can certainly see myself doing it again. Besides is is so 'springy'!

Nice little details on the pond...

And loving this sewing room, packed with little details. As a person who likes to sew, I 'get' this room!

I was buying a puzzle via Facebook from a local person, only she 'accidentally' sold the one I wanted and I ended up with this one instead. Not a bad deal, it is a Cobble Hill and the picture was more enjoyable than I expected. It is called 'Ceramica' 

This puzzle was interesting. I was given it by a friend here locally. She had offered it for free on the local swap/trade group and nobody wanted it. I decided to take a plunge with it as those colours were so pretty. It was not easy to get under way, but once into it, I enjoyed it. And it is every bit as pretty as I expected!

There's little critters hiding in the vegetation...

I hope the next in line for this puzzle enjoys it as much as I did.

Cards - 2020 Round-Up

 I made a lot of cards this year, like I always do, just never really kept track of them. I do have a few pictures though. Finally got a proper set-up for taking better images. That was long overdue indeed.

Literally just a small selection, that I remembered to photograph, from 2020.

Art Impressions - who does not like a little hedgehog? And I do so like a card to can be displayed!

And cats cats cats... what else do you give a cat lover but lots of cats?

These stamps are by Penny Black. They are individual images that I piled together for the card front.

A gentle and sweet  bridge style Mother's Day card for our Daughter-In-Love using cut files from Lettering Delights, Mommy and Me (affiliate link!)

More Penny Black for Christmas tags...

And a layering stamp set by Hero Arts for a birthday card. Ink smooshing and an embossing folder for colour and texture on the background with assorted die-cuts to finish it off.

For another birthday I pulled out this old All Night Media wood block stamp of mine. Sometimes it is nice to revisit old 'friends' I've had for many years and that I have used for many cards over the years.

I decided to jazz it up a bit by making it into a shaker card and since I hand delivered it, I was able to make the 3 dimensional flowers out of tissue paper to add that something special to the card.

I like the way that turned out! I used a spray of alcohol ink for colour and a touch of gold for the edged of the petals.

I teamed the card with a gift of sugar hand soap scrubs for my gardening loving friend.

And that is a wrap for cards from 2020. Stay tuned for a post showing the recent card making spate.

Puzzle Adventures - April 2021

 In between crocheting, and now knitting, for a new grandbaby, making greeting cards and spring cleaning...I've been doing a few puzzles this month.

I started with this very fun one that I traded some time last year and had not yet done. I really enjoyed it. It was not difficult but very interesting.

I did it for the 'Food' Monthly Theme Challenge. The title is 'Donuts' and the brand Jack Pine, with a 1000 piece count.

For the Alphabet Challenge I entered this one for 'E is for Elephant'

What a fun puzzle. I got this from a fellow puzzler here locally. It is called a 'sand' puzzle as all the sand coloured areas on the puzzle have a sanded finish. Small grains are embedded in the ink so that there is the added tactile experience when you assemble it. I liked it and loved the bright colours. It certainly has an African vibe.

'Elephants' by Clementoni at 500 piece count.

'Dolphins Dawn' by MB, also a 500 piece count puzzle.

This one has been on the pile for a few months, waiting for warmer weather.

It was quick to do, and the colours are nicely saturated.

Next one for the Alphabet Challenge was J - is for Jars for which I did this panorama puzzle 'Sweet Shoppe' by Bits & Pieces. It was okay to build, but not my favourite so I traded it as soon as it came off the board...

I'd been waiting for spring to do this 'Spring Birdhouse' beauty by Cobble Hill. Ahhh the quality...so nice! And since it was a new puzzle, that delicious smell. Cobble Hill puzzles have a unique smell that I really like.

And finally for April, this kitten one. Kitchen Capers ...or something to that effect, by Buffalo. It was fun to do, but the quality is not so good. Not the best if you start building with glue in hand to stick delaminating layers back in place. The price reflects that though, so I guess in the end it evens out, but straight after a Cobble Hill it felt pretty awful.

I'm behind posting, so I guess I'd better get on with the post for May! Yikes!

Puzzle Adventures - March 2021

 Puzzle fun continues into spring and what better way to start than with this lovely Cobble Hill one featuring the art of Edith Holden? I did this before and enjoyed it very much the second time round again!

Love the bunny! It was also my entry for the Alphabet Challenge B - for Bunnies

This one also filled the Challenge of 'Flowers' for the Monthly Themes Facebook Group

And for the ongoing Alphabet Challenge - M is for Moonlight...a final snowy picture for now... this one is by Buffalo

And this jewel was gifted to me by a local fellow puzzler. It was a joy all the way! Alice in Wonderland and is a Jumbo brand.

I wasn't sure if areas may be tedious, but it never got to that stage. It was great start to finish.

High quality art for sure.

Delightful details in the caterpillar too...

And finally another Cobble Hill - Flower Cupboard' a very enjoyable and quick 500piece beauty. This also fitted into the 'Flowers' category for the Monthly Challenge.

I wonder if this is just an ornament or whether it is one of those little clay whistles?

And a little fun birdhouse...

Puzzle Adventures - World Puzzle Days - February 2021

 Round up for World Puzzle Days for 2021

I was given this beautiful Cobble Hill for my birthday. Loved every minute of this one!

A few of my favourite details...

A fun Valentine Stamps one from Bits and Pieces

And of course...some fun details!

Love the variety of teacups in this Cobble Hill one. It is a great build!

And wrapping up this month with this chuckle-packed image by Jan Van Haasteren. It is by Jumbo.

This one, like all Van Haasteren puzzles, is full of fun details too...

It was a fun month, and not a bad effort for World Puzzle Days. Now it's time for spring and Spring themed puzzles!