Last updated on March 29, 2020
Puzzles Can Be Fun!
One thing great about puzzles is they can capture your attention and interest and they certainly pass the time. But they can be a lot of fun also. My family has typically got out a jigsaw puzzle once a year during Christmas Holidays when there was more time to work on them. When my daughter was in her teens she enjoyed working them with us.
After my husband, Mel, and I retired, we had time to work on puzzles more often and we have pulled out one about every 5-6 months. But now, during this pandemic and having to stay at home so much, we have worked on several puzzles to pass the time. Typically we choose puzzles that are about 1000 pieces and can finish them in 2-3 days (except for one very difficult one about 3 months ago that “kicked our booties” being very hard to do. A huge group of same color puppies – it was extremely hard and took forever. Then, we found one piece was missing and so threw it away. Unfortunately a few days after that the piece was found but too late to save the puzzle from the trash pickup.
But a month ago when the world was still sane, we decided to pick a 3000 piece one. Mel purchased a large clear acrylic sheet to put on our large dining room table and it fills the sheet. There are so many pieces that we had to leave most of them in the boxes and put just a few out on the table. That was about 1.5 weeks ago and it still isn’t finished because I’m not working too hard on it – I work by putting all pieces of similar color out to work on but its impossible with this many pieces. Mel works on it several times a day and he is finally making headway.
Lets learn more about what we call “jigsaw puzzles”
Wikipedia has this to say:
“A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of often oddly shaped interlocking and mosaiced pieces. Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture. In some cases, more advanced types have appeared on the market, such as spherical jigsaws and puzzles showing optical illusions.
Jigsaw puzzles were originally created by painting a picture on a flat, rectangular piece of wood, and then cutting that picture into small pieces. Despite it being called a jigsaw, a jigsaw was never actually used to cut it. John Spilsbury, a London cartographer and engraver, is credited with commercializing jigsaw puzzles around 1760. Jigsaw puzzles have since come to be made primarily of cardboard”
What are you called if you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles?
Interestingly enough you would be a Dissectologist!
The BCD, or Benevolent Confraternity of Dissectologist’s to give it it’s fuller title, is a Worldwide club for lovers of Jigsaw Puzzlesfrom all Nationalities and time periods.
Different Types of Jigsaw Puzzles
I’m listing some of the different types of Jigsaw puzzles below:
- Flat 2 Dimensional Jigsaw Puzzles – these are the flat puzzles that are so common and we all have played with.
- Educational Jigsaw Puzzles – like those used in the field of education. Like those many of your children have played with.
- 3D Puzzles
- Wasgij Jigsaw Puzzles
- Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles
- Large Piece Jigsaw Puzzles
- Ball in a Maze Puzzle
Where to Find the Best Puzzles?
The makers of the puzzles thought to be some of the best are:
- Ravensburger
- Clementoni
- Springbok
Mel and I like those made by Ravensburger a lot; we look for that brand when we go to get new puzzles.
Some Ravensbuger Puzzles for Adults (1000 piece)
Some Ravenburger children puzzles
Some Clemenoni Puzzles for Adults, 1000 piece
Some Clemenoni Puzzles for Children
Some Springbok Puzzles for Adults, 1000 piece
Some Springbok Puzzles for Children
Sealing and Framing Your Finished Puzzle
Here’s a good link to a video and instructions on sealing and framing your finished puzzle so it can become artwork for your home.
Puzzle Tips
- Use a board or acrylic sheet to put the puzzle together so you can move it if needed
- Before you start, make sure all pieces are face up (print size up)
- Put together the outside edge pieces first
- Sorting the inner pieces by color can help
- Double check that the pieces really belong together or you can create headache for yourself.
- Work with your children on their puzzles but let them learn how to put them together they love when you play with them. Doing puzzles helps us learn patience and perseverance
- Another tip is to purchase puzzles when they are on sale to work on them when you are on vacation or have a long weekend or holiday. Mel and I regularly shop at Barnes and Noble and check out their puzzle isles.
Comments
I enjoy receiving comments and questions from site visitors. Please leave yours below -shirley
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I used to love working puzzles. We too used to work them at Christmas time at Grandmas house. She always had one on the table or card table in the sewing room. I have not worked one in ages and unfortunately I do not have space in my current living area.
I was always a fan of the more difficult puzzles, and even had one that had pictures on both sides once.
Puzzles are a great way to kill time and bring families together.
Thanks Annette for visiting my site and your comment. Yes, you do need to have room to lay the puzzles out. We have a clear acrylic sheet to work on so we can move it if we need our dining room table. Thanks for your comment -shirley