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Ravensburger The Christmas Shop Review- Ravensburger 500 piece Jigsaw Puzzle

11:34 am By Canadian Puzzler

Christmas Shoppe Puzzle

The Christmas Shop Puzzle Review

Puzzle Company: Ravensburger
Number of pieces: 500
Completed size: 20 x 14 inches
Puzzle Artist: no info on puzzle artist
Overall rating: 8.5/10

Puzzler Notes: Smaller sized puzzle pieces, the same size as you would see in a typical 1000 piece puzzle. This make it more of medium difficulty, no reference poster included.
The image quality is amazing.
More information on puzzle brands and puzzle brand comparisons.

The Christmas Shop by Ravensburger – Puzzle Review

This is one of my favourite puzzle sizes to do, I usually can only find this size in Buffalo Games brand. I have noticed more brands have picked up on this size. I also that it is less of a commitment than 1000 piece puzzle. The smaller size footprint of The Christmas Shop puzzle and the smaller sized piece size makes this puzzle a manageable size to do. The smaller pieces do makes more of a challenge and may not work well with new puzzler or younger children. I believe this is limited edition- if you can find a copy- grab quickly!
Did this one on my Ravensburger easel.

Filed Under: Christmas Puzzles, Puzzles, Ravensburger Puzzles Tagged With: christmas, Ravensburger

Fall and Halloween Puzzle Collection video now posted!

6:17 pm By Canadian Puzzler

Fall Puzzles: Video Collection
WATCH NOW!


WATCH on Youtube NOW!

In this two-part puzzle video: Check out the two-part series of my fall and Halloween puzzle collection video!
I do a video walk-through of ALL (for now!) my fall-themed puzzles, including some adorable Halloween puzzles. Some of the jigsaw brands in the video: Bits and Pieces, Pomegranate Puzzles, Buffalo Games, Vermont Puzzle Company, Cobble Hill Puzzles and more!

🧩 Do you have a question about puzzle brands? Do you have suggestions for a new puzzle review? Please leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments section here on my Youtube puzzle channel:

🧩 Instagram: @smaller_thoughts

🧩 Buffalo Games – Country Store – 500 Piece Jigsaw
USA: https://amzn.to/3FNxVFn
Canada: https://amzn.to/3ALkySd

🧩 Buffalo Games-Days to Remember-Country Road, Hiro Tanikawa
USA: https://amzn.to/2YTIHJH
Canada: https://amzn.to/3p6Osyf

🧩 Bits and Pieces – Quilting Room, Parker Fulton
USA: https://amzn.to/3ANPscN
Canada: https://amzn.to/3j4O9A4

🧩 Ravensburger The Fishing Lesson, Mary Ann Vessey
USA: https://amzn.to/3FVgIda
Canada: https://amzn.to/3j5pUBF

🧩 Bountiful Meadows Farm puzzle review
USA: https://amzn.to/3DLsxAG
Canada: https://amzn.to/3p6P5b5

🧩 Halloween Town Puzzle
USA: https://amzn.to/3p9pBtJ
Canada: https://amzn.to/3ALk4eR

🧩 Read my puzzle review for Kawase Hasui: Autumn at Saruiwa

🧩 Bits and Pieces: Hens and Chicks
USA: https://amzn.to/3FVgcMg
Canada: https://amzn.to/3FVgcMg

🧩 Read review for : Cobble Hill: Halloween Buddies
USA: https://amzn.to/3aI8ZRd
Canada: https://amzn.to/3aI8ZRd

🎵
Music: “Somewhere” from Leonard Bernstein’s Westside Story arranged and performed by Mr. Bill
Mr. Bill played bass professionally for over 40 years. He was classically trained. In his retirement years, Bill decided to learn how to play dinner jazz on piano. He has arranged mostly well-known, slow-tempo songs that have interesting chord progressions.
.

The sheet music for “Somewhere” arrangement can be found at: https://musescore.com/user/4506351

Filed Under: Autumn & Fall Puzzles, Puzzle Review Videos Tagged With: autumn, Bits and Pieces, Buffalo Games, Cobble Hill, collection, fall, Mary Ann Vessey, Pomegranate Puzzles, Ravensburger, youtube

Halloween Puzzles | Top 10 Puzzles to do on a spooky night!

3:20 pm By Canadian Puzzler

Cute Halloween Puzzles

List of Top 10 Halloween Puzzles for Adults!

1. Halloween Town- Vermont Puzzle Company: My review for Halloween Town puzzle here

2. Halloween BuddiesCobble Hill- Coming Soon! This might be hard to find outside of Canada.

3. a href=”https://www.bitsandpiecescanada.ca/product/manfreds-general-store-500-piece-jigsaw-puzzle”>Manfred General Store Bits and Pieces:

4. Yesterday’s Halloween by Artist Christine Carey. Love this puzzle artist!

What are the best Halloween Puzzles?

5. Any of the Ravensburger “Escape Puzzles”
I especially like Vampire’s Castle and The Witches Kitchen. They are a great size (750 pieces) and fun for whole family to do.

6. I LOVE this puzzle from White Mountain, Halloween House. Anything with little cutaways and behind the scenes. This is a good puzzle to do as a family.

7. LOVE anything by Charles Wysocki, they are hard to find in Canada, this one is super cute! Trick or Treat Hotel
trick or treat hotel
8. Stunning Halloween “collage type” puzzle: “Vintage Halloween” by Bits and Pieces

9. Autumn Welcome by Vermont Puzzle Company
Canada: https://amzn.to/3hQUCOw
USA:

Halloween Puzzles
10. Ravensburger Bizarre Bookshop Series. Just a tad creepy, this makes for a good Fall into Halloween puzzle to do with family or on your own.
Purchase in USA
Purchase in Canada

Do you have a Halloween puzzle you do each year? What do you like about it? What make a good Halloween puzzle?

Let me know in the comments section!

Filed Under: Halloween Puzzles Tagged With: autumn, charles wysocki, Cobble Hill, collection, fall, halloween, Ravensburger

Ravensburger Wooden Puzzle Easel | Best Puzzle Easel?

4:29 pm By Canadian Puzzler Leave a Comment

Review of Ravensburger Wooden Puzzle Easel

by my number #1 Puzzle Buddy!

Thank you PuzzleBuddy1 for your review on Ravensburger’s Puzzle Easel
Features:
-Maximum puzzle size 24″ X 20″
-Fits most 1000 piece puzzles NOTE: Landscape only
If this swivelled or could accol=modate portrait ( vertical) puzzle orientation, this would be one of the best puzzle easels.
-Nice blue felted surface
-Four different adjustable angles
-Puzzle easel made of solid wood

PuzzleBuddy1 Ravensburger Wooden Puzzle Easel Pros:

-Did help my back and shoulder pain
-Easier control of light glare
-An angled puzzle board discourages feline lounging!

Ravensburger Puzzle Easel Pro & Cons:

    -Increases neck and shoulder strain if used on too high a tabletop
    -Can be an expensive initial investment
    -Storage / takes up space even when not in use
    -Doesn’t accommodate most portrait images, depends on the size of the easel and puzzle

What do you think is the best puzzle board or puzzle easel?

DO you have this one? I would love to hear your ideas and “small thoughts” about puzzle boards and other puzzle accessories!

Buy in Canada
Buy in USA

Filed Under: Puzzle Accessories, Puzzles, Ravensburger Puzzles Tagged With: February, gifts for puzzlers, January, Mothers Day, puzzle storage, puzzlebuddy1, Ravensburger, review

Puzzle Tip: Use a Puzzle Sorter!

6:28 pm By Canadian Puzzler Leave a Comment

Puzzle Sorting for Saner Puzzling

If you want to step up your puzzle game, try a puzzle sorter! Most serious puzzlers use some sort of sorting system for their puzzle pieces, particularly if doing puzzles with 500 pieces or more.
Move beyond using the flimsy, taped-together cardboard bottom of your puzzle box.

You no longer have to use the puzzle lid for your pieces- there are alternatives!

puzzle sorter review

If you have a friend or relative that does puzzles and you have no clue what kind of puzzle to get them, then get them something like this.

Solve your puzzle related aches and pain right now with a puzzle sorter!

It can be anything from cookie sheets, plastic trays, aluminum pie tins, or paper plates. YOU can also buy various puzzle sorting systems. Most of major brands, like Cobble Hill, Ravensburger and Eurographics offer their own version of this puzzle sorting accessory. The “Sort and Go” is made by Ravensburger.

I like anything that is lightweight, holding or moving anything over long stretches will hurt my arm or shoulder. A lot of my puzzle buddies like this one, the Sort and Go, by Ravensburger because it has a lid, which is apparently VITAL if you have a cat, usually an uninvited guest to the puzzle party. It also should stack. This is to make sure you can put away-plus less likely to get tipped or slid off your puzzle table. I was using pie plates and knocked lightly and the whole pile of puzzle pieces filled plates thing went flying across the room.

Unlocking Efficiency and Enjoyment: The Advantages of Using a Puzzle Sorter

Starting onto a new jigsaw puzzle journey can be both exhilarating and daunting. Assembling hundreds or even thousands of tiny pieces to form a coherent image requires patience, focus, and strategic planning. In the your efforts to quest to conquer the puzzle, one invaluable tool stands out: the puzzle sorter.
Whether you buy ready made one or fashion your own, this simple must have puzzle accessory will make your puzzling experience better and more enjoyable.

Organization: One of the primary benefits of using a puzzle sorter is its ability to streamline the sorting process. By categorizing pieces based on color, pattern, or edge type, puzzlers can effectively organize their workspace and easily locate pieces when needed. This systematic approach minimizes clutter and confusion.

Time-saving: With a puzzle sorter at hand, puzzlers can significantly reduce the time spent searching for specific pieces. By pre-sorting pieces into distinct groups puzzlers can quickly identify and retrieve the pieces required for a particular section of the puzzle easily and fast.

Reduced frustration: Sorting through a jumble of puzzle pieces can be a frustrating experience, especially when pieces appear similar or blend into one another. A puzzle sorter helps alleviate this frustration by providing a systematic approach to piece identification. By categorizing pieces based on shared characteristics, such as color or pattern, puzzlers can more easily distinguish between them and avoid confusion.

Tip: You can use pie plates or stacking trays from dollar store

Improved focus: The act of sorting puzzle pieces can also have a calming effect on the mind, helping to enhance focus and concentration. As puzzlers immerse themselves in the task of sorting, they engage in a meditative process that promotes mindfulness and mental clarity. This improved focus not only enhances the puzzling experience but also provides a welcome respite from the stresses of daily life.

Enhanced collaboration: For those who enjoy puzzling as a social activity, a puzzle sorter can facilitate collaboration and teamwork. By sorting pieces into designated categories, multiple puzzlers can work together more efficiently, assigning different sections of the puzzle to each participant based on their sorting preferences. This collaborative approach fosters camaraderie and encourages shared achievement as individuals work towards a common goal.

Versatility: Puzzle sorters come in various shapes and sizes, making them suitable for a wide range of puzzle sizes and complexities. Whether tackling a small, 500-piece puzzle or a large, 3000-piece masterpiece, there is a puzzle sorter available to meet every need. Additionally, puzzle sorters can be easily customized and adapted to accommodate individual sorting preferences, ensuring a personalized and tailored puzzling experience.

Whether you’re a seasoned puzzler or a novice enthusiast, incorporating a puzzle sorter into your toolkit is one thing you can do to instantly help make puzzling more fun!

Filed Under: Puzzle Accessories, Puzzle Reviews, Ravensburger Puzzles Tagged With: accessory, February, January, Mothers Day, Puzzle Accessories, puzzle tip, Ravensburger, review, tip

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