Carnovsky Ocean Jigsaw Puzzle

 

 If you are super organised, you might have already finished buying gifts for Christmas. If you're like me, you are beginning to look at the gift guides and online gift posts in autumn.

Carnovsky Ocean Jigsaw Puzzle (500pc) is a stunning unique jigsaw puzzle and a work of art in one package.  

I haven't done a jigsaw puzzle in over a year, and forgot just how much I enjoy them. My younger son was keen to help me, but I wanted to assemble it solo. I worked on it for a couple of days, on and off, and enjoyed every moment of it.

It's quite tricky (not totally fiendish but not super easy either), as the images in different colours are superimposed over each other. 

The beautiful artwork is created  by Carnovsky, a Milan based art and design duo - Francesco Rugi and Silvua Quintanilla. They are best known for their RGB project, which was first presented at Milan Design Week in 2010, and since then appeared in numerous international exhibitions.

RGB is an ongoing project that experiments with the interaction between printed and light colours. It's all about exploring "the surface's deepness".

This splendid puzzle comes with three pairs of coloured glasses, which highlight different images underneath. The images are interwoven, the lines and shapes are not clear when you look at the mixed scene, but put on the glasses and gasp with admiration, as layers re-emerge with clarity and sharpness of detail. The result is simply mesmerising and captivating.

This is a view through green glasses.

Red glasses' scene:

It was not easy to take the image with the blue glasses, as it wasn't as sharp as red and green through the camera of my iPhone.

As usual, I started with the border, finding pieces that will build the "frame", and then worked on the designs inside. Sometimes I looked at the design, sometimes at the shape of pieces.

Attention to detail here is something special. The sea creatures are drawn in the style of the old encyclopaediae. 

As you can see from close-ups, the graphic design is intricate and elaborate.

You can also scan the QR code to turn your device into a magical viewing lens.

The puzzle measures 50x50cm (19.7x19.7 inches) when complete.

One more thing worth mentioning: the puzzle pieces come in a paper bag inside the box, so there is no plastic to throw away. 

This wonderful puzzle is suitable for ages 8+ (not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts which present a choking hazard).

It will make an excellent gift for any jigsaw puzzle lover. If there is such a person in your life, Carnovsky Ocean will make someone happy - be it for Christmas, birthday or any other occasion. 

I know I would be delighted to get a new puzzle for Christmas.

Disclosure: We received the jigsaw puzzle for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Ravensburger What IF? No.16 - The Wedding, 1000pc jigsaw puzzle

Ravensburger What IF? No.16 - The Wedding; Image credits: Ravensburger

Wedding bells are in the air. The Royal wedding is less than three weeks away, and you can't escape the excitement, whether you want it or not. The shops are offering a vast array of wedding-themed goodies, from the official commemorative china of all kinds to lifesize cardboard cutouts of Harry and Meghan. Just today we spotted wedding Percy Pigs in M&S.
You might be planning a big street party to celebrate the event, spend the day glued to the TV or completely ignore the hullabaloo.

What better way to celebrate a Royal wedding than with an amusing wedding-themed jigsaw puzzle?

Ravensburger What IF? - The Wedding 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle is no.16 in this popular comedy series. The picture on the box shows what the characters would like to happen.

Ravensburger What IF? No.16 - The Wedding; Image credits: Ravensburger

The finished result shows what's actually happened.

This series of puzzles comes without a picture clue printout, so you're in for a big surprise.
It's suitable for ages 12+, and measures 70x50cm when complete.
Like all Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles, it is made from strong premium grade cardboard, with linen finish to minimise glare on puzzle image.

It is the second What IF? jigsaw puzzle that I've enjoyed. It is great fun.
I always start with finding the edge pieces and building a frame. Then you need to sort out the colours and begin filling in the picture. If there are words, it's easier to group them together.

The series is created by a well-known and much-admired artist and cartoonist Geoff Tristram. His work can be found on fine art prints, collector's plates, greeting cards, postage stamps and jigsaw puzzles.
Each puzzle in the series presents a comic scene. The Wedding is a gentle parody of the big event. The box image portrays the dream wedding, as imagined by the bride. She looks adoringly at her new husband, who gives a speech, proclaiming his bride to look stunning. The guests look well-dressed and respectable.
And then we piece together the puzzle... and discover the groom's ideal wedding, which turns into a chaotic carnival of colour.

SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want to know what the end result is, stop reading this post now.

This amusing puzzle will be a perfect gift for any jigsaw puzzle fan.

I wish Meghan and Harry all the best on their big day, though I won't be watching it. It's just I'm not really interested in weddings, and haven't watched Kate and William's wedding either. I remember I went shopping on the day of the Royal wedding, and the town centre was like a ghost town. The supermarket was totally empty.
I might bake a cake for my guys, and if the weather is nice, we'll go out for a walk.
I'm sure the Royal wedding will go without a glitch, and Meghan and Harry's guests will behave themselves. Or do you reckon someone will arrive dressed up as a giant banana?

Disclosure: I received the puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Avengers Infinity War XXL100-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger

Avengers' fans are eagerly counting days and hours until Avengers: Infinity War is released later next week. Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the other Avengers will be united once again to fight their most powerful enemy - the evil Thanos.
If you are one of the Marvel fans and can't wait for the release of Avengers, you will enjoy a brand new product from Ravensburger - Avengers Infinity War XXL 100-piece jigsaw puzzle which is out just in time for the film release.

Eddie is a big fan of all things Marvel, and he is not pleased that the film's rating is 12+ and he won't be able to watch it in the cinema. According to him, "it's not fair" (said in Horrid Henry's voice).
He was happy to work on the new puzzle though.
The puzzle - unlike the film - is suitable for ages 6+.

We knew most of the characters on the finished puzzle (well, Eddie knew more than I did).

The puzzle consists of 100 XXL sized pieces, which are big and easy to find and connect.
Like all Ravensburger puzzles, it is made from strong premium grade recycled cardboard with a linen finish to minimise the glare on the puzzle image.

It took Eddie about 15 minutes from start to finish, and that, with pointing to the characters and discussing who is who and complaining that life is not fair because he won't be allowed to see the film in the cinema.
The puzzle measures 49x36cm when complete.

It is an excellent jigsaw puzzle and will make a fantastic gift for any Avengers Infinity fan.

Disclosure: We received the puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are our own.

The Reading Room 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger

For the last couple of days everyone seems to be talking about the Beast from the East. The hashtag #snowmaggedon is trending on social media. It is pretty cold outside, especially with the wind, and we've got a smattering of snow. But the local schools are open, much to Eddie's chagrin,
I'm warm and cosy indoors, wrapped in a woolen shawl, having one cup of tea after another, and enjoying a new jigsaw puzzle from Ravensburger.
It is my birthday today, and I spent all morning after the school run, piecing the puzzle together. It's still a work in progress, I will need a couple of days to finish it.

The Reading Room 100-piece jigsaw puzzle will appeal to all jigsaw puzzle fans who love intricate patterns and small details. It will also please book lovers. As I'm both, I'm on cloud nine.
I love the image of the reading room, with shelves upon shelves, well-stacked with folios.

It brings happy memories of the times, when I worked in the library as a library assistant. I loved my job. I also spent many blissful hours, working in the libraries around the world, doing research and just reading for pleasure. I am so lucky to have had a chance to spend a lot of time in the libraries at Oxford and Yale Universities. Aw, happy days.

Reading rooms were often found in towns and villages for residents to read books and periodicals of the day.
The room depicted in the puzzle looks cosy and intimate, a space where I'd love to escape with a big stash of books and a cup of tea.

The shelves are beautifully arranged in colour blocks and also display artefacts and vintage curios.

There is a Siamese looking very comfy on the dark leather sofa, and a smiley dog on the floor.

This high quality puzzle measures 700x50cm when complete. It is suitable for ages 12+.
Like all Ravensburger puzzles, it is made from strong premium grade cardboard, with linen finish to minimise glare on puzzle image.
The attention to detail is exceptional.

Tomorrow is the World Book Day. You might want to dress up as your favourite character, or spend a day, engrossed in a lovely jigsaw puzzle about love of books.

Disclosure: I received the puzzle for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Hape George Luck Ark Puzzle

When it comes to Christmas gift shopping, there are three main groups of buyers: 1. those super-organised people who snapped up all their presents during after-Christmas sales at a bargain price, and keep everything wrapped up since January, 2. those who leave it until the last minute and 3. those in-between, who might buy a gift or a stocking filler as the year goes along.

I rarely start thinking about gifts for Christmas before autumn. I enjoy giving foodie presents and they don't tend to keep that long, and I don't have any spare storage space either. Last year I congratulated myself on getting a bargain tin of Roses in early autumn, but alas, it was raided by my family long before Christmas, as they by then have figured out all my hiding places.
I do enjoy browsing the magazines and blogs, looking for gift ideas though. At the moment I'm deciding on which advent calendars to give to my guys and myself.

With regards to children's gifts, wooden toys provide a timeless appeal.Traditional wooden toys are tactile, safe, durable and a great fun.
We still keep a wooden toy crocodile on wheels that baby Sasha loved so much - it might be battered and even chewed a bit, but it is a treasured memory.
One of Eddie's most loved toy sets was a box of wooden jigsaw pieces with magnets on the back, he spent hours making pictures with them in a big tray. We passed it on to another little child to enjoy just earlier this year, and even then, when I asked Eddie if he was OK with me giving it away, he said he'd like to play with it for the last time. And so he did, he assembled creative pictures with it, and was happy to let the set go to our friend's granddaughter.

Hape range of wooden toys is extensive and varied. Their high quality toys are suitable from babyhood to primary school ages and older. They are great for role play and work as a fantastic educational tool as well. No wonder many schools and nurseries have a selection of Hape products.

Hape George Luck Ark Puzzle is suitable for ages 8+ (younger children would be quite capable of assembling the puzzle as well, though not below 3 years, due to small parts).
It is a beautiful wooden collage, depicting Noah and animals. All the figures slot effortlessly into each other, creating one spacious ark.

Wooden pieces are made, using a non-toxic finished surface, decorated with water based paints.
The puzzle comes in 62 pieces, which are sturdy and robust but not too heavy for little hands.
It is a very tactile toy: the jigsaw pieces are smooth and painted on one side.

While assembling the puzzle with younger children, you can tell them the story of Noah's ark and also explore the animal world. Encourage your child(ren) to learn about different animals.

It is a true work of art, and is visually striking. Its pieces with animals of various shapes and colours reminded me of Kandinsky and Paul Klee's artwork . Simple elements, straight and curvy lines and pure colours.

This striking wooden puzzle will make a fabulous present for any jigsaw puzzle lover, for any special occasion, be it Christmas or birthday.

Disclosure: We received the puzzle for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Tonka Blast & Dash Quarry Playset

Can you believe it that Tonka is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year?! That's a great achievement for a toy brand. Happy anniversary, Tonka!
To mark 70 years of fun, Tonka has released two new playsets in their Tonka Tinys range -- Tonka Car Crush Escape and Blast & Dash Quarry (£9.99 each).

If you haven't come across Tonka Tinys before, this is a collection of miniature vehicles which are great for small scale adventures.
Suitable for ages 3+, this range of mini collectibles is popular with children and grown-ups alike.
We have already reviewed some of the Tonka Tinys earlier this year.
There are over 20 vehicles to collect including police pickups, quarry dump trucks and even helicopters. You can get them in packs of three (with one mystery vehicle) or in blind garages (priced at £2.49).

They are highly detailed and have movable parts. We like that they come in small craters/garages, which are easy to store, as they are stackable on top of each other.

Two latest sets are connectable, and are scaled to play with all Tonka Tinys vehicles.

Tonka Tinys Blast & Dash Quarry Playset features a working crane, car crusher and catapult for an exploding action. Don't worry, the exploding action is very minor, it's more of an up and down movable part than a blast.

This set comes in a box, ready for a simple and easy assembly. It is suitable for 5+ due to small pieces.
Both sets include an exclusive Tonka Tinys vehicle.

Eddie enjoys playing with little cars and other vehicles. He loved sending them down the slide through the tunnel.

This set is a lovely addition to Tonka Tinys range.

If your child is a fan of Tonka Tinys, keep an eye on a new larger playset coming out in autumn.
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Disclosure: We received a playset for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are our own.