Come Shop New Puzzles with Me!

I look at puzzles every single day for work, which you would think would make me less likely to buy them. And you think as someone who does over 300 puzzles a year, I'd get sick of them. Well I'm not... I'm a bit obsessed and still get VERY excited over new puzzles. So I thought it would be fun to take you puzzle shopping with me. I'm heading to the Puzzle Warehouse New Puzzles page and pretending I can add just 10 puzzles to my cart. That's it. Ten.

I'm not going in with a plan. I'm not trying to pick a certain number of brands or piece counts. We're just going window shopping together. I'm just scrolling and showing you what catches my attention, what actually makes it into my cart, and what I somehow manage to talk myself out of. Basically, you're about to experience my actual thought process while puzzle shopping, so this is probably going to get a little chaotic. Sorry...

Violet Meets Tairn by Eurographics

The very first puzzle on the page is Violet Meets Tairn, and instantly I'm like, WAIT. Fourth Wing has puzzles?! I JUST started the third book, so obviously I'm intrigued.

There are five new Fourth Wing puzzles from Eurographics, and if I had to choose one, I think I'd go with Violet & Xaden. There's a much larger sky section—and I love a good sky. Plus there's more contrast throughout the image. But am I actually adding it to my cart? No. 

Violet & Xaden by Eurographics

Honestly, all five look HARD. Some of the singular dragon puzzles especially look a little challenging for me, and I just don't have the time right now to spend forever working on one puzzle. There are simply too many other puzzles in my collection waiting to be done. 

Mo's Place from GoodWay Puzzles (1000 Pieces)
Artist: Kathy Wilburn

Oh yay!! Mo's Place from GoodWay Puzzles is here!! The artist is Kathy Wilburn, who is a new licensed artist with GoodWay. I am SO excited to see this one on the New Puzzles page because I actually got to be part of choosing it! Susan and I went through Kathy's adorable artwork together to figure out which images we thought would make great puzzles, and this one was my top pick.

Obviously, I love cats, but I also loved how many different things there were to work with in the image. You know how sometimes an image can be really cute or beautiful, but that doesn't necessarily mean it would make a good puzzle? I felt like this one had both, and now I get to see it out in the world. ADD TO CART.

Antiques by White Mountain
Artist: Ekaterina Merentsova

I love White Mountain Puzzles, and of course they have a few new ones. Antiques is calling out to me as a fun cozy-night-in puzzle. There's the bright barn, all the knickknacks, and so many different elements to puzzle. I feel like I could even convince Dave to sit down and work on this one with me.

The Halloween Store by White Mountain
Artist: Lilia

Then there's The Halloween Store. Halloween is right around the corner, it's only 500 pieces, and I'm loving it. BUT... I don't actually have a ton of puzzling time right before Halloween this year. I know myself. I'd buy it, not get to it, and then it would probably sit around for an entire year before I pulled it back out. So Halloween Store stays behind, but Antiques is going in the cart.

Seaside Study by Vermont Christmas Co.(500 Pieces)
Artist: Marcello Corti

Seaside Study immediately catches my attention. Have you tried Vermont Christmas Company puzzles? I love them. The pieces are slightly larger, the cut is a little more random without getting too crazy, and I've always had a great experience with the color and fit.

But there's something else I love about this particular image. I'm a sucker for puzzle scenes where I want to be the person taking the snapshot. I don't just want to puzzle the image, I want to be there. I want to be sitting in that green chair reading one of those books, or at the table doing that puzzle, looking out at the water with a cat on my lap. That sounds pretty great to me. ADD TO CART.

Let's Roll by Cobble Hill
Artist: Taylor Weltzer

Let's Roll! immediately got me. Here's something about me: I'm a nerd, and not just a puzzle nerd. I love D&D, so of course Cobble Hill has TWO new puzzles that I want. Luckily, I don't need to add Let's Roll to my shopping cart... mostly because I already bought it. Hey, not all of us have self-control.

Brewing Up Trouble by Cobble Hill
Artist: Fian Arroyo

SOOOO, since Let's Roll is technically already in my collection, that means I still have room to add Brewing Up Trouble to my imaginary cart. Still nerdy, still fun, and I could absolutely see myself doing this one with my husband. We even have a D&D cookbook, so we could really commit to the theme. We could make something fun for dinner and then sit down with the puzzle. I love that these are nerdy without forgetting that the image still needs to be fun to puzzle. ADD TO CART.

Oh no. I've only made it through PAGE ONE of the New Puzzles section. There are seven pages as I'm writing this, and I already have four in my "cart". If ten is my limit, I'm in trouble.

Picking Wildflowers by Karmin International (500 Pieces)
Artist: David MacLean

Picking Wildflowers catches my eye next. Have you done a Karmin International puzzle yet??? I know they can look a little unassuming, and maybe the price point makes you wonder, But are they actually good at that price? 100% YES.

This is a brand you should be looking at. They have beautiful pieces, great coloring, the perfect amount of shine, and THE FIT. I've done about 10 KI puzzles at this point, and the fit has been fantastic. I can move huge sections around without them even thinking about coming apart. That doesn't mean they're difficult to take apart when you're finished, either. They don't have a paper backing or anything like that; they just hold together really well while you're puzzling.

There are a LOT of new KI puzzles, so picking only one was difficult, but I'm going with Picking Wildflowers. I love David MacLean images, and this seaside scene looks really relaxing. It's artsy without looking too intimidating, and I think the finished puzzle would be stunning. ADD TO CART.

Dancing Dolphins by RoseArt
Artist: Lisa Frank

I hit Lisa Frank – Dancing Dolphins, and now I'm torn!!!!! I grew up with Lisa Frank, and there are THREE new RoseArt Lisa Frank puzzles. They're 300 pieces, they're bright, they're colorful, and they are calling directly to my millennial soul.

Forrest by RoseArt
Artist: Lisa Frank

Do I need all three? No. YES. But if I could only choose one, Dancing Dolphins might be it... although Lisa Frank – Forrest is also calling to me. Okay, okay. Shhhhh. Don't tell anyone, but both may be in my cart. Is it okay to go over 10? 

Whoops. Bought all three. Man, how did that happen? That was so fast!

Library Mischief by RoseArt

Cork-liege?? What is THAT? It's a cork puzzle? I did a cork puzzle from the '90s a while back and LOVED the fit, and now it looks like RoseArt is bringing them back. I'm very intrigued.

Library Mischief looks especially cute with all the kittens, but I'm also always looking for interesting puzzle collections that could make a fun YouTube video. A whole line of cork puzzles? That could be fun. ADD TO CART. We're just going to stop talking about the number 10 for a minute.

Mixtape Memories by Final Piece Puzzles

Final Piece Puzzles is stopping me because... they have 500-piece puzzles now??? I did Mixtape Memories in the 1000-piece version, and it was such a fun, beginner-friendly puzzle. Seeing it available as a 500-piece caught my attention immediately because I think that piece count would be really fun too.

But I already did it. I don't need it. I'm not adding it. See? Restraint! I also love seeing Final Piece continue to grow, especially since in their next collection we'll see more artist based images being featured. Definitely a brand I'm keeping an eye on.

Bathtime Buddies by Victory Wooden Puzzles (85 Pieces)
Artist: Sophie Clima

Oooooo, there are around 20 new Victory Wooden puzzles. This is a problem. I love their little tins because they're great for traveling, and the three I already own have been done many, many times. So really, adding another one just makes sense. Right?

Oh! I know which one. Bathtime Buddies MINI QT by artist Sophie Clima. This is another one where I have a little behind-the-scenes connection because I helped choose some of Sophie's images for this collection! So cute!!!  ADD TO CART.

Trimming the Tree by Heritage
Artist: Federica Stricker

Is it too early to plan for Christmas? I mean... I already asked if it was too early for fall puzzles, so we might as well keep going. Trimming The Tree by Heritage caught my attention as a really fun Christmas scene. I don't have many new Christmas puzzles waiting for me this year, so it would be nice to have at least one. Plus, I haven't done a ton of Heritage puzzles. I love their brand story, the slightly larger pieces, and their artwork.

Santa Comes to Town by Heritage
Artist: Teresa Pennington

Oh. Wait. Santa Comes to Town is more my speed. There's a sky. Of course there's a sky. It also looks a little easier to me than dealing with all those tree branches in Trimming The Tree, and I love the vintage feel of Teresa Pennington's colored-pencil artwork. Sorry, Trimming The Tree. Santa Comes to Town: ADD TO CART.

At this point I supposedly have room for two more. ONLY TWO SPACES LEFT, PEOPLE! Although we've already established that I'm not particularly good at following my own rules.

Christmas in the Woods by Ravensburger

Okay, so you know when you're shopping and you keep scrolling past the same puzzle, but every single time it stops you? Whoa, that's pretty. I love those colors. Wait, what's that one? And then you realize it's the SAME puzzle that has caught your attention over and over again?

That's Christmas in the Woods by Ravensburger for me. The reason I haven't immediately added it to my cart is pretty obvious: it's a 2,000-piece Christmas puzzle. I do not need a 2,000-piece Christmas puzzle. But that sky is basically sitting there going, Hello there. You will love me, Emilee. And then the website has the nerve to tell me there's only one left?! Well NOW I'm going to miss out! Puzzle Warehouse, you're killing me. I do not need it... but she sure is pretty.

Beach Time by SunsOut (300 Pieces)
Artist: John Stewart

I'm a sucker for the 300-piece SunsOut puzzles. It's probably my favorite piece count from the brand because the pieces are nice and large, the fit is lovely, and I get to try images that might intimidate me at a larger piece count. Beach Time looks like exactly that kind of puzzle. There's just enough of each element. Not too much fur, water or sky and just a tiny bit of greenery. It's a super sweet John Stewart image, it's 300 pieces, and I think it needs a home. ADD TO CART.

Air Show by Boardwalk (500 Pieces)
Artist: David Moore

Finally, Air Show from Boardwalk is my last pick. And you're probably thinking, Huh. That's an interesting choice for Emilee. You would be right, because I'm not buying it for me.

My father-in-law recently had to move suddenly and had to leave his whole puzzle collection behind. Could you imagine?!?! Don't worry, I've already sent him about 20 puzzles to start filling those shelves back up. When I saw Air Show, I immediately thought it looked like one he would enjoy. And I think that's something that's easy to forget when you're puzzle shopping. Sometimes the puzzle that catches your attention isn't the one you want to do yourself. It's the one that immediately makes you think of someone else. So my final spot goes to him. ADD TO CART.

So... How Did I Do?

I went into this with one very simple rule: pick 10 puzzles. Did I follow that rule perfectly? Kinda... let's just pretend that three Lisa Frank puzzles are not on their way. There were Fourth Wing puzzles I wanted but managed to leave behind, a Halloween puzzle I responsibly talked myself out of, and a Final Piece puzzle I admitted I absolutely did not need. So there was restraint!

But honestly, that's pretty much how I shop for puzzles. Some catch my attention because I love the artist. Some because I already know and love the brand. Sometimes it's the piece count, the colors, a giant beautiful sky, or simply an image that makes me want to crawl inside it for an afternoon. And sometimes I see one and immediately know exactly who I want to give it for.

So... not too much damage, right????

Now I want to know: If you could pick some puzzles from our New Puzzles page right now, what would make it into your cart?

Emilee Frost
@thecasualpuzzler