Sarah Guerrero
Sarah Guerrero is a freelance writer and contributor to Slow North. She has a degree in international business from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and writes about sustainable business practices and ethical living.
7 Frame-Worthy Puzzles
Puzzles are the new adult coloring books--and, frankly, I can’t think of a better way to keep calm and collected than with a little jigsaw fun. Puzzles can help us connect with others, calm anxiety, and grow creativity, especially when they’re as whimsical and delightful as the seven we’ve rounded up below.
Light your favorite candle, turn on an audiobook, or pour yourself a cup of tea--these seven puzzles range in skill level and price and will have you ready to get started right now!
Photo by Carolyn V
1. Flamingo Playground by Jiggy
Newcomer Jiggy features jigsaw puzzles from emerging female artists. Each puzzle is, indeed, a work of art and comes with puzzle glue and a small gold spatula so you can memorialize your puzzle when you’re done putting it together.
This oversized flamingo’s proportion play is whimsical and fun, but if it’s sold out, check out this Lazy Girl Book Club or this (now iconic) Boobs puzzle.
2. Spring in Central Park (The MET Store)
Longing for spring right now? Us, too, and this is the perfect puzzle for it! The MET Store is a hidden gem that makes classic works available to all of us, and this watercolor from painter-lithographer Adolf Dehn is 1,000 pieces of pure delight.
Pro tip: there are lots of swaths of solid color in this puzzle, so this puzzle might take some time!
Photo by Bianca Ackermann
3. Harry Potter Pixie Mayhem (New York Puzzle Company)
Your favorite wizard-in-training is featured here in this mini puzzle. It’s only 100 pieces, which makes it an uber satisfying way to get a quick win, and a great option for anybody who’s new to puzzles and not sure she’ll like them (or doesn’t have much space).
4. Antelope Canyon, Arizona (Nautilus Puzzles)
This puzzle is a wooden puzzle which, according to Nautilus’ website, is how the original jigsaw puzzle was made back in Victorian times!
Then, it was hand cut, but today it’s cut with lasers into themed pieces--these gorgeously colored, heirloom-quality pieces, for example, come in shapes like an antelope head, a covered wagon, and a bear.
5. Cereal (Areaware)
Areaware promises their Little Puzzle Things can be done in under twenty minutes, but with all their whimsical and hilarious options, why stop with just one? Once you’ve completed the oh-so-fun Cereal puzzle, try a slice of Cherry Pie, or a Piñata, or this delicious looking cup of Coffee...
6. No Probllama (Piece Out Puzzles)
At 500 pieces, this quirky llama puzzle isn’t too easy and it isn’t too hard--it’s just right.
Piece Out Puzzles is a female-founded company that calls its cheeky puzzles the “perfect stay at home activity.” It’s hard to disagree; with bouquets of flowers, men with cats and kittens, and llamas, all four of their debut prints are hilarious, fun, and (yes) cheeky!
Photo by Kat Yukawa
If you’ve got a lot of time on your hands, why not tackle an epic masterpiece of a puzzle? This stunning bouquet of flowers is the next best thing to a live bouquet (but it will last a lot longer)! At 1000 pieces, it’s a challenge but don’t worry--you’ll practically be able to smell the bouquet as the image comes together.
