Surfer Girl Puzzle 
by Guest Writer Roberta Shore

We invite you to read Roberta Shore's review on the following jigsaw puzzle. Since she has discovered the advantages of jigsaw puzzling, she has reviewed/journaled several that will be available on this website. Surfer Girl Amazon link
Surfer Girl Puzzle New York Puzzle Company Random Cut 100 Pieces Finished Dimensions: 9” x 7”

Surfer Girl Puzzle - Roberta's Review

Roberta-Profile
Surfer Girl Puzzle New York Puzzle Company Random Cut 100 Pieces Finished Dimensions: 9” x 7”

Surfer Girl Puzzle
New York Puzzle Company
Random Cut
100 Pieces
Finished Dimensions: 9” x 7”

My Confident Puzzler Difficulty Rating: Swimmingly Easy

This brand has many of these “Mini” puzzles, a lot with nostalgic illustrations. One reason they are fun to do is when they evoke a memory. I grew up on the ocean, but I have never surfed, never wanted to actually. Besides, there wasn’t much surfing going on in the Atlantic Ocean off the northeast coast of New England, USA. In this case, I just liked the vintage illustration. Why do a 100 piece puzzle for any reason? The puzzling process clears the mind and brings on calm even if there is only a short amount of time to take a puzzle break. These are just so versatile! Can’t sleep - sit up in bed, put a foam core board on your lap, and relax with one. Lunch break at work, one will fit on your desk, traveling - a bit risky, but one will fit on an airplane tray. Back at the hotel after a busy day of work or play — pull one out of your travel bag.

Quality: The only minus is loose piece fit; with just 100 pieces that’s not a big issue. The sturdy, little, travel size box (4” x 4” x !.5”) had the full illustration on the top, and inside, a sealed bag of pieces. The solid pieces are virtually matte, and perhaps somewhat larger than those in their higher piece count offerings. None were damaged or together uncut, and none were missing.

Getting started: Find the edge pieces and sort by color. I could have just turned all the pieces, face up but why not sort? And with this one, by color pretty much does the trick. Pull out the type, and the girls face, arms and legs, and the 100 pieces will be together in no time.

Construction: I started by putting together just the bottom half of the frame, filling in the board, water and surf, piecing the girl and putting her center stage. Finished it off from the top down, piecing SUNSET, and filling in the rest of the sky. Done and fun!

Final thoughts: Once I found these Mini 100 piece puzzles that felt adult for illustration and piece size, I was hooked. They finish out to fit in ready made 9” x 7” frames. Many are artful enough to do just that! So, I went looking for more . . . Oh boy! Little (4.75” x 3” x 1.75”), individual cereal boxes, the ones we ate as a child. (Spinmaster) The pieces and finished size are somewhat larger, but oh so nostalgic and cute. White Mountain’s cereal version emulates the one here in piece size and dimensions, but beware! They are bagged individually, but in one big box. Not so cute. So, a lot of brands have 100 piece puzzles, but if you are looking for ones similar to Surfer Girl, read the packaging carefully! Mini can mean tiny pieces and smaller finished size. Others have huge pieces, larger boxes, and are definitely meant for children.

My Grades: Quality A-. Fun Factor A++

Surfer Girl vs. Surfer Dog

Here’s what happened when I didn’t think to follow my own advice about checking measurements. It was 100 pieces, it was Snoopy and Woodstock, and who doesn’t love Peanuts?

Snoopy - Malibu Puzzle Ceaco Random Cut 100 Pieces Finished Dimensions: 11” x 15”
Snoopy - Malibu Puzzle Ceaco Random Cut 100 Pieces Finished Dimensions: 11” x 15”
Amazon Link
Snoopy - Malibu Puzzle Ceaco Random Cut 100 Pieces Finished Dimensions: 11” x 15”

Snoopy - Malibu Puzzle
Ceaco
Random Cut
100 Pieces
Finished Dimensions: 11” x 15”

Difficulty Level: For ages 5 and up, so variable. For me, um, easy

Okay — this is definitely great to gift or do with a child. The pieces are huge, and easy to handle, the box is not travel size. I did feel a little silly putting it together.

Quality: Loose piece fit - shouldn’t pieces fit snugly on a kid’s puzzle? The fun of puzzle pick up was decidedly not an option! There were some slightly damaged piece as well. The box (6” x 6” x 2”) is sturdy, but very difficult to open apart. The full illustration is on both the top and bottom of the box, and color match to the pieces was fine. There was a bit of puzzle dust. The sturdy pieces have a matte finish, none were together uncut, and none were missing.

Getting started and Construction: I turned all the pieces face up and sorted out edges and by color as i went along. I put the corner clouds and surfboard together first. Just kept going. Silly fun and it was done.

Snoopy-Malibu-puzzle-2

Final thoughts: Of course, at the same time, I also bought the 100 piece, artistically quite different companion, Best Friends. A child would enjoy these puzzles. I have done only one other Ceaco puzzle. My review said “made in the USA, bargain priced, somewhat thinner pieces, loose piece fit”, otherwise no issues at all. Despite hearing lower quality from reviewers, my experience has been relatively positive. As of now, I cannot dismiss the brand.

My grades: Quality B+, Fun Factor: A

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