Thursday, April 29, 2010

Moon Jigsaw Puzzle


If you like jigsaw puzzles and you are fastinated with the moon, here are some moon puzzles that you may like. One of these moon puzzles has an awe-inspiring landscape that has captured the moon in its most gorgeous state and will take your breath, away! Another one is a beautiful image of the moon rising over the Iguazu Falls located on the border of Brazil and Argentina in South America. Finally there is one with a beautiful image of the moon rising over Mount Rainer. Solving a moon puzzle can be a relaxing way to enjoy the evening after a hard days work or just to get the family together and remember some of the images of the moon you experienced together.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Country Greetings


How calming is it to live in the country. The birds singing, the water flowing over the rocks in the stream and just the clop clop sound of a horse drawn wagon ride will lighten the heart. There are many ways to enjoy the countryside. You could take a walk through the park or take a trip to a country village cafe. Another way is to admire the beauty of an art jigsaw puzzle, once you have put it together. Art puzzles can be a way to escape the busy times in our life and take a few minutes each day to unwind and relax while assembling a puzzle. What are your favorite country scenes?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Dinosaur Puzzles For Kids

Practically every child in the world, at some point, has been enthused with dinosaurs and who can blame them. Actually, probably most adults are intrigued by the dinosaur facts that have shown up over the years. Dinosaurs were a great part of our world history, and even though we may never understand completely why they became extinct, the fact remains that walking with dinosaurs must have been an amazing feat, and we all, in some way, would like to know more about the mystery of dinosaurs. Children, of course, think that a dinosaurs are the most awesome creatures in the world. Dinosaurs for kids are plentiful. Stuffed animals, movies, action figures, dinosaur puzzles all represent to children what amazing creatures that dinosaurs were. As we get older, we don’t lose the awe that dinosaurs inspire in us. As new dinosaur facts are presented we are all glued to the television or newspaper just trying to comprehend the magnitude of the era in which dinosaurs ruled the world. And it seems that the more we know, the more we want to know. The sad thing is, we may never fully know what walking with dinosaurs would be like. We can put together dinosaur jigsaw puzzles, watch the movies and learning specials, but to have actually walked in their world is a feeling that seems out of reach. However, the more we learn about these amazing creatures, the more we can strive to place ourselves in their world. One day, it may be possible to get a feel of what living and walking with dinosaurs really was. Until then, we can still dream.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Jigsaw Puzzles Help Kids Learn

When children work on puzzles, they are actually "putting the pieces together" in more ways than one. Puzzles help children build the skills they need to read, write, solve problems, and coordinate their thoughts and actions; all of which they will use in school and beyond. Find a kids jigsaw puzzle with a picture that has particular interest for your child, and you may help him/her begin to recognize colors and letters, and come to realize that the sum of parts make up a whole: a concept that will help him/her with math later on. By inserting pieces into the puzzle, children also develop the muscle group used for writing, or the "pincer" grasp. Children can work on kids jigsaw puzzles by themselves, without the help of adults or other children. They can also work together on large puzzles and practice social skills like compromising and getting along. Because each child must concentrate on the puzzle individually, he experiences a sense of satisfaction as he picks up a piece, rotates it, and discovers the spot in which it fits. Piece by piece, he begins to recognize the picture that the puzzle represents. Good quality jigsaw puzzles for kids are a good investment because children can use them year after year. You may also look for puzzles at yard sales, thrift shops, and lending toy libraries. Children who are developing the ability to use scissors can cut pictures from magazines to create their own jigsaw puzzle. Simply mount the pictures on cardboard and cut into large pieces. Homemade puzzles can make great gifts, too!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Saturday Evening Post Jigsaw Puzzle


For over three quarters of a century, master artist Norman Rockwell has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of Americans with his beloved Saturday Evening Post cover illustrations. Born in New York in 1894, Norman Rockwell painted his first of 322 Saturday Evening Post covers at the age of 22. This remarkable affiliation would span two World Wars and chronicle the invention of telephone, radio, automobiles and television. These two 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles depict the rich quality in his art. No other artist’s imagery speaks so directly to the essence of American life. In a style rich with humor and candor, Norman Rockwell conveys the ideals of freedom, democracy and equality. Truly the "People’s Painter", Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers unveil the poignant beauty of everyday life. These superbly crafted Saturday Evening Post jigsaw puzzles encourage the rediscovery and enjoyment of a marvelous piece of American Art History; still so relevant for today.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Moose Jigsaw Puzzles

Moose are the largest of all the deer species. Males are immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread 6 feet from end to end. Moose have long faces that dangle over their chins. A flap of skin known as a bell sways beneath each moose's throat as seen in this moose puzzle.
Moose are so tall they prefer to graze on higher grasses and shrubs because it is difficult lowering their heads to the ground. In the winter they eat shrubs and pine cones, but they also scrape the snow with their large hooves to clear areas for eating mosses and lichens. These hooves also act as snowshoes to support these heavy animals in soft snow and in muddy or marshy ground.
In the summer, food is far more plentiful in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Moose are often seen in lakes, rivers, or wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants both at and below the surface. Moose are actually at home in the water and, despite their staggering size, they are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for 30 seconds or more. They can run up to 35 miles an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 20 miles an hour.
Males, called bulls, bellow loudly to attract mates each September and October as seen in the beautiful courtship of this colorful moose jigsaw puzzle. The usually solitary bulls may come together at this time to battle with their antlers for mating supremacy. After mating, the two sexes go their separate ways until the following year. Though they may occasionally feed in the same grounds, they tend to ignore each other. Females give birth to one or two calves in the spring—each weighing some 30 pounds. These calves grow quickly and can outrun a person by the time they are just five days old. Young moose stay with their mothers until the following mating season and then are on their own.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Stuffed Black Panther

A realistic stuffed black panther with soft black fur would be an exotic pal for any age child.
Black panthers are born of black or fair-colored spotted leopards, along with other fair-colored spotted leopard cubs. Black Panthers are known by different names in different parts of the world. In Latin America, Black Panthers are known as black jaguars; in Asia and Africa, they are called black leopards, whereas in North America, they are called black cougars. They are carnivorous mammals, which are excellent tree-climbers. Black Panthers are listed in the group of endangered species. Black Panthers are known to have large paws that are very strong. They have soft pads and fur in between their toes, which enable them to have a silent walk while chasing its prey. They can also pull their claws in while walking or running which helps keep them sharp. Can you imagine if your child or grandchild was the only one at school that had a plush black panther? He or She would probably be the most popular kid in kindergarten.

Beautiful Stuffed White Tiger


This beautiful stuffed white tiger would make a great companion for practically any age! There are only around 200 of the white tigers left in the world. White tigers are an Asian species, found from the frozen tundra of the Soviet Far East, south to the humid jungles of Malaya and Indonesia, and west to the hot, hardwood forests of India. There are only five living subspecies; three others are already extinct. Current estimates put the world population of wild tigers at about 5,000-7,000, the most numerous race being the Bengal race. Tigers are a protected species all over the world. Even though it's completely illegal to hunt them, people are still slaying these beautiful creatures. Jungle stuffed animals are a great way to learn more about some of these endangered species.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Colors Of A Sunset





Have you ever wondered why sunsets are so colorful? Sometimes they have many different colors and it seems every sunset is a little different. Look at these two sunset puzzles. They look vastly different. Why do you think this is? Look how the sunset puzzle on the right has brighter red and orange colors. The intense red and orange of the sky at sunset are mainly caused by the scattering of sunlight by dust particles, soot particles, other solid aerosols, and liquid aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere. When there are no particulates in the troposphere, such as after a big rain storm, then the sunlight is scattered by air molecules and transparent gases which leads to a less colorful sunset. Sunset colors are typically more brilliant and more intense than sunrise colors, since there are generally more particles and aerosols in the evening air than in the morning air. Nighttime air is usually cooler and less windy, which allows dust and soot particles to settle out of the atmosphere. Sunrise color intensities can however exceed sunset's intensities when there are nighttime fires, volcanic eruptions or emissions, or dust storms to the east of the viewer.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Turtle Puzzle




Look at these turtle puzzles. What do you see? Dumb question right? I know you see turtles. You might be thinking, what is the big deal about a turtle puzzle. Well much can be learned about the condition of the planet's environment by looking at sea turtles. They have existed for over 100 million years, and they travel throughout the world's oceans. Suddenly, however, they are struggling to survive. Why is this you might ask. That is the bigger picture. They are struggling to survive largely because of things people are doing to the planet's oceans and beaches. But what does this mean for the human species?It is possible that a world in which sea turtles can not survive may soon become a world in which humans struggle to survive. If we can learn from our mistakes and begin changing our behavior, there is still time to save sea turtles from extinction. In the process, we will be saving one of the earth's most mysterious and time-honored creatures. You know, we might just be saving ourselves too. Now you ask yourself, what can I do to help. Well there are many things you can do. Start by searching the internet. There are tons of websites and clubs you can join. Many places to send donations and there is even a sea turtle hospital in Marathon Florida you could visit in the Florida Keys. Perhaps you just want to solve a turtle jigsaw puzzle. Anything you can do to participate will help. The question is, what will you do?

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Coca Cola Jigsaw Puzzle


Here are some interesting facts about Coca Cola you may not have known. Coca Cola was first made in Atlanta, Georgia and to this day, the headquarters remains in Atlanta. In fact, Atlanta is home to the World of Coca Cola, which features flavors from around the world. While visiting, you'll be able to try 70 different beverage products. On May 8, 1886 Dr. John Stith Pemberton made the first batch of syrup for Coca Cola. Another fun fact was that Coke was originally intended to be a type of medicine. This was typical of many sodas in the 1800s. Another fun fact is that Pepsi would be invented just a few years later in North Carolina. Coca Cola has become extremely popular. There are even Coca Cola jigsaw puzzles you can buy. One 40 piece Coca Cola puzzle is three dimensional and in the shape of a can. In fact, the brand sells 1.4 billion servings each day, which is up from 9 servings back in 1886 when it was developed. You could show someone a Coke can and they'll be able to tell you what it is, even if they live in Tokyo. No other brand is as recognizable as Coke is. One last fact is that Coca Cola is the most popular soft drink in the entire world. Pepsi is a close second followed by Mountain Dew. While the numbers change from time to time, Coke has always had the upper hand at the holidays. After all, the image of Santa Claus (the one we think of today) was made for the Coke Company.

Monday, April 5, 2010

What Is A Wasgij Puzzle?
















If you are a puzzler you probably already know what Wasgij Puzzles are. If you are a fairly new puzzler you may be saying "what is a wasgij puzzle". Well our friends at Ravensburger make a puzzle that shows you a picture on the box that is only a clue to what the picture on the puzzle is. The picture on the box will show you some sort of setting like a picnic, sporting event, or camping excursion where there are people or animals that are running scared looking over their shoulder or all in the same direction. Then the actual picture on the puzzle will reveal what everyone is running from. This is some real rainy day fun or a good way for the whole family to relax after a long day and ads a bit of anticipation to the puzzle. It is fun trying to figure out what the mystery is before the puzzle is complete. You can even make a game out of it to see who can figure it out first. What do you think about a puzzle that does not give you the final picture on the box, but only a clue?

Friday, April 2, 2010

Fun Hippo Facts

Hey kids, how many of you have a stuffed hippo? They are not very popular are they? Hippos are the third largest animal in Africa. Only the elephant and the rhinoceroses are bigger. There are some interesting facts that you may not have known about Hippos. Did you know that Hippos spend most of the day submerged in rivers or lakes? The only part of them that is out of the water is their eyes, ears and nose. This way they can see, breathe and hear while the rest of their body is under water keeping them cool from the hot sun of Africa. They only come out of the water at night and will walk up to 5 miles to find short grasses to graze on. The word Hippopotamus comes from two Greek words meaning river horse. They even have webbed toes to help them paddle through the water. When they go all the way under water their ears, eyes and nose automatically close so no water gets in and they can actually walk along the river bottom and hold their breathe for up to 5 minutes. Hippos are 12 to 15 feet long and can weigh up to 5000 to 8000 pounds. That is as big as a pickup truck. Their two tusks in their lower jaw can grow up to a foot long. Don't worry though they only eat vegetation, grasses and water plants, but don't go near them because they do not fear humans and are considered one of Africa's most dangerous animals. Baby hippos are born under water and can swim almost from the moment they are born. They even nurse under water. Hippos can live up to 40 years old in the wild. Lions, crocodiles, leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs will often kill baby hippos, but the adult hippos are rarely attacked. People used to think that hippos sweat blood but that is not true. Actually, hippos' sweat has an oily red pigment in it that makes it look like blood. Now you know some interesting facts about hippos you can have one of the first stuffed hippos in your class and tell them all about it.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

Do you love the smell of fresh cut flowers sitting on the kitchen table in the spring? Some people just do not feel they have the knack to arrange flowers. It is true that arranging flowers is an art form but anyone can get enjoyment from trying. Even if you don't have a single vase in the house, you can still enjoy cut flowers. Look at the arrangement in this flower puzzle on the left. Wine, beer, and mineral water bottles come in interesting shapes and colors. These containers effectively make arrangement a very basic affair that anyone can do. Be sure to choose flowers with large heads like gerbera, lilies, orchids or sunflowers - add one stem per bottle and line them up on your mantelpiece. Jugs, teapots, tumblers, baskets like the one in this flower jigsaw puzzle, and even jam jars can all be used for displaying flowers and other plants. With smaller containers such as teapots and jam jars, the flowers look better with short cut stems. This style makes the flower heads appear to "float" on the rim of the pot. Choose flowers with full heads like carnations, dahlias, chrysanthemums and daffodils. Mass in separate colors or fill out with interesting foliage for a rural countryside look. Glasses and jars can also be put inside more attractive non-waterproof containers to hold the water for the flowers. What do you have around the house you could put some fresh flowers in?

Color Puzzle


Do you have children at the age where they are learning their colors? Most children love spending time with their parents and grandparents. Solving colorful jigsaw puzzles could be a way to enjoy quality time together as well as help them learn their colors. Children's minds are like sponges and are always looking for more information to soak up. You could have them help you by sorting colors or picking a piece of a certain color to put into the puzzle. They will also learn puzzle strategies just by watching you. Here are a few color puzzles that I found for you to look at.