PuzzleMaster
Showing posts with label Creative Crafthouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creative Crafthouse. Show all posts

Ten Penny Puzzle

Posted on Oct 27, 2020 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)

Most packing puzzles are made with polyominoes or custom-shaped pieces in its design, and we are so used to that notion we forget that everyday objects are just as good as the traditional designs. One fine example of this is the Ten Penny Puzzle by Creative Crafthouse. I've always been impressed with their designs, and this one is no exception.

The goal couldn't be simpler. You're presented with a small wooden tray and nine pennies already packed inside. Your task is to rearrange the pennies so that an extra penny can be packed along the other nine. Everyone can understand these simple instructions, but carrying out this challenge and solve it is another thing. It's a very nice puzzle that can entertain anyone.

At close inspection, it's hard to believe that an extra coin could fit inside such a small area, but if you think about all that wasted space by the nine coins, it's just a matter of finding the right arrangement that wastes less space. Symmetrical solutions are out, since you can't get 10 coins inside with that kind of arrangement. That leaves odd solutions only, and those are the most difficult to find.

For the record, all pennies are identical in size. There's no tricks involved in the solution or any particular order in which you should pack the coins. For me, it was more of a lucky find than logic. After so many tries, some of which by less than a millimeter short of a solution, I managed to solve it. Not sure if there's only one solution, but by looking at the one provided, it did match the one I had. It's not an extraordinarily difficult or frustrating puzzle to solve. It's actually quite therapeutic to be playing with coins. Rated as a level 7/10, the difficulty is just right for even a casual puzzler.

Closing Comments: 

Incorporating coins into puzzle designs is not that uncommon to see. There's even puzzles where you have to free a coin. This design however, while being simple, makes it all the more elegant, and the fact that you have to pack an extra coin adds to the curiosity factor and just makes you want to give it a try.

Availability: The Ten Penny Puzzle is available at PuzzleMaster for just $12.99 CAD. Be sure to take a lot at some other interesting puzzles by Creative Crafthouse.

Cat Lovers

Posted on Nov 11, 2015 by Gabriel | 3 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
If you're a cat lover, like myself, you're in for a treat, as Creative Crafthouse's new Picture Frame Puzzle designed by Dave Janelle, the Cat Lovers, promises to deliver a good dose of fun and feline puzzling. Ten different breeds of cats are represented in this puzzle in various sizes and poses, and one unlucky little mouse, which found himself trapped among this clowder. Your task is to find a way for all of these little pranksters to get along inside the tight space of the frame. There's only one way to do this, so get creative...

Made from at least four different types of hardwood, which results in several different colors, the puzzle is a beautiful showcase of the craftsmanship achieved at Creative Crafthouse's shop in Florida. Each cat is a close representation of its living counterpart, made with spots and stripes by delicately carving the wood with subtle lines. Their Picture Frame Puzzles are also quite big and look great on display, measuring about 19.3cm (7.6") in diameter. The puzzle also comes with its own lid so you won't run the risk of losing any piece - it will only close when completely solved.

The Cat Lovers puzzle features a total of 10 different cat breeds, some of them quite exotic and rare, which I even didn't know existed. These are: Maine Coon, Korat, Kao Manee, California Spangled, Nebelung, Bengal, British Shorthair, Aegean, Persian, Peterbald. The rest are kittens, and of course there's the lonely mouse for a total of 12 pieces.

As expected from this type of puzzle the level of difficulty is very high, so you can be sure to be challenged to the limit of your skills and then some... The cats, and mouse, won't occupy the entirety of the frame's area, but the empty spaces between them will be very small. The trick here is to maximize the waste of space by finding parts of pieces that can be joined together as much as possible, as if you were solving a jigsaw puzzle. Leave the mouse for last, since it won't have any real impact in the solving process and can be fitted in one the remaining empty spaces.



Closing Comments:

Picture Frame Puzzles can be easily picked up by anybody, since the concept is very easy to understand. However, few will be able to solve one of these, as their high level of difficulty can bring along some frustration. If you happen to solve one, then you'll experience a great rewarding feeling. The Cat Lovers puzzle is the ultimate gift for all cat lovers out there.

Availability: I got the Cat Lovers puzzle from PuzzlesdeIngenio.com, in Spain.


Redstone Box (Hide the Redstone)

Posted on Aug 12, 2015 by Gabriel | 7 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Bernhard Schweitzer is a German puzzle designer with lots of great puzzles under his name. The Redstone Box is a fine example of his ingenuity and, coupled with Creative Crafthouse's high quality manufacturing and polish to their products, is sure to satisfy even the most demanding collectors and puzzle enthusiasts alike.

The Redstone Box is a 3D Packing Puzzle where the goal is to hide an extra piece (the red block) inside the already apparently filled box. You need to reassemble the pieces in a way so that the volume of the extra piece can be accommodated in the box and still be able to slide the lid and close it. To my knowledge, there's only one solution for this, excluding rotations. This is definitely not a puzzle for beginners and can be extremely challenging.

(Click to Enlarge)
It comes unsolved in its box, with the red block placed in its special slot. The lid slides off, so you can store the pieces in the box without worrying about losing them. The box measures 11.6cm x 7.8cm x 6.6cm (4.6" x 3" x 2.6"), so it's a nice sized puzzle, made with hardwood and very well built.

The puzzle consists of eight pieces with different sizes and shapes, plus the red block. Some of the blocks have the same height, but besides this there are no two identical blocks. This packing problem is, in a way, quite similar to the classic Calibron 12, except the latter is in 2D. But the different sizes of the pieces and the solving process is somewhat similar.

What I did find similar is that both puzzles are among some of the most difficult puzzles I had the pleasure to play with, but not the satisfaction of solving. To solve a puzzle like this, one must have a mathematical approach to it, which I don't have. There's no way you can solve these puzzles by trial and error, at least in a timely manner, or you'd be the most lucky person in the world.

To get the puzzle back to its original state you have several ways to do it, although I found none so far. It's still a difficult puzzle, whether you do it with the red piece or not. It's good that there are various solutions (without the red piece), so you can enjoy it many times over.

(Click to Enlarge)
Closing Comments:

The Redstone Box is a superb puzzle. Yes, I can enjoy and appreciate a puzzle that I failed to solve. I love puzzles, both easy and difficult alike, and this one deserves a chance, even if you think you won't solve it. It's a great addition to any collection.

Availability: I got the Redstone Box from PuzzleMaster, available for about $20 CAD. More from Creative Crafthouse can be found there as well as some others from Bernhard Schweitzer.

Links:




Secret Combination Puzzle Box

Posted on Jun 10, 2015 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Creative Crafthouse always makes interesting puzzles. Whichever type of puzzle you like, you'll probably find something that deserves your attention...and money. Puzzle Boxes are a great example of Dave Janelle's superb craftsmanship, and the Secret Combination Puzzle Box is a unique design that can be attempted by anyone.

All the components of this puzzle box are made of high quality hardwood. It's a regular sized box, measuring 12.8cm in length, 6.5cm in width and 6.3cm in height (5" x 2.6" x 2.5"). The design is interesting enough to capture your attention, because of the three dials on the top of the box, but I found its overall design too bland. The dials should have been made with a contrasting color, or even with three different wood tones, to make it more visually appealing.

(Click to Enlarge)
Leaving the aesthetics behind, the whole mechanism works as it should. The dials turn smoothly and effortlessly, so it's up to you to find the correct sequence to easily open the lid. You have to find the correct position for all three dials simultaneously, otherwise the lid won't open.

Now, in other circumstances, this could have been an extremely difficult puzzle to solve, since there are hundreds of possible positions and combinations the three dials could've had. Fortunately, for you and for me, the designer didn't want to make the mechanism more complex than it already was, so he settled for a simpler combination. You'll still have some discovering to do, but it won't take hours (unless you are very bad with puzzles). What you'll have to do is simply try different combinations - some patterns. All I can tell you is that you can turn the dials in 90º angles, and you'll eventually find the correct sequence if you're persistent. You can hear a ball rattling inside, but you'll have to decide if it's part of the mechanism or just another red herring.

(Click to Enlarge) - Opened
Closing Comments:

Janelle's Secret Combination Puzzle Box is a very original design, a bit different from the trick puzzle boxes, where all or most of the mechanism is hidden from view and you have to go at it by relying on other senses. This one is more interactive and because of its simple design anyone can try their luck at opening it.

Availability: The Secret Combination Puzzle Box is available at PuzzleMaster for just $20 CAD. Check out other creations by Creative Crafthouse.


Cigar Nub Challenge

Posted on Apr 8, 2015 by Gabriel | 2 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
This is a really good looking puzzle from Creative Crafthouse, very well made and beautifully presented in a nice wooden tray. The Cigar Nub Challenge is a clean and safe puzzle for smokers and non-smokers alike, can be offered to a cigar lover or simply as a gift to yourself to enjoy a good and fun challenge.

The Cigar puzzle is actually the same as the Lox in Box, but with a different theme. This was something I overlooked when I first saw this puzzle, as it looked like any other packing puzzle. The way it was presented was enough to pass it for another kind of puzzle. But since I'm a collector and I like puzzles, I didn't mind much after all ending up with two identical puzzles. They have different enough designs to still be worth a purchase. Below, you can see the two versions of the same puzzle.

(Click to Enlarge)
The goal of the Cigar Nub Challenge is to find a way to pack the extra wooden piece inside the rectangular frame, with the other seven pieces. The puzzle comes in its unsolved state, with the extra piece packed in its own slot. When solved, no empty spaces shall remain in the tray.

The puzzle is made from two types of wood, cherry for the light-colored pieces and walnut for the dark-toned pieces. All the pieces are laser-cut to fit with precision in the frame, and the tray itself is made from plywood. The company logo is nicely placed in the corner of the tray, with the name of the puzzle engraved at the bottom.

Since I already knew how to solve this puzzle - which I found out almost right away when I first attempted to solve it - it didn't offer much challenge. I also think the dark pieces give away too much of the solution. I understand that aesthetically it looks better with the contrasting colors, but it makes the puzzle too easy to figure out.


Closing Comments:

The Cigar Nub Challenge is definitely not a difficulty level 8/10, as it's described in PuzzleMaster's website. Even though I knew the solution I think it's at best a 6/10, since most experienced puzzlers will quickly solve this one due to the color choices. But whoever rated it already knew the solution as well... Nevertheless, I think the puzzle is a great gift to a puzzle lover or as mentioned above, a cigar lover.

Availability: You can find the Cigar Nub Challenge at PuzzleMaster for $17.99 CAD. The see other puzzles by Creative Crafthouse, click here.


The Orchestra Pit

Posted on Oct 15, 2014 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Dave Janelle from Creative Crafthouse may very well be the best craftsman at creating stunning Picture Frame puzzles. His portfolio features almost 50 designs already, and choosing the best looking one is a near impossible task. At any rate, The Orchestra Pit is a serious contender for the most beautiful Picture Frame puzzle yet.

Dave chose to include in this design 13 different instruments that you'll probably find an any orchestra pit. Some of them I didn't even knew their names: Bass, Cello, Drum, French Horn, Harp, Oboe, Piano, Sax, Timpani, Trombone, Trumpet, Violin and Xylophone. The pieces are made in different hardwoods, displaying this way a multitude of colors which gives it a more elegant look. 

Each piece is cut very carefully and precise, and features very fine details that otherwise wouldn't be possible. Only one side of the pieces is etched with the characteristic details, so you can only use that side when you're solving the puzzle. This version of the puzzle comes with a protective wooden cover, and measures 19cm in diameter (7.5") - A nice feature of Dave's puzzles is that they're quite large, which enhances their overall presentation.

(Click to Enlarge)
As you may already know, the difficulty of any of these Picture Frame puzzles can be rather challenging, and The Orchestra Pit doesn't disappoint in that regard. In Fact, this is one of the hardest I've tried so far, and as of writing this review I haven't been able to solve it on my own. You can see the solution below that I had to photograph, but even if you see the solution and attempt to solve it later on, it may prove to be a pretty frustrating task. Please, note that the puzzle comes shrink-wrapped in its solved state. If you don't want any spoilers of the solution, be sure to unwrap it upside down.

One of the main features of Picture Frame puzzles is the way the pieces interact with each other. Some pieces are quite big, so more difficult to pack; others are small and slim, which make them easier to cram in smaller spaces. Since there'll always be empty spaces in the frame, even when all the 13 pieces are tightly packed, you need to make the most out of every sharp edges and crevices on each piece, connecting them like a jigsaw puzzle - A very difficult jigsaw puzzle, I might add.


Closing Comments:

Picture Frame puzzles are perfect coffee table puzzles. Put them visible on a table at any social gathering and see everyone eager to try their luck. The Orchestra Pit is a beautiful work of art in its own right, even if you're not into puzzles, so this one is highly recommended.

Availability: The Orchestra Pit is available at PuzzleMaster for $32.99 CAD. Click here to browse other puzzles by Dave Janelle.




Cook's Cupboard

Posted on Nov 27, 2013 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Picture Frame Puzzles are always a joy to play with. These are some of my favorite packing puzzles and I'm proud to own several different designs in my collection. Dave Janelle, from Creative Crafthouse, makes some of the best puzzles in this category with such varied themes as animals or music instruments. The Cook's Cupboard, unsurprisingly, is a superbly designed puzzle with gastronomy as its main theme.

All the pieces in the puzzle are essential objects a cook must have in his cupboard, from the cleaver to the whisk. There are 11 unique objects with different sizes and shapes, all made from precision cut high-quality hardwood. All puzzles from Creative Crafthouse are quite big in comparison with other packing puzzles, measuring 17.8cm (7"). Holding and packing bigger pieces feels much nicer and more pleasant than tiny ones.

A word of advice for when you unpack your puzzle: do it upside down or ask someone to remove the pieces from the frame for you, because it comes packaged in its solved state. Since there's only one possible solution, excluding rotations, it would be a bummer if you were to see the puzzle already solved. When you have all pieces nicely scattered try to put them all back in the frame. Note that you should only use the side of the pieces that's marked or engraved.

The key to solve any Picture Frame Puzzle, as I've been saying in previous reviews, is to look out for possible matches between some of the pieces' edges. You should always try to pack them as tightly as possible so you don't waste too much space. There will always be some empty spaces between the pieces, but you'll see that once it's solved it has the most optimal arrangement for all the pieces.

These Picture Frame Puzzles are among the hardest in the packing puzzles family. Since there is no clear visual aids as to how each piece should be placed, solving them can fast become a arduous task of trial and error. The Cook's Cupboard is classified as a difficulty level 9/10, and I mostly agree with it. It actually took me less time than I was expecting - about 30 minutes - but I believe it's only because I'm more experienced in these now that I've solved several of them. I still think it's still among the hardest I've tried from Creative Crafthouse, but it's just not as frustratingly difficult as it once was...



Closing Comments:

The Cook's Cupboard may be a difficult puzzle, but it's one of the best works by Dave Janelle. There are still so many that I don't have in my collection, but if I had to recommend a couple of them this would certainly be a great choice. It's a perfect gift for a cook or gastronome.

Availability: The Cook's Cupboard puzzle is available from PuzzleMaster for $24 CAD. Check out other designs by Dave Janelle.


Digigrams (Count on Me!)

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
2D Packing Puzzles allow for some of the most creative works in puzzle design. This type of puzzles is so versatile that you can do almost anything you can imagine. A great example of such creative design is Martin Watson's Digigrams (also called Count on Me!).

Digigrams is comprised of 10 pieces representing the numbers in digital form from 0 thru 9. The goal is simple: just pack them into the provided tray. The solution is neatly packed to make the most out of the available space, due to the unusual shape of the pieces.

The puzzle is manufactured by Creative Crafthouse, and as you can read from some of my past reviews on their puzzles, their craftsmanship is superb. The hardwood they use is very high quality, and in this case there are two tones, light and dark. The size is satisfactory, with measurements of 14 x 12 x 2.5 (5.5" x 4.7" x 1"). Comes in the classic base and cover design.

(Click to Enlarge)
The Digigrams is not an easy puzzle. It's actually quite challenging, although it never reaches frustrating levels like the Calibron 12, for example. Be warned, though, as the puzzle comes in its solved state. If you don't want to spoil your experience, open the box facing down.

It's very easy to "almost" solve the puzzle, since you can get the first five or six pieces pretty easily inside the tray. However, there's always some pieces that refuse to be packed. At first, it's hard to see how the pieces should be placed next to each other, but you'll soon understand how they interact - That's only a small part of solving the puzzle, because the hard part is discovering the actual solution. Just before when I was ready to be done for the day, I was able to finally solve it. It had taken me approximately an hour and a half to do it.

Solution: If you need help with the solution, you can see it solved here.

Closing Comments:

Packing Puzzles are easily among my favorite type of puzzles. The Digigrams is very close to the limit of what can be considered an extremely hard puzzle. PuzzleMaster rates it as a level 9/10, which is exactly what I think about its difficulty. The quality is remarkable, so if you're looking for a good challenge, this one is a perfect fit.

Availability: You can find the Digigrams (Count on Me!) at PuzzleMaster for about 20 CAD. For other puzzles in the Creative Crafthouse range check out their dedicated page.


Animals of Australia Puzzle

Posted on Jun 13, 2012 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
If you're a fan of Puzzle Crafthouse's Picture Frame Puzzles, like me, the Animals of Australia is another great design and challenging puzzle designed by Dave Janelle.

Represented in the puzzle are 10 native animals from Australia, which can all be packed into a 18cm square wooden frame (7"). The pieces are cut from a wide selection of different thick woods and the contours are deep-cut in one of the sides with perfect detail. Since several different woods are used in one single puzzle with a unique mix, yours might be a little different from the one pictured.

Being the fourth Picture Frame Puzzle that I have reviewed so far, I think this one is a little harder than the Noah's Ark and easier than the Wine Lovers Puzzle or even much easier than the Flower Garden - Hawaii. As a level 3 puzzle, you might expect to solve it within half an hour or so, but it may easily be between 1 and 2 hours. I took almost an hour to get them all inside the frame.

As with all puzzles from the Picture Frame category, there's just one possible arrangement to fit all pieces inside the frame... At least, in theory, because they were designed with that characteristic in mind. Note that the pieces are to be used with only one of their sides, so no mirror images possible. Last time, I had found an alternative solution for the Noah's Ark, but it wasn't the designer's intention to have more than one solution. After that review, the puzzle design was revised with new piece sizes and it's now back to one solution. In the event that you find a second solution for any of these puzzles, contact Dave to let him know so that he can fix it.

(Click to Enlarge)

Solution: In case you want to check how the puzzle looks like in its solved state, click here.

Closing Comments:

The Animals of Australia is yet another great theme for a Picture Frame Puzzle. Since it's not extremely difficult, it can be bought as a present for a casual puzzler, and it will make for a nice addition to any puzzle collection. Also great for display use.

Availability: The Animals of Australia is an exclusive puzzle from Puzzle Crafthouse and it's available for $25 USD. To browse through other puzzles in the Picture Frame category, check out their special page.


Calibron 12

Posted on Jun 6, 2012 by Gabriel | 10 comments
Labels: , , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Today's puzzle is a classic dating back from 1933. The Calibron 12 is a fascinating packing puzzle invented by Theodore Edison, son of Thomas Edison. The original copy can be seen in Jerry Slocum's collection.

Suggested by its name, the puzzle is a selection of 12 rectangular blocks with different sizes that need to be placed inside the provided frame. There are two identical pairs of pieces, though. Sounds easy enough, but it's actually one of the hardest packing puzzles I've tried so far.

The Calibron 12 is beautifully presented in this 18 x 23cm (7" x 9") stylish frame with an extra space for a piece so that it comes unsolved. The pieces are a mixture of four different types of precision cut woods, resulting in a unique combination of colors from a wide selection used at Puzzle Crafthouse's shop. Each piece has its own relative size engraved, so it's very easy to identify them and see the size relationships between them. It can also prove quite helpful in a mathematical analysis.

The packing area measures 16 x 16cm (6.3" x 6.3"), which corresponds exactly to a square measuring 56 x 56 units. It's also known that the total area of the pieces is 3136 units. Knowing the relative size of each piece you have all that it's needed to solve this problem mathematically... If you can.

(Click to Enlarge)

I got this puzzle a few weeks ago and up until the time of writing, I'm yet to find a solution. In fact, there is only one possible arrangement for the blocks that can fit the 56 x 56 frame. There are other theoretically possible rectangle areas, like 112 x 28, 64 x 49 and 32 x 98, however they can't be solved with these particular pieces. This may be a challenge for you to see which piece sizes would be needed in each rectangular area. With fewer pieces you can make many smaller rectangles and attest that the blocks have all kinds of possible combinations and arrangements. Finding the correct one, well, that's a whole different mater.

The puzzle is rated as a 5/5 level of difficulty, and I couldn't agree more. Although perfectly possible, I believe it's extremely difficult and unlikely to find the solution just by randomly packing the pieces. Unfortunately, I'm not a math wiz, so tackling the problem by mathematical analysis is out of the question. I read an interesting article explaining the methods for packing different rectangles in a frame, but for a layman it's not easy to wrap your brain around it. I will continue and try to find the solution the old fashion way. I reckon if I'm persistent, I'll eventually find it... Or not.

Closing Comments:

Even though I'm yet to find the solution for the Calibron 12, I love it! It's a simple, but brilliant concept, and the way that it's presented makes you want to try it, even if you don't dominate the math field. If you're a math geek, this is the perfect puzzle for you to put your skills to the test.

Availability: This particular version of the Calibron 12 can only be found at Puzzle Crafthouse and it's available for $27 USD.


Around the Barn

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Continuing my reviews on Puzzle Crafthouse's designs, today's post is about another great puzzle by Dave Janelle, "Around the Barn" which, as its name suggests, has nine different objects and animals related to the life around the barn.

This edge-matching puzzle is comprised by nine octagon-shaped pieces that need to be placed in the frame so that all edge sides next to each other have the same symbol. The symbols are perfectly engraved into the pieces made from Alder wood, and show an incredible level of detail, considering that each piece measures about 4.5cm (1.8").

Dave decided to make the puzzle a little more difficult than your average edge-matching puzzle by getting eight symbols per piece instead of the usual four or even six. While the puzzle is considered to be a level 3+ difficulty, expect to spend a little while "going in circles" around the barn looking for the correct solution. The puzzle is believed to have two different solutions, excluding rotations or mirrored images, but if you do find out more, contact Dave, because he would like to know about them.

Edge-Matching puzzles, particularly the more complex ones, have a fair amount of luck involved that will be essential to determine whether you can solve the puzzle in just a few minutes or in several hours. Suffice it to say, I wasn't lucky enough to fall in the "minutes" category, but rather in the hours', although it was just two of them. I say two, but it could have been much more. It's all about how you choose the pieces and how you manage the available pieces and their symbols.

(Click to Enlarge) - Not Solved

I found that there's a couple of subtleties in the pattern of the symbols you can use to your advantage. If you look closely, one of them is easily spotted, as it's the only one with the same exact symbol repeated four times in a single piece. This special piece can be placed in a strategic spot in the frame, making the solution a lot more easy and with far less possibilities. I have tried to find the second solution with this in mind, by removing a few peripheral pieces and replacing them with others, but haven't succeeded yet.

Solution: Click here, if you'd like to see the puzzle in its solved state.

Closing Comments:

The outstanding visual appearance of the puzzle alone is sufficient to captivate the attention of any puzzle aficionado or collector, but the challenge itself is also worth a try, for its eight symbol pieces are something you don't see everyday.

Availability: The "Around the Barn" puzzle is available only at Puzzle Crafthouse for $14 USD. If you want a custom designed puzzle with other symbols, just contact the store and they'll do it for you. Other types of wood are also available.


Noah's Ark Puzzle

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Today, I present you with another great Picture Frame Puzzle design, produced exclusively by Puzzle Crafthouse. Created by Dave Janelle, the Noah's Ark Puzzle is a beautiful interpretation of the Bible's narrative and is the latest addition to their Picture Frame series.

Depicted in the puzzle are Noah himself and five animal species, for a total of 11 pieces. Each piece is thoroughly detailed with perfect deep-cut lines, and the frame measures about 17.7 x 19.5cm (7" x 7.7"). Dave had a great idea of having six different woods in the puzzle, giving each animal species and Noah their own identity, creating this way a stunning visual effect. Note that each puzzle will have a different wood mix. Another design choice worth praising is that the traditional squared frame was dropped over a more original one, a boat-shaped frame.

The puzzle is rated at a level 3/5+, and judging by the difficulty I encountered with previous puzzles, I'd say it's about right. It's definitely easier than last week's Flower Garden - Hawaii. Solving time for the Noah's Ark was about 30 minutes.

After solving the puzzle, I was in for a surprise. When comparing my solution against the one provided with the puzzle, I saw that they were quite different in the piece arrangement, except for a few common ones. This goes against what I've been thinking, which is that these puzzles are so unique in the way their pieces fit that it must indicate one single solution. This time, I was wrong and there's at least two solutions... Or it may just be a coincidence that the pieces fit in another unexpected arrangement. There's no force applied, since the pieces still have a little wiggle room after they're all placed inside the frame.

I also found a third solution, but in my opinion it doesn't count, as one of the pieces had to be flipped. As you may know, the pieces in this type of puzzles are not supposed to be used on their backside, because the deep cuts with details are only visible on one side. The other side is just blank. If you're not picky about it, though, let's say it has at least three solutions.

Update: I now know that Dave has a new version of this puzzle with different sizes for the animals, reducing the gaps between them. So, the current version is back to one solution only. This is true for the other Picture Frame Puzzles too. Should you find a second solution in any of his designs, contact Dave, so he can adjust the design back to one solution.

Solution: Here's mine, and here's the one that was on the solution sheet.

(Click to Enlarge)

Closing Comments:

Another brilliant idea by Dave Janelle, adding another great puzzle to the already wide selection of his Picture Frame Puzzles. Whether you're a religious person, or just a puzzle lover like me, this puzzle is definitely worth a try.

With such a sheer variety of species in the animal kingdom, I look forward for a Noah's Ark II.

Availability: You can find the Noah's Ark at Puzzle Crafthouse for $25. There's also a Beetlekill Pine version for the same price.


Flower Garden - Hawaii

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
A few weeks ago, I reviewed a great puzzle by Puzzle Crafthouse (Creative Crafthouse), the Wine Lovers Puzzle. I was so pleased with by its sheer originality and beauty that I became an instant fan of their Picture Frame Puzzles. Stay tuned for the end of this week's post, as this puzzle will be featured in my upcoming 200th post top 10. Today, I present to you another one of these magnificent puzzles, the Flower Garden - Hawaii.

Designed by Dave Janelle from Creative Crafthouse, the puzzle is a selection of flowers from Hawaii. Eight  wooden pieces made with at least four different hardwoods comprise this stunning and elegant Picture Frame Puzzle. Deep cuts in the pieces form additional details and at the same time, indicate which side you're supposed to use, as the backside of the pieces are not so well defined. The tray measures about 18cm in length (7"), which is about the size of a standard Picture Frame.

Rated as a level 3 (as reference, the Wine Lovers Puzzle is a level 3+), I actually found it harder than the previous one, or at least it took me more time to solve. What I like about these puzzles is that each one is completely unique, like it has its own personality. The pieces fit in a specific way, and your previous experiences won't help you that much. That being said, I believe these puzzles have one unique solution (not counting mirrored images or rotations), given the nature of their pieces and how they were thought out.

Many times I found myself struggling even to get seven pieces in the frame, so you can imagine how hard it is to actually fit all eight pieces. When solved, the puzzle still wastes a considerable amount of space, so the goal is to try and waste the least space as you can. Explore the pieces two at the time and see if there's any parts that can connect, sort of like a Jigsaw puzzle, or even pieces that can be placed along the walls of the frame. The connections will be subtle, but as you correctly place two or three, the others will become increasingly easier to pack.

(Click to Enlarge)

Closing Comments:

Even though I liked the Wine Lovers Puzzle more, the Flower Garden - Hawaii is a great looking puzzle and can be played by anyone that remotely likes a good Jigsaw puzzle. And even if you don't like Jigsaw puzzles at all, not to worry, as the Picture Frame Puzzles offer a very satisfying puzzling experience like no other.

Availability: The Flower Garden - Hawaii can be found only at Puzzle Crafthouse for $25 USD. For the same price, you can get a colored acrylic version, if you prefer. For many other puzzles in the Picture Frame category, see this page.

Solution: If you like, you can take a look at the solved puzzle here.


Cover Up

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , ,

(Click to Enlarge)
Erich Friedman, a Professor of Mathematics and puzzle designer from Florida has made many interesting puzzles over the years. One of them, Cover Up, is a brilliant concept and has multiple challenges.

The puzzle has three pieces of a lighter toned hardwood and three pieces of a darker tone. Your task is to cover the entire area of the lighter pieces with the darker ones. Obviously this works the other way around. There's an easy and medium challenge as well to train your brain before attempting the main one, as figuring out how to solve it, is rather tricky and requires an out-of-the-box thinking. It's rated as a level 3/5+.

The Cover Up puzzle is made exclusively by Puzzle Crafthouse in Florida and comes in a nice 9.5 x 9.5cm (3.75") wooden box to store the pieces. All six pieces have the same 7-unit area and share the same 4-unit length.

I found it hard to classify this puzzle. It's not exactly a packing problem, but it can be categorized as an assembly puzzle... After all, you do have to assemble the pieces in a way that they can show the correct solution.

(Click to Enlarge)

I'll start by the easy challenge. This requires only two light pieces and two dark pieces. The goal is the same, to cover two identical pieces with the other two. Solving this one might not take you more than a couple of minutes. The second challenge is a little tougher, but you should still be able to solve it within 10 minutes. This time, you use all six pieces, but in a mixture: select two dark and one light pieces, or two light and one dark (either combination works), and cover the first three with the others. You can see the solution for the easy and medium challenges at the end of this post.

After solving the first two challenges within 15 minutes, I was confident that I wouldn't need more than half an hour to solve the hard one. Wrong assumption... I honestly lost count of the time I needed to finally solve it, because it was done after several unsuccessful sessions. I won't go over the solution much, because it would spoil the fun of solving it on your own, but I can say that it's a little different from the first two challenges. It's not a trick or anything like that, as the solution is a 2D shape, but it's a bit counter-intuitive in my opinion and not easily found by just random manipulation. More like a level 4 than a level 3, but like any other puzzle, the level of difficulty depends on many things, so it's a bit subjective.

Closing Comments:

Overall, the Cover Up puzzle was a great surprise and it's a welcome addition to my collection, as I have nothing else quite like it. Easy to understand, but a pain to solve... However, there's a very satisfying feeling of accomplishment when you finally solve it. For its unusual and original idea, I highly recommend it to anyone in need of a tough challenge.

Availability: The Cover Up puzzle can be found only at Puzzle Crafthouse for about $14 USD. For an extra $4, you can engrave custom text on the puzzle. Perfect for a gift.

Solutions: Below, you can see the solutions for the easy and medium challenges. If you want to check out the main challenge solution, click this link.

(Click to Enlarge) - Easy Challenge Solution

(Click to Enlarge) - Medium Challenge Solution


Royal Flush

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Gabriel | 0 comments
Labels: , ,


(Click to Enlarge)
Puzzle Crafthouse (a.k.a Creative Crafthouse) has a very nice selection of exclusive wooden puzzles only available at their store. The Royal Flush puzzle, designed by Phil Janelle is yet another fine example of the good work they do at their shop.

I love to play poker and when I saw this puzzle, I knew I had to include it in my latest order, as it looked absolutely stunning. The puzzle consists of nine wooden laser-cut pieces made from Maple (you can also choose from Alder wood) and they're laser engraved with five card designations. The goal is to arrange the pieces in the tray so that you can see a Royal Flush on every row, column and two major diagonals. Be warned that the puzzle comes packaged in the solved state. If you don't want to know the solution, have someone to scramble it for you or unpack it upside down, scrambling it afterwards.

(Click to Enlarge)

Side note: If you don't know the poker rules, you can still solve the puzzle. A Royal Flush is made with a five card combination of 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all with the same suit.

The suit chosen for the cards is Spades - Probably the most beloved suit - and as you can see, the attention to detail is superb. This clearly shows how precise the laser cutter can get. The pieces have two distinct shapes: One is a three-card L shape with various orientations. There are seven of these pieces; The other is a two-card straight piece, which is comprised by a 10 and a King. Only two pieces have this shape and they're identical, whereas from seven the L-shaped pieces, only two are identical.

The Royal Flush puzzle is a level 3 puzzle, according to Puzzle Crafthouse's rating scale, but as it's described in the puzzle's page, it's more like a hard level 3 or easy level 4. I couldn't agree more with this statement. The puzzle is simple enough for anyone to try his luck, but it can be rather difficult to find a solution... And I'm not sure if it has more than one.

I think this is one of those puzzles that can be solved very quickly, within 15 minutes, but it can also take some time, which in my case it took around 2 hours, not straight, though. I've had the puzzle for about two months now, but only recently I got around to actually try and solve it. There's no particular strategy besides systematic attempts, so you either get lucky and solve it fast or you might spend some time working on a solution. It's not my favorite strategy for puzzle solving, but it'll get it solved eventually.

(Click to Enlarge) - Not Solved

When solving the puzzle, there's a few things you should take into account:
- There's no particular order for the Royal Flush. It may start by a 10 or by a King, as long as the five cards are different.
- In the solution, you see all cards facing up. In other words, there aren't any cards placed at a 90º angle. At first, I wasn't aware of this, but when I tried a way to get them all facing up, it got easier, because there's less possible orientations.
- Always check your diagonals to see if there's any card duplicates. This happened to me and it's very easy to forget about them.

Solution: If you wish to solve it on your own, don't click this link.

The Royal Flush puzzle is available at Puzzle Crafthouse for $20 USD.

Closing Comments:

Solving this puzzle was a little frustrating. High levels of patience are a definite requirement. I found myself many times with two pieces left to place, but no more possibilities. Removing a couple of them would only result in more disappointment, so there I was starting all over again.

I did love the look of puzzle. It's one of the most aesthetically pleasing by Puzzle Crafthouse and it'll most certainly appeal to any poker or packing puzzle enthusiasts.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...