12 puzzles in 2025
Making puzzles seems to be just about the only thing that easily puts me in a state of zen. It's like meditating with my eyes open (and puzzle pieces in my hands). To meditate more often, I could pay for a monthly subscription to apps like Headspace. But I could also make puzzles more often! ; )
At the beginning of 2025, I set myself the goal of making one puzzle every month. That way, I'll keep at it all year round and have several moments of relaxation every month. It was a good decision back then! Below you can see the puzzles I made this year.
january
My goal of completing 12 puzzles in 2025 began this year with this first puzzle: the Bopster 8-bit New York. It was great fun to do, and every now and then I came across a ‘familiar face’. If you look closely at the first photo, you can see Big Bird! I also came across Kermit the Frog, Elvis was walking around somewhere on the street, and the Ghostbusters were also driving around in their car. Fun details! : D
february
The second puzzle of this year was the Galison Dog Park in Four Seasons puzzle, designed by Michael Storrings. I found it to be one of the lesser puzzles I completed this year.
march & april
In March and April, I made numerous puzzles together with my daughter. Here at home, the EeBoo puzzles with 150-200 pieces are our favorites to make together, like the two on the picture. What we like so much, is that the puzzle pieces are a bit larger for children. This is especially a success for little children's hands!
may
For May, I chose the Ravensburger Circle of Colors Mushrooms puzzle. I immediately fell in love with the colors! It was quick to complete, as it consists of 500 pieces. I thought it was a nice change from the 1000-piece puzzles.
june
A second Ravensburger puzzle, but this time a 1.000-piece one: amazing birds. This one was really fun to do! And in terms of quality, these are still the better puzzles.
july
I made a second Circle of Colors puzzle, this time the flowers edition. It was fun to make, but not particularly special. I found the mushrooms a little more special.
august
Something completely different for August! The Ravensburger Fleroux Amsterdam puzzle. This one took me a little longer, because it involves quite a bit of searching among all those little people.
september
For my birthday this year, I allowed myself to choose two new puzzles. I didn't have to think long about which ones, because Elena Essex puzzles were high on my wish list! The first puzzle I made from this brand was the fig tree. So beautiful!
In September, I made an extra puzzle. I came across this A Year In The Garden by Gibsons and couldn't resist as a garden and flower lover ; ) It's a 500-piece puzzle, so I finished half of it in one evening. It's a little faster than other puzzles, but still a lot of fun for in between!
There was a mistake in my puzzle, by the way: I was missing a side piece and had two of another piece. Oops.
october
I enjoyed making the Elena Essex puzzle so much that I couldn't wait to make the second one. This time Midnight Moths (again so beautiful!).
november
For November, I worked on a festive puzzle: Elena Essex Christmas Cornucopia puzzle. Maybe a little early for Christmas already, , but I had something else fun lined up for December! That meant that if I wanted to do a Christmas-themed puzzle, I would have to do it in November.
december
In December I made the 100 pieces Bopster Christmas puzzle, illustrated by Olga Skomorokhova. It was such a lovely festive puzzle to make! One that I could make every year, I think.
December was also for making the Louise CunninghamMerry&Bright Advent puzzle calendar. It contained 12 puzzles, so I made 3 a week. It was the best puzzle advent calendar I've found so far. And I hope I can find something similar next year!
I really enjoyed doing all these puzzles this year - and making one puzzle every month. It keeps me going! And setting this goal also reminds me every month to keep at it. So for 2026, I'm setting myself the same goal of doing one puzzle every month.