Looking for a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? This colorful 1,000-piece puzzle featuring 27 U.S.A. LOVE postage stamps from over the years makes a great gift or together-time activity (be sure to pair it carefully with chocolate-drizzled strawberries and a favorite beverage!).
I had a lot of fun working this vibrant puzzle designed by Lois B. Sutton. But first, I had to manage putting together the edge pieces, which were quite the challenge. As you can see from the photo below, the edge pieces are black on the bottom and include the scalloped edges of the stamps on top. Some scallops also offer color to sort by, but others don’t, and in many cases, the “squiggles” almost appear to be a new language. For this 24″ x 30″ puzzle, working the edge pieces took me much longer than usual.
Once I did finish preparing for the heart of the puzzle, the stamps themselves offered a mostly easy endeavor. I especially liked that not all the stamps were pink or red or even featured hearts, and they included a variety of styles and sturdy pieces.
All in all, I think you will, ahem, love this puzzle. I recommend it for ages 12 and up (not ages 6 and up as listed by the manufacturer), and give it 4 out of 5 puzzle pieces.
Tanya Konerman, Author 