Crafty Sunflower – Release #2

We now continue the Crafty Sunflower Puzzle saga.  Previously, we reviewed the 3 puzzles from the May release (Crafty Sunflower Release: May 2025).  Now, 3 new puzzles have been added to the series. 

As with the last release, all the puzzles were designed by Serhiy Grabarchuk.  However this time, they are all 3D printed.  And they’re all completely different.  There is an entanglement puzzle, a multi-challenge 3D assembly puzzle, and an interlocking burr puzzle.  

Similar to the prior release, the packaging is still amazing.  Each puzzle comes in a clear acrylic box with nicely printed documentation.  And the ordering and shipping process continues to be top notch with frequent updates.

Flower Coaster

Do puzzles have utility beyond puzzling?  Of course they do.  I mean who hasn’t used a Kagen Sound puzzle box as a place to put a sweating drinking glass?  However, you would be better off using a puzzle like Flower Coaster that is specifically designed to double as a coaster as well as a puzzle.   

Flower Coaster arrives nicely displayed in a circular acrylic box.  The box also includes a nicely designed spacer to keep the puzzle from flopping around.  

The puzzle consists of 2 linked rings that have to be manipulated so that the notches in each are aligned and the links lay flat, nestled together.  When solved, it fits nicely within the accompanying holder or you can use it as … A Coaster!  There is also an option to get it as a set of 4 with the holder extended to hold the stack.  

Although the instructions say to separate the links, this does not mean to completely unloop them.  You should simply take the 2 pieces out of the flat configuration and make a 2 link chain.  After rotating the links a few times, the challenge is to them put them back into the flat configuration. It makes for a nice trick and is good for beginner puzzlers.

I like Flower Coaster as a puzzle but would I actually use it as a coaster?  Probably not.  I’d be worried about a hot mug on the plastic or a cold glass dripping through the openings.

Checkered Chairs

This puzzle arrives in a cubic acrylic box that fully displays the checkered cube solution.  I got the Fall Edition color scheme because it was different from most other 3D printed puzzles that I have.  The first thing that I noted after the colors was the weight of the box.  The pieces are denser than I had expected and had some heft to them.  Through the top of the box, you can also see the cover of the 24 page manual that includes 18 challenges. 

Removing the 8 pieces from the box, you can see that each is a combination of light and dark color cubes.  The goal is to the satisfy the shape and color constraints provided by each challenge described within the manual.  Of course the checkered cube solution is done for you since it arrives that way.  But can you really bring yourself to put it away any other way?  Not likely, so you will be making that checkered cube many times.

Some challenges don’t require all the pieces, but it’s up to you to determine which pieces to use.  The last 5 challenges only provide the shape for one of the colors.  It reminded me a bit of Ditch (One Tɍough – Ditch).  Great fun!

I had a good time going through all the challenges.  Once you get going, you start to pick up speed.

12 Logs

And now for something a bit more challenging.  Like Checkered Chairs, 12 Logs arrives in a cubic acrylic box with a 24 page manual.  However, unlike Checkered Chairs, you don’t need multiple challenges, the manual contains the step-by-step instructions on how to put it together.  However, I know that you are all like me and have taken the oath not to indulge in such crutches.  And since it comes solved, you should pull it apart blindfolded so that you don’t see how the pieces come apart.

I ordered the fuzzy edition because, why wouldn’t you get the Fuzzy Edition!  Is anyone really going to order a non-fuzzy one?  Then again, maybe it’s just me since I saw that the fuzzy option only comes in 1 color choice.  It’s even officially called the Orange Edition deemphasizing the fuzziness.

This puzzle is a true burr puzzle with round logs instead of square sticks.  A bit reminiscent of Two Brass Monkeys’ puzzles that use round sticks.  In this case there are 4 sticks along each axis and they have a peculiar offset.  And it’s this offset that provides a clue on where some of the pieces have to go.  Luckily, the puzzle comes with a base that is a huge help in understanding and working with the offsets.  And the base also comes with a significant clue to get you moving along.  The initial phase of solving this puzzle is identifying and using those clues to get started.

There are 6 types of logs with each type having it’s own set of notches.  The ends of the sticks are branded on each end to identify the type.  After working on this puzzle for a while, you get to know the properties associated with each brand.

Solving 12 Logs is a serious effort and I completely enjoyed putting it back together.  Although I confess to having used an unauthorized rotation (the pieces are round after all).  Which just means that I get to enjoy more time with it.  Definitely my type of puzzle!

At first glance, this puzzle looks like a monumental task, but upon reflection of the clues given and the reduction of unique piece types, it’s very doable.

  

All 3 puzzles are now available at Crafty Sunflower!