Playful Dolphin Wooden Puzzle
A diving dolphin in blue and gold – the most stretched board we cut, 117 pieces
Specifications
| Material | Wood |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 38 × 18 cm |
| Thickness | 4 mm |
| Pieces | 117 |
| Recommended age | 14+ |
| Made in | Ukraine |
Shipping
Every order ships from our fulfilment centre in France – never dropshipping. Orders are dispatched within 24 hours on working days; order before 10:30 and it leaves the same day. You’ll receive your tracking number by email at dispatch.
France: 2–4 working days – free home delivery from €40.
Rest of Europe: 2–10 working days, depending on destination.
Returns
You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind – no reason needed. Write to us first at info@creatifwood.com, then send the product back unused, in its original packaging.
Return shipping is at your charge; we refund the full order amount within 14 days, to your original payment method.
Received a damaged or wrong item? Contact us within 14 days with photos – we’ll make it right.
About this product
The most stretched board we cut
A dolphin caught mid-dive, nose down, tail high, drawn in deep blue with turquoise and gold ornament running along the flank. At 38 × 18 cm it is more than twice as long as it is tall, which is the most extreme proportion we cut.
The pose does the work. A dolphin standing still would be a shape; this one is a movement.
Why the flank is slow
The body is one continuous curved surface with the ornament running along it in parallel bands, and those bands repeat their sequence. A piece from behind the head and a piece from ahead of the tail can carry the same three colours in the same order.
Position along the body, not colour, is what places them, which is the same problem our Blue Whale poses and for the same reason.
The company it keeps
Stars, small fish and a shark are cut into the board as figure pieces – complete silhouettes that lift out on their own. They are the easiest pieces to place and the best ones to hand to whoever is watching.
Where to start
The head and the tail flukes. Both have hard outlines and a fixed orientation, and once they are placed the long flank between them is bounded at both ends rather than open.
On the wall
The length wants a run of clear wall: above a sofa, a bed or a doorway. Hung in a narrow space the leap has nowhere to go.
Our craftsmanship
Made by our family, piece by piece
Every creatifwood puzzle starts as a sheet of birch plywood in our family workshop. We laser-cut every piece into its own shape – no two are alike – check each set by hand, and pack it in a gift-ready box. No production lines, no shortcuts – just a small family that loves working with wood, and takes it personally that your puzzle brings people together around the table.
Meet the family behind your puzzleFrequently asked questions
Why does this puzzle have no straight edges?
The outline follows the shape of the design itself, so the usual approach of building the border first does not apply. Most people start from the area with the strongest contrast – in animal designs, usually the eye – and work outward from there.
What are the animal-shaped pieces for?
They are called whimsy pieces, a tradition that goes back to Victorian puzzle cutters who added recognisable shapes on a whim while working. Parker Brothers made it a standard in 1908. They do not interlock the way ordinary pieces do, so the pieces around them hold them in place.
Is this harder than a cardboard puzzle of the same size?
Yes, for three reasons. There is no straight border to anchor from, the ornamental patterning repeats so colour sorting barely helps, and the piece shapes are irregular rather than a uniform knob-and-socket grid.
How long will it take?
Honestly: longer than you expect. With no border to anchor from, repeating ornament and irregular pieces, a wooden puzzle takes noticeably longer than a cardboard one with the same count. We think that is part of the pleasure – it is made to be savoured, not raced.
Can I glue it and hang it on the wall?
Yes. Use a glue made for puzzles rather than a general craft adhesive: it runs into the joints and dries as a thin clear film that protects the face. We stock the Cléo'Puzzle glue-varnish, rated for cardboard, wood and MDF, with a precision nozzle for boards that have no straight edges. Work in thin coats and let each one dry. Gluing is permanent – if you would rather rebuild the puzzle one day, or keep the front matt, dry adhesive film on the back is the alternative. Once sealed, the board can be framed or hung as it is.
Why does it smell of wood when I open the box?
Laser cutting leaves a light trace of scorching on the edges. We clean the pieces before packing, but a faint smell of cut wood in the first days is normal and fades.
Which age is it suitable for?
It is shown on each product page under Specifications. Most designs in this range are marked 14+, and a few simpler ones are suitable from 3.
What if a piece is missing or broken?
Write to us with a photo and we will send a replacement. Details are on our Missing Pieces page.