Hello there!
I've been hooked on coloring books lately, but I've also got my own art therapy project that's been going on for years.
My cousins used to bring over these Japanese crosswords when they visited my grandma in the countryside, and I was desperate to learn how to solve them. But they wouldn't teach me - they'd just leave them lying around for me to figure out myself.
It wasn't easy, though - I'd spend hours ruining pages of pictures trying to decipher the clues.
Fast forward to now, and I've got tons of experience solving crosswords. People even ask me to teach them how to do it.
I've got a whole pencil case full of pens, and I've even got a special eraser for when I make mistakes.
But even now, there are some puzzles that I just can't crack without looking at the answers.
This magazine is my absolute favorite! It's got around 100 pages, and the pictures come in different sizes. It's only 40 rubles, and you can even subscribe to it.
I have to say, the paper used to be white and really sturdy, but now it seems like they're trying to cut costs...
This is what an unsolved crossword looks like
The key to these puzzles is to get started! The goal is to create a picture and make sure all the numbers match.
1) Take a close look at the sum of the numbers in each row. If you've got 25 cells horizontally, check if the sum of the numbers in each column can give you 25. Count any gaps between them too. For example, if you see five blank cells and the numbers 2, 2, you can confidently fill them in, with an * between the twos, making it five in total.
On the picture, there are 40 cells vertically, but we only have 31. Here's what you do: count up from the top until you hit the 31st cell and mark it. Then, from the bottom up, mark the 31st cell and fill in the intersecting section! This rule applies everywhere.
2.) Next, you can start filling in the first numbers in the left column. When you've got a number of cells filled in, put a dot or a cross after it to separate it from the next filled-in cells.
3) As you work through the puzzle, you'll notice that you can also fill in the top columns. If you see a filled-in cell after a dot, you can confidently continue filling it in.
When you've filled in all the possible squares, it's time to tackle the shaded area that's left over. That's the space above and to the left of the number 11. Notice that we can't fill in the blank row along the left edge of the puzzle, because the starting point of the shaded area might not be there. So we mark the end of the 11 shaded squares, but we don't put a period there yet – we're keeping our options open. We do the same thing with any other situations like this.
5)
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Since we've got a clear picture of the upper left corner, we can count down 31 squares and fill them in, just like we did in step 4 – but we don't put a period there yet.
6) Now we fill in as much as we can and look for any clues that might help us go further.
Looking at the fourth row from the bottom, we see there are 15. We do the same thing as with 31. We look for the total shaded area. Then we see there are 9 at the top. So we shade in the approximate part that will be shaded and so on, with everything.
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7.) We see that on the left, there are only units, which gives us the right to mark the units and then we can confidently shade in the 7 vertically.
8) Now we pay attention to the 5th row from the left at the top. There are the numbers 2, 7, 1, 7, 4 in our range, but we don't know if there's a unit or a seven. We calculate and get that it's 1 and 7, so 9 cells need to be shaded, but we only have 8! So in this range, only a unit remains. We mark the rest of the space with dots. Then we shade in the seven from the shaded cell.
9) We look for all possible options and continue in the same vein.
Another key thing to keep in mind. Looking at the bottom row, we've got numbers 6 and 8. Here, we have two shaded cells. The first two cells together will give us 6, and then one shaded cell will give us 8. By looking at the shaded cell and counting 8 cells from it, we can fill in the rest with dots. This trick helps in certain situations where we need to find a solution.
10) I think the algorithm's pretty straightforward now. Of course, the key is to practice, because I can now tell at a glance how to shade in the next cell! And here's what my drawing looks like!
When we're really stuck and can't figure out where to start, there are answers available.
And also, there are tips on how to learn.
And here's what my drawings look like: Cons:
- takes up way too much time
- strains my eyes
- some crosswords are just impossible to figure out and move forward with
- confusing images
- honestly, it's the most important thing for me - it helps me relax. I love getting lost in the puzzle
- super engaging
- actually makes me think and work my brain! Great mental exercise
That's my lengthy review! I put in the effort!
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Thanks for reading!
Wishing you all peace and happiness!
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You can also check out my reviews on other hobbies:
-Knitting
- Handmade toys
My Fix Price hobby store
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And on stationery:
-Pens
Chinese pens