Set 71040 - LEGO Disney Castle - Fairytale Review :)

Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there was a beautiful castle on the White Mountain where four little people lived happily together - Minnie, Daisy, Donald and Tinker Bell.
They were all good people and took care of the castle together.

But one day when Tinker Bell was in the forest, a most unexpected misfortune befell them. When she came back in the evening she found all her friends petrified and with them the whole castle.
She spent weeks just sitting on the walls of the castle, wondering how to save her friends.

Tinker Bell wonders how to save her friends

Mickey climbes up the White Mountain

Tinker Bell explains everything to Mickey

"You know what, Tinker Bell" he said, "I think that we are facing the same enemy. Something bad is happening in the whole country. People have always been happy there, believed in miracles and now ... they forgot to fantasize and enjoy little things."

Mickey thinking of the curse

That day Mickey was sitting on the top of the White Mountain until sunset. He knew that the key of the unhappiness that covered the whole country is hidden somewhere in the castle.
Early in the morning he started to search the whole castle. He didn't know what to look for but he knew that he has to find it. He began in the Knight Hall.

Knight Hall in the Castle

He sought higher floors, too.  

Interior of the Castle

Interior of the Castle

Even in the highest tower the magical mirror didn't advice him ...

Magical Mirror in the highest tower

Finally he encountered two hundred years old frogs who told him an old rumour about a secret chamber with a treasure hidden somewhere in the castle ...

Mickey is talking to old frogs

He found the secret chambre

And the secret treasure

Mickey couldn't stop reading the Fairytale book

Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Donald and Tinker Bell together again

Daisy and Donald

Minnie and Mickey

And they lived happily ever after ...A bell rang and the tale comes to its end. :)

10 Amazing LEGO Board Games you should discover

Looking back over my life, I've been always a big fan of board games. Playing board games with my parents and my sister when we were together on holidays was our usual family night as long as I can remember. :) Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess, Cards, ... Those are just a few examples of games we have in our living room shelves.
I knew that LEGO released several versions of Chess. I also noticed a lately release of What am I game. But I was pleasantly surprised how many other amazing board games made from bricks LEGO released so far !
I can't wait to buy some of them. I wouldn't mind filling my apartment with LEGO board games, then create a spot in my apartment where I could come to sit, build and play them all. :)
I will share with you today 10 of them + one bonus, which caught my eye for different reason - either because they were funny, had a good idea or a good look.

1. SET 50003 - Batman (2013)
The Joker and his band of villains are loose in Gotham City and its up to Batman and his super hero friends to catch them. Roll the buildable LEGO dice, race across the city and be the first to catch your villain to win the game. Use the gadgets, the Batmobile and the Batboat to stay one step ahead of your rivals.
The players navigate the constantly shifting castle layout to visit different classrooms and pass a lots of magical exams. 

50003 - Batman

2. SET 3920 - The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey (2012)
Find the missing Dwarves who have gotten lost in Hobbiton, using hints left by Gandalf the Grey and some Hobbits to help you search. 

3920 - The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey

3. SET 3862 - Harry Potter Hogwarts (2010)
The players navigate the constantly shifting castle layout to visit different classrooms and pass a lots of magical exams. 

3862 - Harry Potter Hogwarts

4. SET 50006 - Legends of Chima (2013)
Compete with rival tribes to claim Mount Cavora's precious supply of CHI. Roll the buildable dice, then take your animals to the dessert, jungle and mountains to challenge and battle for the CHI. Use skill and strategy to be the first to collect 8 CHI and win the game. 

Set 50006 - Legends of Chima

5. SET 3849 - Orient Bazar (2010)
Take a magic carpet to ride to find Far East fortunes. Discover exotic treasures in the colourful nooks of the bustling market. Spend your gold wisely and battle for fortune by collecting priceless matching items to sell. 

3849 - Orient Bazar

6. SET 3856 - Ninjago (2011)
The evil general of the skeleton army and his guards have invaded the ninja fortress. Can you team up to battle the guards, find the golden weapons and defeat the general? The race is on to stop them.  

3856 - Ninjago

7. SET 3851 - Atlantis Treasure (2010)
Navigate your submarine through the murky depths yo find sunken treasure. Fire at obstacles and block other explorers in a deep sea quest whre only one sly sailor will triumph !  

3851 - Atlantis Treasure

8. SET 3843 - Ramses Pyramide (2009)
The Mummy King Ramses is planning on conquering all of Egypt with his army of mummies. Unlock the crystal coded layers to climb to the top of the pyramid and defeat the Mummy King, taking his crown and the treasures within.  

3843 - Ramses Pyramide

9. SET 852293 - Castle Giant Chess Set (2007)
The ultimate LEGO chess set with castle theme pieces and decorations.

852293 - Castle Giant Chess Set

 10. SET 3874 - Ilrion (2012)
Advanture game you can build and combine. One of five Heroica sets released by LEGO so far. It's up to you to locate the Catacombs, fight your way pas vicious bats, lumbering zombies, and defeat the Vampire Lord to rescue the King. 

3874 - Ilrion

Funny BONUS :)
11. SET 3854 - Frog Rush (2011)
This is a small pond with a big problem! All of the frogs are trying to get across at the same time, hopping and jumping over each other in a crazy race towards home. Beat the others across the water, but beware of the hungry stork flying overhead ! 

3854 - Frog Rush

Whether you are a fan of Harry Potter, DC Comics, Legends of Chima, Lord of the Rings or more traditional themes such as Castle you should find your favorite one between those 11 sets.

Have you ever played LEGO board game with your friends or family ? Or did I forget to mention your favorite one in my list ?

I will be very happy if you comment below.

How to create an original LEGO display ?

Creating something every day... That's exactly what I was doing this week. :) I started on Sunday with building a new home for my LEGO collection as I shared with you in my latest post - How do you store your LEGO collection ?
Even though the beginning of this week was quite busy at work,  I found some time to think about LEGO during the day and I came up with an idea for an original LEGO display for one of my favorite LEGO Disney Minifigure.  :) And when I came back home from work I was working on the idea every evening. And it's finally completed and I can share it with you ! :)

Original LEGO Minifigure display

What did I need ?
I needed a deep frame, so deep that I could fit inside the selected LEGO minifigure. I chose a Maleficient from the Disney Minifigure Series.

IKEA deep frame

Then I needed a few sheets of paper, colour pencils, glue, scissors, ...

Papers, Pencils, Scissors, ...

And finally the most important ingredience. The IDEA, itself.
Usually the idea is the most important, the most difficult and the most time consuming step within the whole process of creating someting. At least it's a true for me. :)

Idea is the most important ingrediance

And then when I had everything prepared on my table and also in my head the funniest part of the whole creating process could start. Papercrafting, drawing, ... I created quite many versions until I was satisfied with what I did.

Monitoring drawing progress

Now it was a time to create the speaking bubble ...

Drawing speaking bubble

And put all pieces together as a LEGO set. :)

Original LEGO Minifigure display

I would love to create such a display for every LEGO Minifigure I own and hang them side by side on the wall in my living room. I think it would look perfectly ! :)

This display was my first time, so I am prepared to face your criticism. :)

Do you also creating something handmade at home for your LEGO collection ?

I will be very happy if you share it with me in comments below.

How do you store your LEGO collection ?

Did you know that a dust is the main enemy of your LEGO collection ? Because of that every LEGO set and every minifigure deserve a save place in your apartment or house. Ideally protected not only from a dust but also from humidity, direct sunlight or smoke.  
Until today I was lacking such a place in my apartment and all my builds were laid on tables or on the floor in my small apartment. It was not a nice look at it for me nor for the minifigures.
Therefore, today everyone in our apartment was working hard on a better place to live for my LEGO collection. :)

Working on a new home for LEGO collection

Finally we made it and today the minifigures will be sleeping for the first time in their new home. :)

New home for LEGO Minifigures

I think that they look quite happy, don't they ? :) And there is still plenty of space for other minifigures to come join them. I can't wait for the minifigures from Series 16 to fill in empty rows in the display. The rest of the display case is intended for LEGO sets.

New home for LEGO sets

I put inside the new glass display three large sets, one small set and all the minifigures.

New LEGO display case

I also found a place for my latest unfinished build. I am sure that you will recognize the set at the top of the case even though it's not completed yet. :) I think that you cannot be wrong.

New home for the biggest set in my collection

The LEGO Disney Castle, of course ! It is so big (even though it is half completed) that I will have to find a wider display case for such an amazing set once it's completed.

Since I like drawing and paper crafting a lot, I have come up with more creative idea of how to store minifigures which I have also already crafted... I will share it with you soon on my blog. :)

How do you store your LEGO collection ?

I will be happy if you share it with me in comments bellow.

6 Most Popular Seasonal Themes

Following Christmas, we celebrate Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, ... and again Christmas and so on and so on ... And there are many more opportunities to celebrate, such as our birthdays, first day of spring, etc.
LEGO does not lag behind and celebrates with us with their special seasonal sets dedicated to different feast days or events. Every year LEGO comes with new amazing ideas.
Seasonal sets are not expensive, are easy to store, funny, cute and keeps value good. Many good reasons to start collecting them ! :) I started lately and will definitely continue.
Most seasonal sets were released in following 6 themes. There is a list of them with a few examples of my favourite sets within each theme that I would love to own one day.

1. BIRTHDAY
Set 40153 - Birthday Table Decoration (2015) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $19.0

40153 Birthday Table Decoration

Set 850791 - LEGO Minifigure Birthday Set (2013) - RRP: $7.99 / Sold on Ebay: $18.0

850791 - LEGO Minifigure Birthday Set

2. HALLOWEEN
Set 40090 - Halloween Bat (2014) - RRP: $7.99 / Sold on Ebay: $17.0 (Looks a bit like a cat rather than a bat, but I like it. :))

40090 - Halloween Bat

40122 - Trick or Treat

Set 40203 - Vampire and Bat (2016) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $18.8
3. EASTER
Set 40202 - Easter Chick (2016) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $31.5

Set 40202 - Easter Chick

Set 40086 - Easter Bunny (2014) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $24.1

Set 40086 - Easter Bunny

Set 5004468 - Iconic Easter Minifigure (2016) - RRP: $0.00 / Sold on Ebay: $17.2

Set 5004468 - Iconic Easter Minifigure

4. THANKSGIVING
Set 40091 - Thanksgiving Turkey (2014) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $18.4

Set 40091 - Thanksgiving Turkey

Set 40123 - Thanksgiving Feast (2015) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $20.1

Set 40123 - Thanksgiving Feast

5. VALENTINE'S DAY
Set 40120 - Valentine's Day Dinner (2015) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $30.1

Set 40120 - Valentine's Day Dinner

Set 40085 - LEGO Valentine (2014) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $27.1

Set 40085 - LEGO Valentine

Set 40201 - Valentine's Cupid Dog (2016) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $16.0

Set 40201 - Valentine's Cupid Dog

6. CHRISTMAS
Set 40125 - Santa's Visit (2015) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $20.1

Set 40125 - Santa's Visit

Set 40093 - Snowman (2014) - RRP: $9.99 / Sold on Ebay: $20.1

Set 40093 - Snowman

Set 40106 - Toy Workshop (2014) - RRP: $0.00 / Sold on Ebay: $30.1

Set 40106 - Toy Workshop

It wasn't easy to choose only a few sets within every theme, especially in Christmas theme, because LEGO released many of Christmas sets so far.
I'm sure that you have probably your favorites ! I have only one of listed sets in my LEGO collection - Valentine's Cupid Dog and it's perfect.

Are you a fan of these 100 pieces sets ? What other seasonal themes would you welcome ?

I will be happy if you comment below.