Bonus puzzle!

~ Stella ~ 3 Comments

This puzzle, entitled “Sing It With Me: They’re Our Friends,” was inspired by my deep, deep disgust for that guy in the White House and, in particular, the stupidity of imposing tariffs ON OUR FRIENDS. Life is better with Mexican avocados, Spanish ham, and a whole lot of other things. I suppose it would have made more sense to make a puzzle specifically about consumer goods from [SPOILER REDACTED], but instead you get pop music.

I hope you find a little joy in this puzzle amid the chaos.

(Edited to add: There are two cross-reference clues that say “Across” but should say “Down” — apologies, it’s easier to note that here than to redo all the files)

Sing It With Me: They’re Our Friends – Across Lite

Sing It With Me: They’re Our Friends – PDFDownload
Sing It With Me: They’re Our Friends – SOLUTIONDownload

Sing It With Me: They’re Our Friends – solve online

Themeless #136

~ Stella ~ Leave a comment

At least once a year I think I should put some ACPT-related content in the puzzle that goes up closest to ACPT, and every year I don’t do it in time. This year is no exception. Please enjoy this crossword that has nothing to do with ACPT other than that it is a crossword, and ACPT involves doing crosswords.

Send good vibes! A gal wants to make the finals.

Themeless #136 – Across Lite

Themeless #136 – PDFDownload
Themeless #136 – SOLUTIONDownload

Themeless #136 – Solve online

Themeless #131

~ Stella ~ 8 Comments

For the folks who replied to my last post with “but I come here for hard puzzles!” — I have no plans to stop making hard themelesses and publishing them here every other week. The only thing that has changed is how I describe myself as a puzzlemaker.

As you may have noticed, the themelesses are offered free of charge. I do that because I like making them, and I know that the market for hard themelesses is not large enough that, were I to charge money for these puzzles, I would make enough to justify the extra work I’d have to put in for a paying audience (i.e., putting the puzzles through a test-solving and editing process).

But I now make a large part of my living making puzzles. In time, my goal is for puzzles and trivia to be the majority of my living, if not all of it. To do that, I need to sell easy puzzles. Which is something I’m good at making, and I enjoy making! Hence the rebrand.

So: Here is a hard puzzle that no longer bears the name “Tough as Nails.” Hope you enjoy it!

Themeless #131 – Across Lite

Themeless #131 – PDFDownload
Themeless #131 – SOLUTIONDownload

Welcome to Inteltainment!

~ Stella ~ 4 Comments

After five years, Tough as Nails is no longer the name of my website. Instead, today I’m introducing Inteltainment!

Five years ago when I started Tough as Nails, it was because what I wanted to see more of in the world was more hard puzzles, and more puzzles by women. Both of those things are still true; what has changed is that now I’m a woman who makes puzzles for a living. (!!!!) And most people who are interested in paying money to someone to make a crossword puzzle or trivia want something that’s a lot easier than that to make the challenge more accessible and reach a broader audience.

Which is great! I may not be interested in solving more easy puzzles than I do already, but I sure do love making them. Want me to make one for you? Hire me!