Make Your Own Jigsaw Puzzle

A jigsaw is a tiling puzzle in which many small, oddly-shaped and interlocking pieces are fitted together to form one complete picture. The pictures may include scenes from nature, castles, animals, mountains, etc. Originally, the puzzle was created by painting the picture on a flat, rectangular wooden piece which was cut into small pieces with the help of a jigsaw. But now many jigsaw puzzle accessories like cardboard, frames, foams and roll-up mats have been designed to serve the puzzle enthusiasts. Making your own jigsaw puzzle is not only a great creative fun activity but also a challenge. It can be used for different occasions like entertaining kids, creating meaningful gifts or sending messages to your loved ones in a unique way.

How to Make Your Own Jigsaw Puzzle

Step 1: Select an Image
Select the image or picture that you want to display on the finished puzzle. The image can be an enlarged photograph, a picture from a calendar or anything which is thick and does not tear easily. But make sure it's not very thick as it may become fuzzy around the edges.

Step 2: Choose the Material
For the backing of the puzzle, you can use a heavy cardboard, foam or wood. If you use foam, you will require a large, flat sheet of foam, and if you pick wood, make sure the piece of plywood is thin and big enough to mount the entire image on it.

Step 3: Mount the Image
Next step is to mount the picture onto the backing, and for this dry mounting spray is the best option. Using a white glue or a glue stick is not recommended as the white glue takes long to dry and the glue stick does not stick very well. Use the spray as per the manufacturer's instructions and mount the picture properly on to the back. Make sure there are no air bubbles between the picture and the backing.

Step 4: Cut the Pieces
After this you need to cut the puzzle apart into oddly-shaped pieces. If you have used a cardboard, cut with a utility knife or use a scroll saw having an extremely thin blade. For a foam-backed puzzle, simply use a utility knife and for a wood-backed puzzle, use a scroll saw with a thin blade. While cutting, make sure you don't push the saw too fast through the wood, else the blade might break. Cut carefully so that the pieces should not have tiny ends or obtrusions on them as they can break off easily. You will also need to sand the pieces to smoothen the rough edges, especially if you are making the puzzle for a kid. Don't forget to paint the underside of the puzzle along with its edges.

Step 5: Assemble the Pieces Together
After cutting the entire puzzle, assemble the pieces together to check whether they fit properly or not.

I am sure by now you'll be having a fair idea of making your own jigsaw puzzle. It is fascinating, entertaining, challenging, and does not require much time. All you need is to collect the basic raw material, explore your creative skills and make this real-life masterpiece puzzle.