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How to Make Your Own Jigsaw Puzzle at Home

Jigsaw puzzles have entertained children and adults since the late 1700&'s. Some people spend hours days, and weeks working on intricate patterns, with tables in their homes dedicated solely to puzzles. For small children, puzzles are often one of the first toys they play with that help develop their coordination, dexterity, memory and problem-solving skills.

While you can purchase puzzles of all kinds in various shopping outlets, making your own jigsaw puzzle can be very rewarding. You can use a favorite photo, illustration, cartoon or any other image that has special meaning. Homemade puzzles also make unique and cherished gifts.

Things You'll Need

1/4" 3 to 5 ply sheet plywood
Picture or illustration
Dry mounting spray
Scroll saw and blades .20 inches thick
Sandpaper (fine)

Instructions

Make Your Puzzle
- 1
  
  Scissors.
  
  Prepare your picture and your plywood to match in size. Trim the wood using the scroll saw or the picture using scissors until they are an exact match. Sand the edges of the board to make it smooth.
- 2
  Apply a light coat of the dry-mounting spray to the back of the picture and to the plywood. Affix the picture to the board by starting at one end and slowing working toward the other. Work out any air bubbles as you go; pull up part of the picture carefully if an air bubble will not press out. Spray the board and picture with a light coating of the dry mounting spray. Let the piece dry completely.
- 3
  
  Saw
  
  Cut the puzzle into irregularly shaped, but uniformly sized pieces using the scroll saw. Keep all of the pieces large enough to maintain their rigidity. Make the pieces larger if the puzzle is for small children.
- 4
  
  Sandpaper
  
  Sand the edges of all pieces lightly to remove any jagged edges. Put the puzzle together and sand the back side until it is smooth.

Jigsaw Puzzles