How to Make a Puzzle Out of Your Own Picture to Send to a Friend

Choose a picture you would like to use to make the puzzle and print it from your computer onto photo paper or have a print made at a local photo shop.

Spread craft glue evenly on the back of the photo and attach it to a piece of cardboard cut to fit the photo. Run your hands over the picture several times to remove any air pockets that could prevent the photo from attaching firmly to the cardboard. A clean craft glue typically works best for this purpose and will dry clear.

Allow the glue to dry. Let the picture sit in a dry, warm place for 24 hours to ensure that the glue is dry and the photo and cardboard are firmly bonded.

Draw lines with a pencil on the back of the cardboard where you would like the pieces to be. Try making unique puzzle piece shapes such as hearts, squares and stars, keeping in mind that you will have to cleanly cut any pieces you draw.

Cut out the pieces of the puzzle with a sharp craft knife. Take care to cut cleanly through both the printed photo and the cardboard. If the pieces are large or if a young child is doing the cutting, you can use scissors to cut out each piece.

Place your puzzle pieces in a decorative envelope and mail them to your friend. You can make your gift a little more interesting if you send it a few pieces at a time. Send the pieces in such a way that your friend can put together parts of the puzzle as it arrives.