Putting together a jigsaw puzzle is quite challenging for beginners. However, this game can be completed efficiently using a few easy steps. Depending on your skills, use the step that best suits your needs. If not, pick a part that you're not good at and try practicing on your own. Start small with simple drawings, as well as large and small pieces of pieces. For example, you can experiment with different methods without spending too much time using a rectangular puzzle of 50-300 pieces. When you're satisfied with your approach, move on to puzzles with more pieces (300-1000 pieces or more).
Step
Method 1 of 2: Putting together the Puzzle
Step 1. Select your work area
Try choosing a flat and hard surface such as a table. Make sure the area is large enough to hold all of your puzzle pieces.
Step 2. Pour the contents of the puzzle box into your work area
- Turn all the pieces over so they are facing up.
- At the same time, select all the pieces of the image's edge and put them all in one place. This will help later. However, keep in mind that finding the edges of a puzzle that is not rectangular can be quite difficult
Step 3. Arrange all the edges of the image
Your work will be easier if you prioritize the "frame" of the puzzle.
Step 4. Another tip is to sort the pieces by tab and blank
Tabs are pieces that have a jut part and a blank is a pair.
Step 5. One of the most popular methods is to arrange all the pieces into groups of colors
The timing of this method depends on the design and complexity of the puzzle. Try grouping all the pieces of the piece by color (e.g. all the pieces that are sky blue, grass green, etc.) in separate areas.
Step 6. After you have grouped all the pieces by color, try to arrange the color groups of the puzzle
The result can be a large piece of a puzzle piece (such as a sky piece) or a picture of an object, such as a house or an animal.
Step 7. Place the assembled puzzle pieces where the complete puzzle will be
It helps if you have an image of the finished product (usually on the front of the puzzle box).
Step 8. Continue to “fill in the blanks” puzzle
Try to connect the finished parts and they are in their correct place.
Step 9. Over time, you will be able to see the project's estimated finished product
At this point, the puzzle is easier to assemble because the "holes" are mostly single pieces.
Step 10. Keep going until you complete the puzzle
Method 2 of 2: Solving the Puzzle
Step 1. Once you are done, decide what you want to do with the puzzle
- If someone else will also play the puzzle, carefully disassemble the puzzle and return it to the box.
- If you want to immortalize the puzzle, paint the surface of the puzzle with puzzle preservative. This product prevents the color of the puzzle from fading over time. Determine your storage location and make sure the puzzle is safe from damaging factors (moisture, sunlight, heat, freezing, insects, etc.). Otherwise, you can store it in the puzzle holder.
Step 2. To frame the puzzle, first select the size and type of 'backing board'
Although the color will depend on your preferred puzzle image, don't forget that the lighter the board, the easier it will be when finished with the puzzle (especially if it's large).
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Make sure the backing board is large enough to accommodate the finished puzzle.
Assemble Jigsaw Puzzles Step 11 - Place the puzzle onto the board and position the pieces of the board so that they form a frame. Then, take the pieces of the boards.
- Mark the circumference of the puzzle on the board with a pencil. Slide the puzzle to another board and put the pieces back together.
- Slide the puzzle to the final position location.
- Snap the sides of the sandwich board in place and glue them together. Place the other side of the sandwich board in place and clamp it tightly.
- Carefully turn the sandwich board over and transfer it to the storage area if you want to continue your work later.
- Otherwise, open the sandwich board and return the original backing board to your work area. Now you can paint the outer perimeter of the board (around the puzzle area).
- Replace the board pieces on the original board so that the puzzle area can be seen.
- Apply glue to the puzzle area with craft glue.
- Place the puzzle onto the glue-smeared area by gently sliding it off the spare board. You can place a flat object on top of the puzzle as a weight so that the glue sticks well.
- Trim off the excess boards so that your work looks nice and neat.
- Frame the puzzle area with the pieces of the board.
Tips
- If you're donating the puzzle to someone else or to a charity event, it's a good idea to paste a note in front of the box that tells you whether all the pieces are inside, or if some are missing. It would be very annoying if the puzzle that we worked hard to turn out to be incomplete without us knowing beforehand.
- When putting together a puzzle, don't be frustrated because patience will pay off at the end of the job.
- Don't force the puzzle pieces together because they probably aren't there.
- It's best not to wear loose clothing when playing puzzles. Who knows your clothes slide one of the pieces and eventually disappear.
- Start the arrangement of the puzzle on the edges to make it easier and faster.
- After working on the puzzle, group the remaining pieces by color and picture. Usually, puzzles have a reference image. Make the most of the image.
- Try to do your best with the puzzle. Remember, puzzles are meant to train the brain! So, don't give up!
Warning
- Keep puzzles out of reach of children. They can swallow puzzle pieces and have a fatal impact. Plus, you'll lose the puzzle pieces.
- Do not spill food or drink on your work area as this will cause serious damage to some of the puzzle pieces.
