Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by JigsawPuzzleGuru
So, after many difficult hours, several arguments, threats of divorce, and disownment of one’s children, you have finally completed that 5,000-piece or greater jigsaw puzzle. It was a mammoth effort, but now you have that sought-after feeling of creating that masterpiece image you saw on the box, and it’s there on your puzzle table in all its glory.
Now you have a new problem, right? How do you get the puzzle from the table somewhere out of the way so you can reclaim the puzzle table and start a new jigsaw? Of course, it could also be a 3D puzzle. But, after spending all this time and energy on it, you are reluctant just to break it up and put it all back in the box. So what should you do with it?
In today’s blog, we’ll share a few ideas on what to do with your completed puzzles.
Table of Contents
Idea 1: Photo Album
You should first follow the sage advice in many films and TV shows: “take a picture; it’ll last longer!” If you’re worried about anyone doubting that you have finished this puzzle, then prove them wrong with a simple photo. Next, create a scrapbook or album that showcases your recent puzzle conquests, either printed out or on your social media accounts. As the album grows, so will your sense of achievement and pride that you’ve stuck out so many puzzles to the end.
This is not just the simplest solution for what to do with your puzzles but also the most cost-effective and useful for people who live in accommodation that doesn’t permit any additional space to keep large puzzles once completed. Unfortunately, not everyone has room to frame or mount them (see below for more). A simple photo record is, therefore, the best solution. Then, once you’ve got the photos you want, you can feel good about putting the puzzle back into its box, being careful not to lose any pieces as you do!
Idea 2: Glue, Frame, or Mount It
When thinking about mounting a jigsaw onto a board or into a frame, the first question that comes to mind is how can you secure all the pieces in places so that the thing doesn’t just fall apart as soon as you try to move it? The answer to that is you need to glue the pieces together. It’s a lot simpler than you think. Let’s talk about that first:
Gluing the Jigsaw Pieces
For this task, you can buy specially made “puzzle glue” that dries clear after it is applied and cured. While you might think that only this kind of puzzle glue is the right kind, the truth is that virtually any liquid adhesive that will dry clear will do the job. The main benefit of buying puzzle glue is that the makers invariably supply a special spreading tool with it that you otherwise might not get with other glue products.
You pour the glue over the jigsaw surface before carefully using the spreader tool to create an even coating across the puzzle’s surface. Once your coating is all done, you’ll likely need to leave the glue for up to 4 hours so it can bond, seal and dry properly. That’s just a guideline number, however, and you should leave it for as long as the specific product you use indicates that you should.
Mounting the Jigsaw Puzzle
Next, you have a choice of what to do. Using foam boards is the most straightforward tool to mount your jigsaw, but whether you then put those boards into a frame is up to you. For some, the board is enough, and it’s more affordable than a frame. On the other hand, the frame provides greater protection, so it’s an important tradeoff.
Your glued puzzle should now be safe to flip over. Carefully flip the puzzle and apply a spray adhesive to the back of the pieces. Spray the adhesive liberally over the back of the puzzle and then immediately move to place the foam board on top of it. Before this point, you should have pre-cut the foam board to get the right size and fit. It’s good to leave a bit of a border around the outside, but if you want a snug fit, you’ll have to measure and cut carefully.
Place some weighty objects on the board once you’ve placed them on the glued surface and leave it to bond for about an hour or however long as indicated by the product you are using. You then have a mounted puzzle that you can put straight onto the wall or frame and then mount.
Idea 3: Donate or Gift It
When you’re done with the puzzle, you could photograph it for your records, box it back up, and donate it to a charity shop, a local community center, or a retirement home as a gift. If you have a friend or other family member who is equally into jigsaw puzzles, you could also give it to them as a birthday or holiday present.
We’re talking about recycling the jigsaw in the same way that recycling books you’ve read is great. If there’s a very good chance of you looping back to this jigsaw again in the near future (see ideas 4 and 5), then there’s no reason you shouldn’t keep it at least a bit longer. However, if you feel your journey with this puzzle is complete, pass the joy on to others. Such a gift could bring a lot of pleasure to others.
Idea 4: Turn It Into a Game
You can get creative with your jigsaw puzzles in a way that turns them into fun games for your puzzle-loving friends to do the next time you have a party or get-together. The simplest game you could try is dividing the finished puzzle into several sections. Break off the pieces for each section, perhaps 200 pieces in each, and put them in separate bags. Then, for your game, you can split your friends into teams, give them one bag each, and challenge them to put that section together faster than the others. It’s simple, fast-paced, and fun. Even better, you know it will work because you’ve taken the pieces from the finished item.
Idea 5: Try it Again, and Beat Your Record
Another way to continue getting joy from a jigsaw you’ve completed is to box it back up, thoroughly shuffle all of the pieces, and then try to complete the puzzle again but in a faster time than it took you previously. It could be fun to see if a jigsaw that previously took you a whole weekend might be finished in a single day or faster.
Idea 6: Create a Funny “Jigsaw Smash” Video
Finally, one more fun idea is to follow in the footsteps of X-Men star Hugh Jackman and create a hilarious video where you complete your jigsaw and then smash it in a Wolverine-like rage. OK, if you prefer the other Marvel movies/comics, then do it like Hulk. The Australian star carefully put the final piece of his Wentworth puzzle depicting Van Gogh’s Starry Night masterpiece, remarking how the puzzle had taken him four months to finish. Just seconds later, he was tearing it asunder, crying, and then declaring that “it feels good.”
Who knows? Perhaps there is some catharsis in completing and destroying jigsaw puzzles simultaneously. At any rate, there are several great ideas for you as to what you can do with your jigsaws when you’ve finished with them.
Bonus
Share your completed puzzles on a puzzle exchange!