How to Make Jigsaw Puzzles
A jigsaw puzzle is a puzzle made up of various pieces that when put together form a pattern or picture. Jigsaw puzzles have been a popular form of entertainment for many years. A jigsaw puzzle can range from a simple toy designed to help small children learn pattern recognition to more elaborate structures designed to offer a challenge even to well-educated adults. You can make your own jigsaw puzzle at home with a few simple materials.
Instructions
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Make a prototype. Draw the design on a piece of plastic or see-through paper with a pencil or black marker. Use a pair of scissors after you're finished to see if you can cut the pieces out easily. Put the puzzle pieces back together. Copy out the design you are using to a second piece of plastic or see-through paper.
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Glue a picture on a piece of cardboard. The picture does not have to be perfectly centered on the cardboard. You can use any kind of cardboard you want. Thicker cardboard such as oak tag will be a little bit harder to work with but will result in a sturdier finished product. The picture you choose can be anything you like. Using pictures with lots of detail works well with puzzles with small pieces. Bold graphic repeating designs work well with larger pieces.
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3
Cut off any excessive cardboard edges from the picture on the cardboard. Then smooth out the picture on the cardboard with a roller or other rounded edge several times. This action should get rid of any air bubbles. Let the finished product dry for at least an hour.
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4
Place the prototype puzzle design on top of the picture. Follow the prepared lines on the prototype and cut out the pieces of the puzzle from the cardboard very carefully. Small scissors work best for this kind of detailed cutting. The scissors you use should be sharp and easy to hold in your hand.
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Add a coat of shellac to the puzzle pieces and let dry for at least an hour. The coating of shellac will help preserve the puzzle pieces and make your creation last longer.
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