How To Preserve A Jigsaw Puzzle?

Puzzles are fun! Jigsaw puzzles can be a great way to pass the time and have some quality family bonding. They're especially enjoyable if you opt for more challenging, 1000-piece puzzles or more that take hours on end.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to relax and let your mind focus on something else. When you have pieces that blend together, it is hard not to think about the puzzle because there is nothing else going on in your life. These activities can be an effective stress reliever if you need time away from other worries.

Preserving The Completed Puzzle

The most important part of solving a difficult jigsaw puzzle is preserving it. Kids like to solve the same one over and over again, but as they get older, puzzles become more challenging.

When you are trying to finish a large puzzle that may take days on end, you can't afford to redo it every time. You need some way of protecting your progress so that when life interrupts your hobby (like work or school), you don’t have to start from scratch.

So, how can you preserve the jigsaw puzzle you are working or worked so hard on? Here is how you can do it on your own:

Materials Required

• Jigsaw Puzzle
• Cardboard Boxes
• Wax Paper / Parchment Paper
• Mod Podge
• Foam Craft Brush
• Duct Tape
• Scissors

How To
Follow these steps to successfully preserve that 1000 piece puzzles you or your kids are working on:

1. Flatten the cardboard boxes and stick them to the surface. You will be solving the puzzle.
2. Stick these flattened boxes to the surface and ensure they don’t move.
3. Now layer the cardboard surface with wax paper or parchment paper. This will help prevent the pieces from sticking to the cardboard.
4. Now solve the puzzle over this surface. Alternatively, you can solve the puzzle on the cardboard surface by placing it on the floor and sticking it to the floor or table when you start the preservation process.
5. Apply mod podge with the craft brush over the front of the solved puzzle. Ensure you don’t use too much and spread it evenly all over the puzzle.
6. Let it dry for about 2 hours.
7. Touch lightly in random spots to ensure the glue is dry all over.
8. Now take another flattened cardboard box and place it over the puzzle. The puzzle must be sandwiched between the boxes.
9. Carefully and swiftly flip the puzzle. Ensure you hold the cardboards firmly to avoid the puzzle slipping through.
10. Use strips of duct tape to tape the entire backside. You can tape from side to side and cover the entire puzzle.
11. Next, add a few vertical strips of tape for extra reinforcement.
12. Your puzzle is all stuck and can be stored this way for years together.

Hang The Puzzle
If you want to hang your painting, and don't mind the look of multiple hanging strips on it, then go ahead. Just make sure that there are at least two sets so that when one strip fails from weight load or old age, the other set will be ready for action.

Frame The Puzzle
Framing a jigsaw puzzle is not only for the wall. You can also frame it in such a way that there are no visible pieces at all, and you won't have to worry about dust accumulation or fading colors.

Canvas
If you don't want to put in the effort of framing or hanging a puzzle, then it can be displayed on canvas. This way, when not being used, it can easily be stored away. Investing in a high-quality stand will make your collection more versatile as well.

Use Peel And Stick Pieces
If you're on a budget, but don't want to sacrifice quality or convenience, then peel and stick pieces are the way to go. They can be more expensive than duct tape (though they last longer), so make sure that this is what you need before purchasing them.

You will have to use a rolling pin to even out the sheets after you place them in the manner of your choice.

Tips For Preserving Your Jigsaw Puzzle
When you want to preserve jigsaw puzzle mats or an elaborate jigsaw puzzle, keep these tips in mind:

• Do not pour too much mod podge over the puzzle. You may want to ensure the pieces stick together for a long time, but too much of this solution may change the color of the puzzle. You might end up having spots of different shades on your puzzle.
• Always ensure the pieces are locked well before you can pour or apply the glue. If there are gaps between the pieces, they might come undone, or there might be too much glue once it dries.
• Assemble the puzzle on a cardboard or a stiff surface that you can move or carry. Do not try to shift the puzzle from the floor or table to the board after assembling.
• Use wax paper to facilitate sliding the puzzle easily. They will also prevent the puzzle from sticking on the board underneath when the mod podge dries or spills between the gaps and over the corners.
• Measure your completed puzzle before you go frame shopping. Take note of the thickness too. Choose a frame where the front glass won’t press hard against the puzzle.

Note the weight of your puzzle too. If you suspect the puzzle to be on the heavier side, add extra hooks for safety reasons.

Conclusion
Sorting through a huge jigsaw puzzle can be difficult. You put in hours and hours of work, so when you finish it off with the final piece, there's no way that you want to just dump everything back into its box right away. It would be much better if we could find some other use for these puzzles or do something to preserve them, so they don't get ruined.