Need a unique, custom gift for young kiddos? I did, which is how this project came about. I still needed a gift for my 3 year old niece, and I just couldn’t land on anything. Enter Pinterest, where I saw an adorable jigsaw puzzle idea by Lisa Spangler posted at Hero Arts.
Here is the inspiration puzzle…
Here is how I made mine.
- Using their stamped image as inspiration, I designed both sides of the puzzle in Photoshop and printed them on 8.5×11 inch white cardstock. I have provided the three images I made for this project, which you are free to use. I left the thought bubble shown on the second image blank for you to insert your own text. You can find them here: 1-Free puzzle printable side 1 2- Free puzzle printable side 2 3-Jigsaw tempate lines printable.
- .Using my cricut and the Jigsaw template (free download #3 above), I cut out the puzzle pieces from each image. I then cut a piece of cardboard (actually the flap on a 12×12 pad of scrapbook paper – a piece of cardstock or cereal box would work too) with the same cut file. This is to sandwich between each side of the puzzle for increase durability. You could adhere each image to a side of the cardstock, then cut the entire sandwich together if your die cut machine cuts deeply. I wasn’t sure if my cricut would cut it all the way through, plus I didn’t want to get the adhesive used to adhere the pages to get all over my cricut, so I cut all three individually.
- Next I ran each piece of puzzle cut from the images through my xyron machine to make a sticker, then adhered them each to the corresponding shape of cardstock inner layer. Keep the pieces from both sides of the puzzle in a separate stack and be aware of the orientation when you are adhering them to the cardstock so that everything matches up on the correct sides when you are finished.
- Finally, I coated each puzzle piece with Mod Podge, twice. Turn over and repeat for the other side once the first side is dry.
- Finally, I decorated a paper mache box to keep the puzzle in, with an image of each puzzle side on the lid to give the recipient a reference. This is a great time to bust out the glitter paint and go to town.
That is it! Cute cute cute custom handmade puzzle. I can’t wait to give this to my niece. Have you ever made a jigsaw puzzle? Other kid’s games by hand?
