Christmas Puzzles

From LoveToKnow Christmas

Putting together Christmas puzzles is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Puzzles also make wonderful Christmas gifts for both the young and the young at heart.

Buying Christmas Puzzles

Most discount and department stores have puzzles available during the Christmas season. However, if you’re interested in buying Christmas puzzles online, check out the following links:

Photo Puzzles Make Great Christmas Gifts

Are you looking for a unique Christmas present for a serious puzzle lover? If so, consider purchasing a customized photo jigsaw puzzle. You can upload the photo of your choice to a printing service such as Shutterfly, then design a one-of-a-kind puzzle. For extra impact, use a favorite photo from a previous holiday celebration or add a fun message to your print using digital image-editing software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Tips for Putting Together a Jigsaw Puzzle

If you’re giving Christmas puzzles to someone who isn’t experienced in the art of assembling a jigsaw puzzle, it’s a good idea to include a few tips with your gift. This is especially important if your gift is for a child. Young children often become frustrated when working with puzzles for the first time.

To assemble a jigsaw puzzle:

  1. Before you begin, put all the pieces face up on a large table or puzzle mat.
  2. Assemble the edge and corner prices using the accompanying picture as a guide.
  3. Organize the inner pieces into coordinating color groups and assemble one by one. Remember that pieces which contain words or simple shapes are normally the easiest to assemble.
  4. Connect the smaller clusters into large groups, then attach the groups to the correct spots within the puzzle border.

Preserving Your Finished Puzzle

Although some people like to assemble their puzzles multiple times, others prefer to use their finished Christmas puzzles as part of their holiday décor. However, this requires that you seal and preserve your puzzle using a liquid adhesive designed for jigsaw puzzles. Hasbro Liquid Puzzle Saver Glue can generally be purchased wherever jigsaw puzzles are sold.

To preserve your finished puzzle:

  1. Place the assembled puzzle on top of a piece of thin plastic or waxed paper to prevent it from becoming accidentally glued to your table. If your puzzle has a metallic specialty finish, place the puzzle upside down so you are gluing the back of the puzzle.
  2. Apply a thin coat of glue to the entire surface of the puzzle, using a foam paintbrush. If you apply too much glue to the puzzle, the picture may start to peel off the pieces.
  3. Allow the glue to dry completely. Most puzzle glues take between two and four hours to completely bond with the surface.
  4. Add additional coats as necessary. For maximum durability, you’ll want to use at least three coats of puzzle glue.
  5. Insert your jigsaw puzzle into your frame to hang on your wall. If you can’t find a frame that is the correct size, your local craft store or frame shop should be able to provide information on custom framing and matting options.

 


Comments


Name:
Email:

Verification Code:      

Christmas

Sign up to get exclusive recipes, household tips, decorating ideas and more in regular email.



PRINT THIS PAGE

EMAIL TO FRIEND

You are here: LoveToKnow » Home, Garden & Events » Christmas » Christmas Gifts » Christmas Puzzles