How to Laminate a Puzzle

Some puzzles come with beautiful and classy pictures that make you want to put them on display. These types of puzzles can help you set a pretty ambiance for your room. In this case, you can laminate a puzzle to show off its eye-catching colors and appealing design.

You can laminate a puzzle by fixing the pieces together by creating a thin layer of glue on them. It’s best to create another layer of glue once the first one dries. To prevent the colors of the picture from fading, you can apply a high gloss sealer on the upper side of the puzzle. Once it dries, your puzzle is ready to be showcased on our bedroom wall.

If you don’t want to place your puzzle back in its box after spending hours putting each piece together, laminating your puzzle is the best option. The best part is that you can do this task without putting in much effort and time. Read more to learn how you can laminate puzzles of any size.

How to Laminate a Puzzle

Here are some steps that you need to follow to preserve a puzzle’s eye-catching and appealing picture. 

Place your Puzzle on a Flat Surface

The first and most important thing is to place your puzzle on a proper, flat, and clean surface. You can place it on a tabletop, but accidental spills of glue can damage it. The best approach is to keep your puzzle on the backer board. Or, you can use thin plywood, cardboard, or a foam board- whatever is available. 

So, slip your puzzle to the board, and position it carefully. Make sure that the puzzle lies in the center of the surface you have chosen. 

Turn Your Puzzle

To start working on the puzzle, you need to turn it over. In that case, take another piece of the backer board, cardboard, foam board, or plywood, and place it on the upper side of your puzzle. This way, your puzzle is sandwiched between two layers of board. You’ll have a bottom board layer, the puzzle in the middle, and the uppermost layer of the board. 

To make the process easy and accessible, you can use clothespins to close the edges of the sandwich tightly. Place at least four clothespins on all four edges. Now, it's time for the actual work. Tightly press the sandwich before flipping it so that your puzzle pieces don’t move out of place.

Once you are ready, flip your sandwich in a quick, swift movement. After that, place it back to your workstation and remove the uppermost board from your puzzle. Now, you’ll notice the back of your puzzle facing you.

Start Laminating Your Puzzles

Start applying the decoupage medium at the back of your puzzle. If you don’t have one, you can create your own glue by mixing the equal parts of water and craft glue. Some people also use puzzle glue, so if you can get your hands on it, go for it. 

Note that all these three options of glue work exceptionally well to secure puzzle pieces. Additionally, you need to create a thin layer of glue on each piece. Don’t forget to cover the edges, but avoid spilling the glue on the ground. 

Allow Your Puzzle to Dry

It's best to let your puzzle air-dry for a day, as it will help you apply another coat of glue in the next step. However, if you lack the patience to do so, you can wait for a few hours. After a couple of hours, check if the puzzle has dried before proceeding to the next step. 

Make another Layer of the Glue

When your puzzle dries, add another layer of glue to the puzzle. Again, this layer should be thin and cover all the pieces in your puzzle. After that, let the puzzle air dry. This time, it might take a bit longer to dry. Just make sure not to move your puzzle until it dries.

After the drying process, your puzzle should look like a firm, single piece. The pieces should not move, allowing you to get a hard, flat surface. 

Start Working for Picture

If you want to put your puzzle on display without covering the front, then you need to protect its colors. When laminating a puzzle, you also need to work on the display side of the puzzle. 

Now, it’s time to flip your puzzle again, so the front faces upwards. But this time, you don’t need to sandwich it between two boards. You can simply pick up your puzzle and turn it over, and place it again on the surface. This way, the picture side will face you. 

Coat the Picture

To prevent the colors from fading over time, you need to use a high gloss sealer. Depending on your preferences, you can also use a decoupage medium, which is a bit different material from the matte version. This will give the picture a shiny and catchy look, and the glue won’t be too noticeable either. 

So, coat a nice thin layer of any of the above-mentioned materials on your puzzle. Besides that, you also need to allow the puzzle to dry. If you don’t wait for it and something pointy scratches the surface, it can damage the colors on your puzzle. In the end, your puzzle is ready to be put on display. You can then tell all your friends about how challenging it was to solve the puzzle. 

Display your Puzzle

There are several ways to display your puzzle. When you laminate a puzzle, you can simply place it on your bedside table to showcase it. 

If you want to protect your puzzle from damage, you can simply frame it and place it on the wall. People who don’t like frames can mount the puzzle without it. In this case, you need to stick your laminated puzzle on cardboard and place double-sided tape on its back. Then, mount your board on the wall with the help of the tape. 

You can also create holes in the cardboard and pass a wire through it. The wires can help you hang your puzzle on a nail in the wall.