How to Preserve a Puzzle?

Have you ever put a jigsaw puzzle together and decided it is too beautiful to take apart? Don’t take apart all your hard work, as you can preserve the jigsaw puzzle in order to create beautiful artwork.

The best way to preserve a puzzle for framing is to use puzzle glue. You can also use adhesive glue sheets. There are many puzzle types of glue, but our favorite puzzle glue is the popular Mod Podge Puzzle Saver. You just need Mod Podge and something, such as a putty knife, to apply it. You can also use a brush.

This tutorial on how to preserve a jigsaw puzzle covers two methods. The first is a simple glue formula (Mod Podge) you can use to stick the puzzle pieces together. The second uses adhesive glue sheets to preserve a puzzle. We will show you the process for preserving your jigsaw puzzles permanently.

It is no secret that jigsaw puzzles are an excellent hobby for all ages, providing many hours of fun, relaxation, and entertainment as you slowly assemble the colorful images. However, the fun does not need to end when the final piece is placed! Use either of these methods to preserve a puzzle.


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Using Puzzle Glue

The process is quite simple. Use the following steps.

1.       Place the completed puzzle on a large piece of paper face up (you do not want the puzzle glue to seep through the cracks on your work surface). On the other hand, you can slip sheets of wax paper under your finished puzzle. Remember that wax paper works better than newspaper or plastic in this case. This is because it is less likely to stick to your puzzle even if puzzle glue gets on your wax paper. 

2.       Now pour a little glue on your puzzle and spread with an applicator or putty knife so that there’s a thick even layer on the puzzle pieces. It is important to smooth out the glue. You do not want the glue to dry with any unsightly globs, so it is best to smooth out across the jigsaw puzzle. If there is any excess glue, wipe it with a paper towel or clean cloth. 

3.       Pour more puzzle glue as needed and carefully spread it all over your puzzle. 

4.       If the edges of the puzzle curl, there is no need to worry! Once the puzzle glue dries, you should carefully flip the jigsaw puzzle over and then apply a coat of glue to the back of your puzzle.  Make sure to cover all the areas that give you trouble.

5.       Now it is time to dry. Let it dry for 4 to 5 hours. And in between drying, you can loosen the edges of your puzzle pieces from the paper underneath. This will make sure that it does not get stuck to your puzzle. This way, you will have a nice and clean edge.

6.       Now carefully slide the wax paper out from under the puzzle. In case the wax paper sticks, it is best to slide a piece of cardstock or rubber scraper between it and your puzzle to separate the two.

7.       You can frame your puzzle.

Using Adhesive Glue Sheets

You may have heard of adhesive glue sheets. These are plastic sheets with a strong glue-like adhesive on one side that’s revealed once you remove the paper backing.

You can use these sheets to give extra support to hold your jigsaw puzzle pieces together! Note that they are less messy and untidy than using puzzle glue; however, applying them to your completed jigsaw puzzle will take some precision.

Unlike puzzle glue, you will have to apply adhesive glue sheets to the backside of your puzzle only. Since most people do not assemble their jigsaw puzzle upside down, you’ll need to carefully flip your finished puzzle over. One of the best ways to do this is with two large cardboard pieces or thin boards.

1.       First, carefully slide one piece of cardboard under your finished puzzle.

2.       After that, lay the second piece of cardboard on top of the puzzle, sandwiching it between. Carefully flip over the jigsaw puzzle and remove the two pieces of cardboard while holding the two cardboard pieces together.

3.       Depending on the dimension or size of the puzzle, you might want to ask your friend or a family member to help you with this step.

4.       Note that unless you are working on a miniature puzzle, it is likely you will need to use multiple adhesive sheets for this purpose.

5.       So, before you remove the paper backing, you should lay the adhesive sheets over the back of your puzzle to know how many sheets you’ll need. Don’t worry if the sheets overlap, but they shouldn’t extend over the edges of your puzzle.

6.       It is time to apply the first glue sheet. To do this, peel back a portion of the paper backing; however, don’t remove it completely. 

7.       After that, carefully line up the corner of the puzzle with the corner of the glue sheet and firmly press down the exposed part of the glue sheet.

8.       You have to keep the edges aligned and slowly and carefully remove the paper backing. It is important to smooth down the glue sheet as you remove any air bubbles.

9.       You can apply additional glue sheets and make sure to line up the edges of your jigsaw puzzle with the edges of the glue sheets. When you are done, smooth out all air bubbles before you flip your jigsaw puzzle back over. It’s ready for framing!


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