Puzzle Hobby Tips And Tricks by Puzzle Hobby Magazine

There is more to jigsaw puzzles than pieces. I know, because I wrote the book!

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JIGSAW PUZZLES TIPS & TRICKS EDITOR Linda Richard ASSOCIATE EDITOR Judithlynn Krusky CONTRIBUTORS Jamie Lane Mats ByAllison Trays Puzzle Peaks Stands Ceaco Scoop Arte-et-Marte-Puzzles

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info.puzzlehobby@gmail.com www.puzzlehobby.com

Puzzling should be fun and easy...unless you want the challenge. Inside this magazine are various tips, tricks and ideas you may not of thought about. We strive to cover every possible topic and angle so if we have missed a tip, we would love for you to share it with us. We want to thank all our Contributors and Sponsors who provided us with their products for review. Please send your tips or suggestions to: info.puzzlehobby@gmail.com

JIGSAW PUZZLES TIPS & TRICKS Table of contents Page 6

Keynotes About Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 8

Benefits Of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 11

For Newbies - Choosing a Puzzle

Page 13

Puzzle Piece Sizes | Puzzle Total Size In Measurements

Page 15

Sorting Or Raking The Pieces

Page 16

Counting Pieces Does Not Confirm All The Pieces Are There

Page 18

Difficult Images - Spot Them Before You Buy Them

Page 19

Used Or Previously Loved Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 23

Tips And Tricks Generally Speaking

Page 26

Dust, Mould, Smells, Pet Fur, Musty Puzzle Pieces

Page 29

Great Ideas For Boards

Page 31

4 Accessories To Improve Your Puzzling Experience

Page 33

Accessory 1 - Trays Review

Page 35

Accessory 2 - Mats Review

Page 37

Accessory 3 - Puzzle Lid Stands Review

Page 40

Accessory 4 - Puzzle Scoop Review

Page 41

Puzzle Company Brands - Rated

Page 45

DIY Lid Stand - Download Template

Page 46

Puzzle Lighting Is So Important

JIGSAW PUZZLES TIPS & TRICKS Table of contents Page 48

Tables For Sitting And Standing

Page 50

How To Replace Missing Pieces

Page 53

How To Glue A Puzzle Or No Glue Method

Page 56

Frames Hanging It On The Wall

Page 57

How, Where To Store Completed Puzzles

Page 59

Shaped Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 60

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 63

Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 67

Wasgij Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 68

Colour-Me Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 69

Funky Borders Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 70

Stereogram Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 72

3D Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 75

Artists Who License Their Work

Page 79

Books About Jigsaw Puzzles

Page 81

Record Tracking Book

Page 84

Free Tracking Sheet Ideas

Page 85

Merchant Design Collection Of Products

Page 88 Puzzle Hobby Directory

JIGSAW PUZZLE KEYNOTES Know these basics first thing There are NO rules, right or wrong ways to do jigsaw puzzles. What some puzzlers consider cheating others consider 'assembling smarter'. It is possible that all puzzles 'could' be missing a piece and you will never know IF all the pieces are there unless you assemble it yourself. I say that because I have experienced brand new sealed puzzles with missing pieces more than 3 times. It happens at the factory level. Contact the puzzle company to see if they offer replacement puzzles or pieces as many companies do provide that service. It's ok to use the picture on the box or the numbers/letters on the back of the puzzle pieces. The purpose of the numbers on the back of the puzzle pieces is so more puzzlers will enjoy doing the puzzle without getting frustrated. IF you are not enjoying the time you spend doing your current jigsaw puzzle leave it uncompleted and move on to a different one. There are just too many good puzzle images out there to enjoy and there are many images out there that are not suitable for every one. Happy puzzling, The Puzzle Hobby Team

Section One Benefits General info

Benefits of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles First of all – this must be mentioned: Disclaimer here - I am not a Doctor. The following is based on information gathering only and is no way to be intended for any type of medical or mental well being advice in a professional manner. We hear about the benefits of doing jigsaw puzzles but let's talk about them. First, we know a good portion of puzzlers tend to be the retired sector and usually that comes along with physical health conditions such as sore, arthritic hands, development of poor vision, perhaps ergonomic related situations. All of which take a toll on day to day activities. Now, the people that know say ‘sitting is the new smoking’ yet the majority of puzzlers are sitting to do them. We would like to suggest that it would be in your best interest, if possible, for you to stand to do your puzzles. But it will be important that your table height is the correct level for you. So we suggest using table ‘risers’ to match the correct level for you while you are standing on a good solid mat under your feet with comfortable shoes or slippers. I have found it to make a world of difference to puzzle in these circumstances so I hope you will find a way to accommodate yourself in the same way. Now let's talk about how jigsaw puzzles may help the left and right brain. I am a huge fan of mental wellness and have done jigsaw puzzles throughout my life. During my own life span, I too have needed to find ways to de-stress, unwind and relax. And there was not always endless hours or space to do jigsaw puzzles so I had to find other ways. During my research I have discovered the following information on how our brain works and how it applies to working jigsaw puzzles…..it’s interesting….ok, so check this out……

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Benefits of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles I have discovered our mind has two separate hemispheres or lobes called right and left-brain which you have probably already heard of. Each side does different functions. They say Right side brain deals with emotions and performs tasks like mental and social factors. Then they say the Left side brain functions in language and movements. Using both the sides of the brain is like brain exercise and this is where jigsaw puzzling helps you to exercise BOTH sides of your brain. Here’s briefly how it works (I’ve been ‘schooled’ on this). They say the left brain does the thinking, likes to make the lists and be organized. Then the right brain takes care of the creativity and emotions. Now look at the jigsaw puzzle - the left brain likes to organize the loose pieces into their respective positions and the right brain sees the creativity of the puzzle image unfold right in front of our eyes, caressing our emotions with enthusiasm and a sense of achievement and accomplishment. You will not notice your left and right brain cells actively working together at the same time but the continuous activity of thoughts in the brain that involves ALL the cells of the brain actually increases the brain's capacity, so the Experts say. Research and studies are constantly being produced showing how doing jigsaw puzzles (for the brain) and maintaining a fully active lifestyle (for the body) may gain you a longer lifespan and reduce or delay future long term old age problems such as Alzheimer’s, memory loss and/or dementia. Now this is important! Our brain produces dopamine, which gives us the capacity to learn and maintain our memory level. That said, while solving a jigsaw puzzle the brain increases the production of dopamine - it’s like watering your own brain seeds….the jigsaw puzzle being the ‘water’ and the brain cells being the ‘seeds’.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Benefits of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles So when you're having fun, these brain cells are more active. That means they release a lot of dopamine and your brain judges that less time has passed than actually has. Therefore you may find yourself wondering, “how come the time flies by so fast when I’m puzzling?” Now you have your answer. It’s another one of the important benefits to puzzling especially if you are in a situation where your time needs to be filled due to certain circumstances. And there’s more benefits! First, talk about increasing our concentration or keeping us alert! BUT - don’t forget the visualization. Doing the constant focus of the next piece to create the bigger picture provides us with a high level of mental activity which in turn rewards us in the form of physical health by lowering our breathing, reducing our heart rate and decreasing our blood pressure - which is kind of a form of meditation in itself. You can reap these benefits by doing jigsaw puzzles on a daily basis even if it is for only a half hour. It will give your brain a well deserved break from the chaos spinning in your mind/life. It may help increase and/or maintain your memory levels, it may improve how your brain functions and may assist in decreasing your daily stress levels. Like meditation, it takes some time to recognize the changes in how you feel by doing jigsaw puzzles but in my opinion, not as long as meditation does. That’s why I like ‘quick-fix’ jigsaw puzzles. And lastly, here’s my tip to you……DO BOTH!……a daily solid half hour of meditation and another daily solid half hour of jigsaw puzzling is THE best NATURAL solution that has proved to provide THE most positive results for me……. ps….the jigsaw puzzling usually does not end in a half hour either.....just sayin'......

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PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Choosing a Puzzle Which Puzzle brand to choose? These days there is a plethora of jigsaw puzzle brands to choose from - so many in fact that you would definitely be surprised. Chances are pretty slim that you will pay top dollar for a lower level brand puzzle. Rather than name brands, here's a breakdown of what's out there to help you decide. Expensive jigsaw puzzles overall good quality fast shipping ship in a solid box pieces sealed in bag the board pieces are cleanly cut with very little puzzle dust poster included some include glue with instruction instruction pamphlet if there are extra details involved in assembly Medium priced puzzles overall quality is acceptable to the majority of puzzlers the puzzle box ranges in 'good' pieces are sometimes not sealed in a plastic bag some pieces may be uncut and still joined together some pieces may come bent there could be puzzle dust due to poor cuts Low priced puzzles the box is made of lower grade cardboard the pieces are not likely sealed in the bag the pieces are usually cut on thin board there is puzzle dust due to poor cuts

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces Puzzle piece descriptions All I can say is - massive variety! There is such an array of different jigsaw puzzle pieces in the world. Not often we stop and think about it but I have. It’s quite the variety once you see it on a list. thick thin almost paper thin small micro small medium large extra large whimsies random glitter foil velvet cork scratch’n sniff glow in the dark wood plastic glass (yes glass) recycled board and standard board pieces have been known to be called ‘bits’ puzzles have be known to be ‘armed’ or a ‘ride’ cut fit - loose tight fit taut fit don’t forget digital pieces for the online

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Sizes This article will reference the size of the pieces AND the sizes of jigsaw puzzles with respect to measurements in inches. For example, the size of the assembled image is 20” by 30”. When you ask the puzzle size, do you mean how many pieces or what is the measurement of the jigsaw puzzle? This is SO common.....kinda like waiting for the turkey to 'unthaw' Fear not though....there is no golden rule around this. It just needs further clarification. And, both issues are required when you are looking at the size of your new jigsaw puzzle. So just to be clear this is how we will discuss the 'size' issue here; Pieces • number of pieces per jigsaw puzzle • size of the cut pieces in the puzzle Measurement • total size of the image in inches or cm once it is assembled Pieces Stay with me here... 1. The number of pieces is sometimes associated with the ‘size’ of the jigsaw puzzle. For example; the question is often asked, “What size is it?” and the answer may be, “it is 1000 pieces”. The number of pieces may also determine the physical size of the puzzle. Ideally a 2000 piece puzzle is going to measure larger than 1000 pieces and a 3000 piece will be larger than a 2000 piece. 2. But those are not hard stone-cold facts because the actual physical size of the puzzle is going to depend on the size of each jigsaw puzzle piece. I’ve got a World’s Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle with 1000 pieces and the total physical size is 11.25" x 16.75" which is much smaller than most regular 1000 pieces by measurement which are approximately 20” x 30”.....but then look at the size of the pieces.... I must mention here that some of the 'random' cut puzzle pieces can be quite tiny too.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Sizes This might be a good time to mention a very general guide (stated loosely) for children’s age groups when purchasing jigsaw puzzles but it is not limited to these numbers because some children develop differently than others. Of course that does not mean as an adult you cannot do these, as I have been known quite often to assemble them :) Child Number of Pieces Ages 2 - 3 4 to 12 Pieces Ages 3 - 5 12 to 50 Pieces Ages 5 - 6 50 to 100 Pieces Ages 6 - 7 100 to 200 Pieces Ages 7 - 8 200 Pieces Ages 8 - 10 300 Pieces Ages 12+ 500+ Piece Measurement Families most often do 500 pieces and adults most often do 1000 pieces. There seems to be an ongoing ‘World’s Largest’ competition and almost every year a different company is producing a ‘new’ jigsaw puzzle with more ‘number of pieces’ and larger physical measurements. The first thing I do before I even open the box is look for the jigsaw puzzle measurements. Then I locate the correct size of board I am going to use. It's good to keep a supply of different sizes in your accessories. When you look at the M.C. Escher mini-wooden 100 pieces jigsaw puzzle on the website, the pieces are so tiny I used the tweezers to assist with assembly. The overall size of the assembled puzzle is approximately 2" x 3" in measurements. Basically you could say the only way to determine the 'measurements' is to read what the company has stated on the box. Currently the 'World's Largest' (2020) is the Kodak which is made up of 51,300 pieces and stretches to 28.5 ft x 6.25 ft. when complete. The puzzle consists of 27 separate images from "wonders of the world," such as the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, the New York City skyline, and the Taj Mahal. The 27 individual jigsaw puzzles then join together to form "one giant puzzle." Personally, my largest is the Ravensburger New York City Window at 32,240 pieces in 8 bags. It measures 544cm x 192cm (214 in. x 76 in.). So to sum it up, just be mindful when you are choosing your puzzle. The number of pieces does not always give a clear measurement of the physical size of the assembled puzzle image ~ look carefully especially if your puzzle area is limited. 14

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Sorting or Raking Pieces The definition of a Dissectologist is a person who enjoys jigsaw puzzle assembly. And the ‘assembly’ is the most favourite part - the sorting, not so much. That brings us to our topic of discussion here. I have heard puzzlers say they ‘hate’ sorting - that’s unfortunate because it brings negativity to the puzzling experience. Some just dislike it, while others tolerate it. Some tend to do extreme sorting and some manage to assemble 3 to 4000 piece puzzles merely by raking their hands through ALL those pieces. Which one are you? A sorter or a raker? I used to be a ‘raker’ and now for the life of me I can’t even imagine not sorting all the pieces. I must have spent endless hours raking through the box looking for pieces. My Hubby would just look at me in despair and say, “why don’t you just lay them all out so you can see them much easier and pick out the ones you need?”. I soon started to lean towards that way as he was occasionally joining me to assemble a puzzle. And I wanted him to keep joining me so I felt if I laid the pieces out for him he would not lose interest in doing puzzles with me. Even though he was not very good at doing them - it was his company I enjoyed. But that also got me addicted to doing extensive sorting. Now I sort 4000+ pieces according to colours/shades and lay them onto the white foam boards. Each foam board takes an average of 500 pieces so that also gives me a gage as to how many pieces I have left to assemble on a given puzzle. I am not a fast puzzler either. I can do an average of 100 pieces per hour IF the image it not complex. My fastest speed on a 1000 piece puzzle is about 6 hours on the Brand Cloudberries, titled Pixels and its size is (approx.) 27" x 19". Even with all my years of puzzling I have never really increased in speed, per say in the time it takes to do the actual assembly. I’ve gotten faster at sorting though ;)

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

How to Count Puzzle Pieces First thing - the cut will determine how many pieces are in a puzzle. The person who designed the cutting pattern grid or the company/manufacturer who chooses the cutting pattern grid will know how many pieces are in the puzzle. Most boxes say approximately 1000 pieces or 500 pieces, etc. so it does not mean there are exactly that many pieces in the puzzle. Note they sometimes use the word 'approximately’ on the box but not always. Some companies tend to ‘round up’ or ‘round down’ the number. The box on the New York City Window states 32,000 pieces but the details in the pamphlet states 32,256 pieces. That’s a pretty big number of pieces that is not recognized as countable pieces at first glance. And that situation is not uncommon for a lot of puzzles. Now random cut puzzles are somewhat unpredictable when it comes to the ‘approximate’ number of pieces in a puzzle. The random cuts can vary from pretty small pieces to larger ‘chunky’ pieces. That makes it quite difficult to get a count unless you actually count it manually. Then there are the ‘graduated’ cut puzzles. These are used mostly for ‘family’ puzzles. By graduated pieces, it means there are quite large pieces (say) on the right side and the pieces gradually get smaller on the left side. The idea is to make the puzzle user friendly for families where the younger children can assemble the right side using the big pieces and the adults can assemble the smaller pieces on the left side. We should also mention wood cut pieces. Now, more often these days, we see wooden puzzles with many random cuts making it difficult to get a count on puzzles. So since the puzzle ‘tiles’ are cut with ‘whimsies’ it makes the cuts difficult to determine and the image is usually based on approximate pieces. You may not have heard of pieces cut like cattails. Now these are really interesting to assemble as they are about as far out of puzzle shape pieces I have ever seen that relates to a jigsaw puzzle. They are referred to as long curly interlocking pieces.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

How to Count Puzzle Pieces Since the re-boom of jigsaw puzzles in 2020, the demand for creativity generally speaking about puzzles, has become a HUGE competition and the count/shapes of pieces is just one part of that competition. So...you've searched the internet for the exact number of pieces or contacted the Company to ask exactly how many pieces or your puzzle does not fit into the calculations shared above and you still do not have the answer - what do you do? There really is only one answer. Physically do the jigsaw puzzle yourself. That will accomplish 2 things. One, you get an accurate count and 2, you will know IF there are any missing pieces - cause even the Company, manufacturer or the pattern cut designer cannot know IF there is a piece missing, right? And to assist you with counting your pieces while you are assembling it, use a handy counting tool that is simply worn on your finger. Use a click for every piece you put into the correct place. It makes counting pieces a whole lot more fun!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Difficult Jigsaw Puzzles There are such things as the ‘most difficult’ jigsaw puzzles or some are known as Impossibles. So far I have completed one but I have about 4 or 5 in my hobby collection to complete. Besides being 'labeled' as most difficult there are also certain images that will actually be more difficult than the labeled ones. Sometimes what appears to be an easy image can surprise you with a level of difficulty. We often hear “that was harder than I thought it would be’ and sometimes we hear “that was easier than I thought it would be’. In the latter case we are usually pleasantly surprised. But do not forget the style-cut of the pieces either as that can also make a difference. Here are some traits to be aware of to avoid difficult images; dark shades repetitive images very few colour blends one solid colour in large sections with grid-like cut pieces solid colour borders and/or with lines pieces that 'butt' up to the next one (no tips) really extreme cuts that are repetitive and/or very tiny pieces letters of various fonts against dark colours on the image photomosaics (tiny images that form large image) image is different from picture on the box brush strokes on painted images and/or blurred brush strokes grainy-look to puzzle pieces lenticular (3D) image changes when it is moved foil or sheen on images On the website there are images of what I consider to be challenging types and certainly not to be attempted by someone who is new to starting a jigsaw puzzle hobby unless they really like a challenge.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Buying Used Puzzles 1. Online Stores like eBay and Amazon - be sure to shop around. Some prices are outrageous. Also if it is a "Bid" puzzle purchase then wait till right near the end to place your 'bid' then you know for sure IF you want to pay that price. 2. When buying online, be mindful where you live. What are the shipping costs? Is there import fees at borders? Does your credit card charge extra fees for converting foreign exchange currency? 3. For Amazon, know the difference between a company that sells through Amazon or a private individual who is selling their used puzzles - they do not qualify for Amazon free shipping and may take much longer to deliver and require additional fees. 4. Learn how the refund policies and disputes work for major online stores. ‘Timing’ policies for a refund are tricky. 5. For private sellers on Facebook, Facebook Groups or Swap Facebook 'Pages' - be sure to discuss a refund with the Seller before purchasing in case the parcel gets lost or stolen or delivered to the wrong address (it happens!) 6. Local Thrift Stores and Charity shops often have 50% off sales certain days of the month - ask about it. Sometimes certain colour price stickers have a bonus percentage off that day. Or if you are Senior, check to see if the Shop offers a senior discounts and on which day. 7. Look for local ADs like CraigsList or kijiji and also check local online newspapers in the Classified ADs section. 8. Check local Antique Market and/or Stores. 9. Don't forget your own family members or friends who may have some puzzle tucked away they received for gifts and will never do them. 10. Also, finding a neighbourhood garage sale could turn into a new neighbourhood 'swap puzzle pal.'

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Buying Used Puzzles The internet has made the world so much smaller because now we can buy puzzles online or offline at brick and mortar stores. That means, IF you are willing to pay the ‘puzzle-piper’ you can likely manage to get a puzzle from as far away as the other side of the world. We ‘note’ how wonderful puzzle images are over there but they say the same thing about our Western puzzle images over here. Where can you buy previously loved, very low priced, used jigsaw puzzles? Here's some ideas that won't break your budget and some even lower than the price of coffee. eBay - used jigsaw puzzles Local Thrift Stores Amazon - reseller jigsaw puzzles Local Charity stores Facebook Groups or Pages Local Garage Sales Facebook Personal Pages Local Car Boot Sales Facebook Swap Exchanges Pages Local newspaper classified ADs Online "CraigsList" or "kijiji" Local AD websites "CraigsList" or "Kijiji" Family, friends, neighbourhood swap Antique Market/stores Buying Previously Loved Puzzles Sometimes it's worth it to purchase used jigsaw puzzles. However the jigsaw puzzle companies may not think so ;) ....however at Puzzlehobby.com we do review them and circulate the review among the social media so perhaps its a fair tradeoff? If you are going to buy jigsaw puzzles at a Thrift store, Charity store, garage sales or yard sales here's a few little tips for you to reduce buying the ones that may have missing pieces; inspect the box buy only taped/sealed boxes watch for slits/cracks/tears along the edges and bottom of boxes shake the box - if the pieces are loose the risk is bigger buy the ones where the pieces are stored in a zipped/lock or sealed bag inside buy on the 50% off days or 10% off Senior Days

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Buying Used Puzzles To take the " 50% off days" a step further, I did this once. The night before the day of the 50% off sale, I went into that Thrift store near closing time. I scanned the puzzle on the shelves and lined up the puzzles I would purchase the next morning at 50% off. First thing the next morning I was there at the opening moment and went directly to my selection with my shopping cart. They were all there so I simply loaded them in the cart plus I bought even more......THAT's how my hobby collection began growing. The best 'previously-loved' jigsaw puzzle to buy will be the new-sealed packages or ones that have the box taped and/or the puzzle pieces are sealed inside a bag in the box. That usually means the previous owner was respectful of the hobby and hoping the next hobbyist will be too. Sometimes I will take a real chance on buying a jigsaw puzzle at the Thrift store simply because I want it for my collection. I have to admit that I have been extremely lucky at buying used ones with only 2 having a missing piece so far (as I have so many to assemble yet). But I have also seen/heard of many others who have bought them with 1 or more pieces missing. Some have mentioned smoke-smells, mould-smells or pet hairs. There is a discussion about that in a future Article. It all boils down to how much of a risk-taker you are willing to be. If you are lucky enough to live near Thrift stores that do sell jigsaw puzzles at low prices AND you do many puzzles then the occasional missing piece is not going to bother you too much. However there are puzzlers who just plain out refuse to buy from Thrift stores because the whole idea of missing pieces does not sit well with them. Fair enough, but I have opened sealed jigsaw puzzles and have had 2 pieces missing. I have also heard numerous situations with many other puzzlers…..it’s a risky business indeed!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Section Two Tips Tricks

Tips and Tricks The Jigsaw Puzzle Board You may choose to use the felt cloth boards laid onto a table large enough for your puzzle. I suggest finding a way to mount it securely and tightly to the table. I realize that takes away from the 'easy-to-move' idea but I found the loose felt cloth NOT to lay flat and using light jigsaw puzzle pieces tended to lift the sections. I discovered art foam boards at the 'dollar' type stores. They measure 20” x 30” which is a really good size for most puzzles 1000 pieces and under. Also I took a second foam board and cut to fit the two outside edges increasing the board to 30x50". I used the leftover pieces to double the seam at the back using clear packing tape. Other Tips You may discover this as you get into puzzling; Some puzzles come with colour codes and/or have letters on the back to assist with assembly. It’s rare, but I have done a puzzle that has a poster the exact same size as the puzzle so the puzzle could be assembled right on top of the poster. I’ll have you know it was an extremely difficult image to assemble. You can search Cadbury Gift on the internet and see it is a delicious coloured candy puzzle image. Regardless of how difficult your puzzle image is, there is no right way or wrong way to do puzzles as it is the end goal that achieves the accomplishment, not how you got there. Not all puzzlers will agree with that concept but since there are no rules, it becomes a matter of opinion. Extra Large Pieces - Graduated Pieces Do you prefer jigsaw puzzles with extra large pieces? They are very popular for Seniors with terrific images! I enjoy doing these as quick fix jigsaw puzzles in between larger and more challenging images. Someday I may have a majority of these extra large pieces in my collection. Just because the size is extra large pieces on some puzzles, they are not intended for children as the images are more for adults.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Tips and Tricks There are no rules to assemble jigsaw puzzles. Just basically open the box, dump the pieces onto a table and start putting the pieces together. If you would like ideas for some strategies read on… Layout your puzzle board or felt cloth onto a table large enough for your puzzle. You may choose to use a nice sheet size of Teflon (similar to plexiglass but plastic), then lay the felt down on top of that. Open your puzzle box with a knife, scissors or letter opener if it is sealed around the back edges or taped. Start with the border. Round one of sorting. Leave all the pieces in the bottom of the box and start going through the pile. Taking a small handful at a time, remove all the flat edges first. As you are removing the flat-edged pieces, lay the flat edge pieces (always face up) onto the puzzle board in the general area by following the picture as seen on the jigsaw puzzle cover box that is standing up on its side or leaning up against an object. If the pieces don't have a flat edge, set them into a pile in the middle of your puzzle board. This may seem like a tedious task but as you are viewing through all of the pieces, your mind is also becoming aware of the pictures of the other pieces it sees and this will help you as you work further towards the puzzle’s completion. Once you have sifted through the entire box of puzzle pieces it's time to put all the non flat-edge pieces back into the bottom part of the box. Now it is time to assemble the flat edge border pieces into place using the picture on the box as a guide. This is likely to be the easiest part of the entire puzzle, but it can be a challenge in areas where the large sections of the border are the same colour or pattern. Here’s a little tip for that; Make 4 different piles of the pieces that are giving you a challenge. lay out all the pieces where both sides have connecting tabs lay out all the pieces where both sides are without connecting tabs lay out all the pieces where the right side is a connecting tab - left side not lay out all the pieces where the left side is a connecting tab - right side not etc…… Now take one piece and find how it would connect with one of these piles to find it's joining pair-piece and/or the pieces already in place on the border. Do a ‘feel’ fit. 24

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Tips and Tricks Sort the biggest objects first Round two of sorting. (Note: this can also be done during Round one as well.) Take the pieces from the bottom of the box and proceed to go through each piece, this time looking for ones that contain the pictures of the biggest objects and/or colour area. Place the ‘big object’ piles or similar colour pieces into the centre of the board and the other similar pieces into separate containers or loosely in areas of the bottom of the box . You can assemble your object inside the border and place it near the position in which it belongs as you see it on the jigsaw puzzle picture. Colour and object search During round two of sorting, you may choose to place other similar colours or objects into separate piles and place them into plastic baggies for ‘safe’ keeping them in the bottom box. That way they can remain sorted and ready for use when the time comes. There is no need to be 100% accurate at any time you are sorting, as you know, eventually all the pieces will literally fall into place. Finishing touches Depending on your photo-picture you are working on, by the end of step 4, you are either going to have almost finished the puzzle and have a bunch of ‘odds and ends’ type pieces left. These pieces are the ‘filler pieces’. Usually these are the solid colours behind the objects or the shadows in the background. This is sometimes the most discouraging part of doing the puzzle. But also, the fact that your puzzle is almost complete provides you with enough incentive to complete the puzzle. Try some of the following tips; Study the picture closely under natural light or Daylight bulbs - headlamps and magnifying glasses are also helpful tools. Try to rotate each piece into the empty gaps to get a ‘lucky’ connection Each connection may show you the shape for the next one that is the right one Use the ‘4-tab connection’ method above by placing similar-shaped pieces into the same pile. For easier comparison, place pieces into rows of 8 -10 pieces with the next row closely under it. Use the ‘process of elimination’, trying each piece into one space continuously until it fits. With these steps most 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles can usually be completed in about 10-12 hours which is an enjoyable, relaxing and flexible brain workout.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Dust, Smoke, Mould, Pet Fur and Other Debris What’s inside the box? Buying previously loved jigsaw puzzles can be hazardous with all kinds of contaminants so one must be mindful when opening that box! For the majority of the time, the prognosis is pretty good however, there are occasions when the inside condition leaves very little to be desired. Jigsaw puzzles last for years and are prone to all kinds of elements from musty storage smells in attics to musky moist smells in basements or garages. Some get swollen from moisture, some get greasy from food and some have an extreme amount of puzzle dust inside the bag or box. That’s due to the pieces actually breaking down. You may also find other foreign objects like pieces of food, a tiny toy figurine, stamps, pet fur. These items and smells can lead to some real allergic triggers! Jigsaw Puzzlers have some tips here to help you deal with puzzle dust and smokey, mouldy smelling jigsaw puzzles. Puzzle Dust · Place the puzzle pieces into a large strainer, the type with the wire mesh and sift the pieces either outside or over the garbage · Put the puzzle piece into a laundry garment bag that has the holes and shake well over the garbage bin or outside · Use a hand held mini-vac to clean up puzzle area and/or puzzle dust inside the puzzle box · If there is a lot of dust, a mask should be worn Musty, Musky Scents Here are some of the Jigsaw Puzzler's tips and tricks but keep in mind that it really is going to depend on the strength of the scent and whether it is embedded into the puzzle piece board or just surface smells due to the gloss on the pieces. However, IF you are allergic, then it may be in your best 'health' interests to not attempt to resolve the issue and move on to a different puzzle. Try some of the tips if your jigsaw puzzle pieces have any of the following situations: Color ink scent Cigarette smoke Mould or mildew smells Burnt smoke Damp puzzle pieces

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Dust, Smoke, Mould, Pet Fur and Other Debris Try this: 1. Let the boxes sit open and air out preferably in direct contact with a fan 2. Try putting a few dryer sheets in the puzzle box to see if it takes the smell away 3. Try baking soda on a paper towel set inside the box 4. Put the puzzle piece into a ziploc bag first, then added the dryer sheets. 5. Spray some Febreeze on a paper towel, then put in a ziploc bag 6. Get empty tea bags and put baking soda inside. Seal them up, keep them in the puzzle box. It will absorb any scent over time 7. Odor absorbing Charcoal 8. Try the Febreeze powder 9. Newspapers absorb odor For MOISTURE Put the puzzle pieces into a microwave oven along with a cup of water. Microwave for a few seconds. Stir the pieces. Repeat until the pieces are very warm. This will remove a lot of moisture and smell. Use a large box or plastic container. Place the pieces in there with a tray of baking soda, cat litter, or charcoal briquettes. Leave the pieces in there for a couple of days and the smell should be gone. Put dryer sheets inside a vacuum Ziploc bag and pump out all air. Leave for 24 hours. Try sprinkling with baking soda, seal it in a Ziploc, and leave it a day or two. Then sift puzzle pieces through a strainer or laundry bag with holes outside to remove the baking soda. In a large paper bag put a layer of odor-eliminator Charcoal then, lay two sheets of typing paper, then the puzzle pieces and fold over top. Wait 5 days before opening. Use "sawdust cloth" on really dusty pieces. They're slightly sticky wipes designed to pick up fine sawdust. Available at hardware stores. Pet Fur or Other Debris Now for puzzles that may contain pet fur or other types of debris such as pieces of food etc. (you may want to discard immediately if you are allergic) instantly put on the gloves before touching. Pick the pieces out and place into another box. Clean the box with a Hand-vac or slightly moist hypo allogenic cloth. Air the box out in front of the direct path of a fan until completely dried. Clean the puzzle pieces (depending on the condition of the pieces) using any of the above methods. Layout all the pieces flat onto puzzle boards and allow to completely air dry in the direct path of a fan PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Section Three Accessories Mats Trays Stands Scoop

Jigsaw Puzzle Boards and Mats So as mentioned previously, I use foam boards for the majority of puzzling. However, puzzles are not all standard in size. But a good portion of puzzles are, approximately 20” by 30”, which is basically the same size as foam poster boards. That surely makes them convenient and the boards are very lightweight. Now if you need a board that is bigger than one board, you can easily cut and adjust to a bigger size foam board. Cut the foam boards to the size you would like or require and simply use a solid wide packing tape on the front and back.So if you discover that your puzzle is 40” x 50”, you would need at least two foam boards to custom cut that size. Depending on how many cuts it takes you to customize your puzzle board size, you would lay it out flat and use the wide clear (or something similar to clear) packing tape to tape the front and back seams of the pieces you are joining together. Once that is assembled together you can use door insulation foam tape around the outer edge of your customized cut board to prevent pieces from sliding off. Be gentle moving your new custom board so it does not bend. Some creativity may be required to locate a jigsaw puzzle board that would be user-friendly. Here are some ideas that can be used for jigsaw puzzle boards. Large foil baking trays have edges Picture frames with or without the glass but has the backboard still available School Bulletin boards made of cork usually have an outer edge School Whiteboards usually have an outer edge around it Plexiglass (hard plastic) with foam insulation around the outer edge Large appliance boxes with door foam insulation on the edge Cloth mats To board or not to board…or just use a cloth mat? What works better? To answer that I just have to look at what I have been doing constantly for the past 10 years to determine what works for me. I use foam boards. I tried the cloth mats and I reviewed them too. Cloth mats have some positive and negative points. PROS: very light to move pieces stick quite well to the cloth uses a roll up feature for storage CONS: no edges around the matt the assembling area is limited pieces do not slide pieces stick too well sometimes mat may be wrinkled-the puzzle does not sit flat

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Boards and Mats Hmmmm...I see more cons than pros...sorry, cloth mats are out for puzzling for me, however I still have a few non-completed puzzles rolled up in a cloth mats, ha! So I do use them for storage. Foam Boards As I said above I use foam boards from the Dollar Store. Here’s why…. they cost petty cash they are lightweight they are easily moveable they can be custom cut then taped to the size of any puzzle 2 foam boards can be taped securely to double the size easily Great to use for flipping puzzles over Here’s how… ‘Sandwich’ the completed puzzle in between 2 boards, so the one the puzzle is assembled on and place the 2nd one on top. The assembled puzzle is in between or ‘sandwiched’ with a foam board on the bottom and one on top. Next, secure with some type of clips, preferably the Westcott Black Fold Back Clips. Use at least 8 clips as in 2 on each side of the 4 sides. Then, carefully flip the foam boards over. Remove the clips and foam board. Voila! The back of the puzzle can then be taped with wide clear packing tape or glued if you choose to use the glued method on the back as well as the front. Some puzzlers do both sides.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

4 Must Have Accessories Puzzle Scoop by Ceaco

REVIEWS follow on Page 33

easily move puzzle sections with the large flexible surface it has a 3X magnifying screen that is amazing - the best I have seen yet pieces that looked "dark" actually had multiple colours and patterns it uses a built-in LED light (batteries included) that is nice and bright Instructions for changing batteries are available If you’re working on dark areas on a puzzle, this is a must! its nice and light-weight The tool is under 8" in length and the Puzzle Scoop is 4.5" x 4" which has a very smooth surface on the bottom and the magnifying surface on the top I found that if I scoop in a downward direction to slide under bigger sections of clumped pieces worked the easiest . I also covered my hand gently on top of the scoop with the puzzle section sandwiched between, then I could move larger sections I definitely like the size of the handle however, I have small hands. It's lightweight enough to be user friendly for most hand sizes.

Sorting trays ByAllison ByAllison puzzle sorting trays provide as much as 3 times sorting space of existing sorting trays on the market. Stackable large surface folding trays - Tray Dimension 11"x11" Double sided - Felt on one side & leather on the other side Stores puzzles up to 1500 pieces Colorful design with ease of use Great for board game dice rolling

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

4 Must Have Accessories Puzzle Lid Stand

Grateful House Mat

Click the above image to join their VIP club and get FREE stuff.

It's a great little compact unit for jigsaw puzzles lids. I do like the size and the solid-sturdy plastic the product is made of. I expect it will work great for the majority of puzzle box lids but when it comes to posters, it will be a matter of size. Then there is the price. It is little on the higher side but the sturdiness and how useful it is for the majority of puzzle lids and a fair portion of the posters will be suitable for it The perfect Christmas gift. I would definitely recommend this for any puzzlers. You can also purchase it on Amazon for free shipping if you have Amazon Prime. GRATEFUL HOUSE Offer Premium ROLL UP Puzzle MATS for Jigsaw Puzzles. Lays Perfectly Flat Comes Rolled/not Folded. Fits 500 1000, 1500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzles. Size 46" x 26". NEED TO PACK UP YOUR PUZZLE? This 26 x 46 in puzzle storage system is a must have! Our premium colored felts are twice as dense and thicker than any other puzzle mat on the market and will make your puzzle pieces pop and shine. Our felt is not a craft felt and is especially formulated for jigsaw puzzles. WE DON’T FOLD IT WE ROLL IT. Unlike other mats that are folded and stuffed into a small square box, Grateful House puzzle mats come delivered to you in a specially designed box to prevent folds and creases. You WILL NOT have annoying folds to deal with as your mat will lay flat forever and be a pleasure to use. LARGEST DIAMETER TUBE on the market. Our inflatable tube enables the puzzle to roll up nicely and stay secure while being moved or stored. Once inflated this tube allows for an even roll without disjoining your puzzle pieces. STORAGE BAG made of high quality fabric with an adjustable shoulder strap. Know your puzzle will be safe from people and pets and will stay the same as you left it. This allows for easy transportation and storage of your jigsaw puzzles. This new trending product promotes family time, brain exercise, and relaxation. Grateful House puzzle mats come in a stylish box making it the perfect gift for friends and family. Package contains, 1 x Inflatable Tube, 2 x Adjustable Velcro Straps, 1 x Felt Mat, 1 x Storage Bag!! 100% satisfaction guarantee!!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Trays Review Q. Do you use jigsaw puzzle trays? (a) yes Q. Have you tried using jigsaw puzzle sorting trays? (a) yes Q. Do you use sorting trays regularly? (a) no, occasionally Q. Would you recommend them to other puzzlers? (a) yes Q. What creative ideas have you used for trays? (a) square flat container lids Jigsaw puzzle trays can be quite handy for sorting colours, sizes and shapes. They can also be easily stacked upon each other to conserve puzzle working space. And, if you want to store them you can easily seal the stacked trays into a sealed tight plastic bag. The following is review I did for ByAllison trays when they asked me to try their new product. ByAllison Sorting Trays Review... Overall Experience:Great Cut Quality:Stitching and snaps solid Purchased new? no,contacted by Supplier Finish Quality: Smooth one side-thick felt cloth Box Quality: Great Price: Sent for review I was contacted via Facebook from ByAllison. They offered to send me their product for review. I certainly don't have a problem doing that. I usually sort all the puzzle pieces into piles and have used other puzzle trays. Often the piles go straight from the first sort to being laid out onto foam boards. However.... I thought I would take the opportunity to test the ByAllison's puzzle trays on my current puzzle I have on the table - the Ravensburger 32,000 pieces New York City Window jigsaw puzzle. So, the package came in a timely manner and packaged well, with no damages to the box. Once out of the packing box, I lifted the top cover of the 'good quality' box, open. You can see how well the trays sit - nice and snug in the box. From there, I opened up the '4 arms' that 'seal' the trays into position, being held down with Velcro strips. Using the ByAllison jigsaw puzzle trays.. I took each tray out and snapped the trays in the corners (very easily) so they would have depth. The goal would be to sort the NYC Window 2nd bag which holds over 4000 pieces. I emptied the bag into 2 puzzle boxes. From there I started the sorting process of all the pieces into the eight different coloured trays. Eight trays seemed to be more than enough for the first round of sorting of bag #2. Stacking the trays…

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

ByAllison Jigsaw Puzzle Trays Once I finished the sorting, which took about 2 hours, most of the trays were adequately filled...so that was over 4000 pieces sorted into 8 trays. IF I was doing a 1500 piece puzzle I could easily stack all 8 trays into each other then seal them up with the '4 arms' securely as that is what the product is made for. That said, I did attempt sealing my 8 full trays with the 4000 pieces and they did (just barely) fit - BUT- that is not how this product is supposed to be used. SO do NOT attempt that. Instead of using the outer casing, I sealed all 8 trays of puzzle pieces into clear plastic bags with twist ties. Now I will continue to use the trays as we start Bag B of the NYC Window puzzle. Even though I am not using the outer shell in my case, I know I will find these trays very useful for the next 6 bags of my NYC Window puzzle AND as the pieces get decreased in each of the trays I will be able to use the outer casing for storage and transporting the pieces to different locations. I cannot say enough about the quality of this product. The felt is very thick, the trays are solidly stitched, the colours are very pretty and the overall packaging is very appealing. If you like using puzzle trays, then I highly recommend the ByAllison jigsaw puzzle trays for long term enjoyment. Comments... These sorting trays are spacious and deep They measure 11"x11" The felt on the inside makes them non-slip & the leather on outside make for easy stacking They say the trays store puzzles up to 1500 pieces I can say they work for sorting over 4000 jigsaw puzzle pieces There's also lots of positive reviews for these trays.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Grateful House Mats Review Review on Grateful House Jigsaw Puzzle Mats I have been given the opportunity to try two Grateful House jigsaw puzzle mats. First of all, research indicates these mats are highly recommended with at least 80% of the reviews giving it 5 stars on Amazon reviews. There is a video on the website and I took plenty of photos as I thoroughly investigated this 'new to me' product. Everything about the packaging was perfect...from the delivery time to the complete unpacking - perfect! Note the complimentary Bonus Tag that is inserted for the free 2 year warranty - first time I have ever seen that in a puzzle related product! I tried the Grateful House grey mat first! Before I get into it, you should know that I have used the green Rollo puzzle mats - the Grateful House mats are comparable by product name only being called puzzle mats. The thickness and quality of these Grateful House mats is the finest of all felts I have ever touched. Now my puzzle table is smooth and shiny but the weight of these mats have such minimal movement that it did not give a negative experience. The touch of the felt is that of luxury. After rolling out the mat and sorting the puzzle pieces, I started with the border of the first puzzle. None of the pieces move on the mat. The pieces are picked up individually and put into place. There is no slippage or sliding - again, that did not give a negative experience. I did not roll up the first puzzle as I normally complete a puzzle from start to finish. However, I did want to try how well that process would work, so I used the black mat for that test on a second puzzle. I took many pictures of the black mat. It had all the same perfect packaging too.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Grateful House Mats This time, as I was partially finished with the second puzzle, I tested the 'Rollaway' process on the puzzle. The test was to see how well the Tube would work. Along with Hubby's assistance, we discovered the proper way to inflate the Tube as it is designed to hold the air as it is blown into, then seals instantly to hold the air - that makes for a quality air tight hold. When it is time to deflate the Tube, the air-intake-nozzle must be pinched open. So pinch the air-intake-nozzle to fill it with air and pinch the air-intakenozzle to deflate it. And the Tube is made of really good quality plastic to hold the air over time. Then I followed the instructions to easily roll the puzzle around the tube and conveniently wrapped the ties around the puzzle mat. Once that was completed, I packed it into the carrying case that provides the drawstring to seal it closed and easy to carry handles. Clearly the puzzle pieces are VERY safe and still in the exact place when re-opened. Comments... I do a LOT of puzzling however I do have a couple of puzzles 'rolled-away' for the future that are very time consuming puzzles yet I do want to complete them. These Roll-away products are perfect for that reason and also for the convenience of a quick storage issue as many puzzlers are using kitchen tables to do puzzles. If that is your situation and you know you will not complete your puzzles in a timely manner, then this product does come highly recommended as the best product for puzzle mats and storage. Grateful House is an owned and operated family business. They contacted me to see if I was interested in trying their products. I want to thank them for the opportunity and I am very pleased to provide this review. Sometimes you can try one of their products for free if you are willing to provide feedback as well.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Puzzle Peak Stands Review Here's a nifty little Poster Box Lid Stand for your jigsaw puzzles. I was contacted by PuzzlePeak.com to see if I was interested in reviewing their product - the answer was quite easy of course. The following video gives you a quick view for using the stand or you can read more details below the video. (ps, I know I used the word horizontal in the video but I really meant 'vertical' my bad :( First it was delivered by UPS which is quite reliable for their service over the years. It was well packaged and arrived without any damage - these days anything goes. The box looked to be the correct size of a puzzle stand and as you can see, the stand itself as it sits beside a measuring cup. The side panel shows how easily the puzzle box lid fits perfectly into the 'slanted-back-slot' so it positions the puzzle box lid perfectly for viewing. You also see on the box, the back side of the stand/puzzle box lid. It sure is secure in it's position. The next image is showing the actual size in comparison to that of a 1 cup measuring cup. Now you can go and look at your own 1 cup measuring cup or see the image below. Now I have to admit, I was quite surprised to see how small the poster box lid stand actually is. There was not only one stand in the shipping box, there were three. The actual size of the stand is height 5 inches by width 2.5 inches by depth 4 inches. So the big test here is to see which poster sizes work best. Puzzle posters tend to be relatively close to the size of the puzzle box but that is not always the case but it is for the Cobble Hill jigsaw puzzle I am currently assembling. Clearly you can see how the poster warps backwards as it is way too big for the 'poster' stand. Then I scouted out another poster where the poster is NOT the same size as the box. It is the Galison Rainbow Seashells, 2000 piece puzzle. And even though the box is a fair size for a 2000 piece puzzle, the poster in the inside is 8" x 10" which fits perfectly on the poster box lid stand no matter whether I put it horizontal or vertical.

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Puzzle Peak Stands Review Follow up to Poster Box Lid Stand - Poster Test Then it was brought to my attention {and I totally missed this, my bad :( ...} that a Puzzler can still use the vertical box standing up AND place the vertical poster into the poster slot - how did I miss that on the side of the Poster Box Lid Stand packaging side of the box? I do recall seeing the image but I wasn't focused enough to see that was the poster layered against the box. So, I went back to one of my puzzles, Gnarly Orb and tried using that poster because I knew the poster was in fact bigger than the box. You can see the poster is substantially larger than the puzzle box and it has been folded into 4 squares to fit inside the box. I set the box into the puzzle slots nice and snug. Then I placed the poster into the slot to lean it up against the box lid. It took 4 tries to get the poster to remain sitting into the slot without it sliding down. Ok, that's doable or I could continue to use the box lid. The same would work for other puzzle posters like the Cobble Hill puzzles as the posters are basically the same size as the box. Still a nifty, handy puzzling tool! The following image shares a couple of jigsaw puzzle box lids on display. One horizontal and one vertical. One is a larger 2000 piece box and the other is 500 pieces. The boxes are really secure in their position and work quite well. Final thoughts It's a great little compact unit for jigsaw puzzles lids. I do like the size and the solid-sturdy plastic the product is made of. I expect it will work great for the majority of puzzle box lids but when it comes to posters, it will be a matter of size. Then there is the price. It is little on the high end but the sturdiness and how useful it is for the majority of puzzle lids and a fair portion of the posters will be suitable for it. Plus it will be a perfect Christmas gift. I would definitely recommend this for any puzzlers. You can also purchase it on Amazon for free shipping if you have Amazon Prime. Special thanks to PuzzlePeak.com for giving me the pleasure of reviewing their product. It was fun! :)

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Puzzle Peak Stands Review

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Ceaco Scoop Review The Puzzle Scoop is the neatest little multi-functioning jigsaw puzzle tool I have seen yet! I suggest you do not wait as this is a tool in demand. As soon as I showed a few puzzlers they immediately said they had to get one! And it does not have to be used just for jigsaw puzzles. I have found it handy for numerous little household situations. Here’s a perfect example of there being More To Jigsaw Puzzles Than Pieces. I should know - I wrote the book! I contacted Ceaco Puzzle Company to tell them about my book and they responded in kind. They also offered me to try their product, the Puzzle Scoop. Here’s the features: easily move puzzle sections with the large flexible surface it has a 3X magnifying screen that is amazing - the best I have seen yet pieces that looked "dark" actually had multiple colors and patterns it uses a built-in LED light (batteries included) that is nice and bright Instructions for changing batteries included If you’re working on dark areas on a puzzle, this is a must! its nice and light-weight Makes a terrific gift Very helpful for serious puzzlers I will be using the Puzzle Scoop with every puzzle in the future The tool is under 8" in length and the Puzzle Scoop is 4.5" x 4" which has a very smooth surface on the bottom and the magnify surface on the top I found that if I scoop in a downward direction to slide under bigger sections of clumped pieces worked in the easiest manner. I also covered my hand gently on top of the scoop with the puzzle section sandwiched between, then I could move larger sections I definitely like the size of the handle however I have small hands. It's lightweight enough to be user friendly for most hand sizes. Now this sure is a MUST HAVE for puzzlers! It’s excellent for the small text and object/details on puzzle images using the light/magnifying glass feature. It’s perfect for moving small sections of puzzle pieces to different areas! IF you get lucky to buy more than 1 of the Puzzle Scoops. These sell very quickly and at the current price of under $10 is well worth it's value.

Special thanks to Ceaco Puzzle Company

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Brands My Jigsaw Puzzle Brand Rating Explained Do I have a favourite jigsaw puzzle brand? Well let's see.....first, you’ve asked the right person! I'd be happy to give you my opinion.....I just hope I do not take up too much of your time because once I get going.....it's kinda hard to stop. And know this - the competition continues to be fierce between puzzle companies which is actually a benefit to us jigsaw puzzlers! So I will name off a few biggies for now and then you can dig deeper for more information if you like. There are review LINKs for individual jigsaw puzzle brands following my commentary too. Keep in mind these are my personal opinions. If you scroll quickly down the page you will see I have a lot of different jigsaw puzzle brands within my hobby. And this list is far from complete. I will give you a brief explanation of the way I rated them. First I have broken the rating down into four Groups, which I consider to be the main features of a Great to Low jigsaw puzzle brand. These are rated in no particular order of preference - they have been randomly chosen.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Brands Jigsaw Puzzle Brands I Rate using the above Ratings (not in any particular order for each category and randomly chosen)

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Brands Reviewed Overall Rating: 1 = Great, 2 = Good, 3 = Medium, 4 = Low Rate - Puzzle Brand - Country -Website ✔ 2 Bits and Pieces USA https://www.bitsandpieces.com/ ✔ 2 Buffalo Games USA https://www.buffalogames.com/ ✔ 2 Castorland Poland https://www.castorland.pl/ ✔ 2 Ceaco USA https://www.ceaco.com ✔ 1 Cobble Hill Canada https://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/ ✔ 1 Dowdle Folk Art USA https://www.dowdlefolkart.com/ ✔ 1 eeBoo USA https://ww.eeboo.com/ ✔ 1 Eurographics Canada https://www.eurographicspuzzles.com/ ✔ 1 FX Schmid USA https://www.ravensburger.com/ ✔ 3 Gibsons UK https://gibsonsgames.co.uk/puzzles/ ✔ 2 Hennessy USA https://hennessypuzzles.com/ ✔ 1 Heye Germany https://www.heye-puzzle.com/ ✔ 2 House of Puzzles Scotland https://www.thehouseofpuzzles.com/ ✔ 1 Jacarou Puzzles Canada https://www.jacaroupuzzles.com/ ✔ 3 Melissa and Doug USA https://www.melissaanddoug.com/ ✔ 1 Pomegranate USA https://www.pomegranate.com/ ✔ 1 Ravensburger Germany https://www.ravensburger.com/ ✔ 2 Spilsbury USA https://www.spilsbury.com/ ✔ 1 Springbok USA https://www.springbok-puzzles.com/ ✔ 2 Standout Canada https://standoutpuzzles.com ✔ 1 Sunsout USA https://www.sunsout.com/ ✔ 4 Sure Lox (TCG) Canada https://www.tcgtoys.com/ ✔ 2 Wasgij (Jumbo) UK https://www.wasgij.co.uk/ ✔ 1 Wentworth UK https://www.jigsaws.co.uk/ ✔ 1 White Mountain USA https://www.whitemountainpuzzles.com/ ✔ 2 Wrebbit Canada https://www.wrebbit3d.com/ PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Section Four Lighting Tables Stands

Box Stands for Puzzle Lids Box Stands for Jigsaw Puzzle Lids - DIY Us puzzlers can get pretty creative when it comes to getting that box lid to stand up just right for us. We preferably want it on a slight slant to avoid that nasty glare on the image. Very few puzzle companies will include a box-lidstand - if only they knew how helpful they are. So we’ve put together this little tutorial for you! Try this free puzzle box lid stand template. DIY (do it yourself) with step by step instructions. Step 1: Print the downloadable 8.5" x 11" sheets. It fits puzzle box lids up to 12" x 16". Step 2: Locate some thick cardboard sized at 8.5" x 11" sheets (not too thick - a sturdy large box of cereal works great). Step 3: Gather the following supplies. To see the list click on the box image below. Step 4: Place the Trace Template over desired cardboard and cut the Template including the slot (Be mindful of the slot. Use a sharp object to pierce the slot to start then use scissors to get an accurate cut. Cut the slit on the outside of lines to give the slot opening room for the thickness of box lids. Step 5: Use a tack to make perforated holes along the fold at dotted lines to the left and right as shown on the template. Make the holes about 1/2 an inch apart Step 6: Cut the Puzzle Pattern Template including the tabs as shown on the template. The tabs will be taped to the back of the cardboard template to hold it in place. Step 7: Color the Puzzle Pattern Template with your choice of art-markers. This image is used with crayons. DO NOT color the tabs. Step 8: Place the Puzzle Pattern Template over top of the cardboard Trace Template and tape the Tabs to the back. Set puzzle box lids into the slot to get the perfect non-glare view for easier view of the image on the box. Click on box to download template

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Lighting - This Is Very Important Lighting is just as important as choosing the puzzle itself Where is the location of your puzzle station ? 1. 2. 3.

Is set up by a window ? Is it in a room away from the window ? Is it in a windowless room ?

Does the puzzle itself have a shiny glare on it ? 1. Is it anti-glare? 2. Is it a matte finish or somewhere in between? 3. Does it have a shimmer or a foil finish?

What direction is your light fixture coming from? 1. Is it directly overhead? 2. Overhead to the left, the right or behind you? 3. Is it motion-movable?

What are the best lights to use for jigsaw puzzles? That question comes up a lot. If only we could use natural daylight any time of the day and evening. Although, even that has its drawbacks, like reflection, glare or worse yet, a dark cloudy day. So again, you ask, ‘what are the best lights to use for jigsaw puzzles’? We should beat this up for a minute before we look at some resources. The first issue is the location of your 'puzzle-station'. By that I mean, where your puzzle is set up to be assembled. Is it set up by a window? Is it in a room away from the window? Is it in a windowless room? These will make a difference. Then the second issue is....what direction is your light fixture coming from? Is it directly overhead, overhead to the left, the right or behind you? Is it motionmovable? Also the jigsaw puzzle itself....does it have a huge shiny glare on it or is it antiglare, perhaps a matte finish or somewhere in between? Does it have a shimmer or a foil finish? 46

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Lights Overhead Lights Of course only you can determine these factors when purchasing the correct light for your puzzle-station. My puzzle-station is not near a window so I use a Hampton Bay, Model # 54644143, Led Linear Ceiling Light - 2x4 feet. (The website shows similar product details for my ceiling light.) It produces 3000 lumens of bright white light (4000k CCT). I am not sure what all that means but I do know it provides enough power to light up a runway. My light is over my 'puzzle-station' to the left. That avoids any glare coming from the light being directly overhead. However, it does not work for taking photos though, due to the glare from the left. I have to move my completed puzzles to another part of the room to take photos to avoid that dreaded glare. Lamps You can source out what is referred to as lamps with 'natural light'. Some lamps can get pricey. I know lighting overhead may cause glare when taking photos (as mentioned above) and especially when assembling a glossy-surfaced puzzle. Some of the jigsaw puzzle images are actually anti-glare with a very nice matte finish to them. I also find 'poor lighting' while doing a puzzle to be quite annoying. Of course natural outdoor light beaming in the window is the best. So try to look for a 'natural-light' lamp or 'daytime' light bulbs. Using a desk top adjustable lamp will work well for your immediate puzzlestation but may not be the answer for extra large puzzles that require space further away from the lit work area. That said, if you have the room to move the lamp around the table it does become an alternative. For the really tiny text on maps I actually use a headlamp. I found it was quite useful because they have 3 levels of lights but also the text on 'real' maps are insanely-small! Between the headlamp and a magnifying glass I manage to get maps completed. Light Bulbs Natural light called ‘natural daylight’ bulbs or daytime bulbs are available for your current lamps. I have not used these light bulbs but the research says they are used for the treatment of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) for those people who suffer from the lack of daylight in their working days. Along the same line, there are lamps known to treat Vitamin-D deficiency with UVB light in your own home with Solar phototherapy devices. I have one on my puzzle station and it gives off brilliant lighting. I use it once a day as directed and usually when I am sitting on my high stool while doing my peddle bike under my table as I puzzle. So that’s three healthy activities at once - using my pedal exerciser while streaming vitamin D on my face and reaping the mindful rewards of puzzling. It’s a terrific way to start everyday! PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Tables Let's talk about jigsaw puzzle tables. The ones like your kitchen table or coffee table or for some, even the floor. Of course your table for doing a jigsaw puzzle is going to be your 2nd most important workspace for assembling puzzles, with lighting being the first. Over the years since I've been doing jigsaw puzzles I've discovered that there are many different overall sizes of jigsaw puzzles. Hence, a BIG table was required, like 6 feet by 3 feet BIG! I came across this article dated in July of 2019. New research indicates that sitting is the new smoking and advises us to find ways to do our daily activities while standing. The article can be found at startstanding.org We know that the jigsaw puzzle hobby and sitting most often go together. So how are we going to combat this life threatening situation a piece of furniture presents? Well the article also shares ways to change your table to a standing position and how to gradually work yourself into standing. You will want to be mindful about the types of shoes that would be best for standing in your physical health condition. Search ‘furniture risers’ as they are becoming quite common among puzzlers who spend many hours doing jigsaw puzzles. Some even have height adjustments. I happen to use them myself on my puzzle table but they can also be used on a coffee table or other furniture if need be...not much help for the Puzzler who is using the floor though. I like lots of space when doing puzzles so I have an extra large table on leg risers (as mentioned above). I tend to sort all my puzzle pieces onto 20” x 30” foam boards so I can see every piece. Often the puzzle I am assembling is approximately 20” x 30” so my puzzle is assembled on one board. My foam boards with the laid out pieces, (usually 2 boards on a 1000 piece puzzle) are stacked to my left of my puzzle-space. I do stand while puzzling for the most part however I do have enough height under my table to use a stationary digital pedal exerciser while sitting on a high stool. I tend to use it once a day, which means I get to do my fun puzzling while getting physical exercise too. Search ‘tables’ on the website as there is an actual door rigged up as a ‘dropdown’ table from the ceiling which is hung, making the height adjustable. Also there are instructions to make a full size 3+ feet by 5+ feet table with all the photos that include measurements. 48

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Section Five Replace missing pieces Glue No glue Hang on wall Storage

Replace Missing Pieces Replace Missing Pieces So, discussing missing pieces includes the different cuts of the same puzzle as in the Dowdle Calgary Stampede jigsaw puzzle for example. If you are missing a piece in a new (even sealed) jigsaw puzzle, there is a chance that it did not arrive with the package. Yes it may have 'escaped' during your assembly process or the pets may have ventured into the area and misplaced it during their 'playtime' but you also may be 'quite' certain you were careful enough and were not responsible for the missing pieces. It happens a lot more than you might think. You may contact the Jigsaw Puzzle Company and they may offer you a replacement IF that is their policy or they may offer you a different puzzle. Because all cuts are not the same. I was missing one piece AND fortunately had a 2nd puzzle of the same image BUT as you can clearly see....the cut is not the same. There's more...read on.... So....about 6 months later - I FOUND the missing piece! No KIDDING! I still had both of the jigsaw puzzles so I instantly put the puzzle piece back to the original box. It amazes me where/how these pieces show up. It just goes to show how easily a piece can get lost and then found again. The Dowdle boxes are really quite secure in packaging so losing it from the box likely did not happen. But amazingly it was found within my piles of puzzles, which means this particular piece was the greatest escapee of all! With pets around I would constantly scan the floor for missing pieces - that was the norm. So how does one piece escape, get left on the floor, right smack in the middle of the room that I enter the next day - how did I not see it when I left the room the day before? I have heard some of the weirdest places these pieces can show up. Under the assembled puzzle is common. Inside the trunk of a vehicle, not so much. How about in a sock or shoe? And what’s incredible is the time it takes for these pieces to surface….sometimes it’s months. Replace Missing Pieces Would you like to know how to replace a missing jigsaw puzzle piece? Follow the steps below for a quick and easy method. Photo, computer and colour printer will be required.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Replace Missing Pieces Method 1 1. Take a close up photo of the missing piece area from the puzzle box 2. Upload the photo to a computer device with colour printing 3. Print the uploaded photo in colour on (1) white card stock paper or (2) white Sticker Label sheet 4. Slide the printed (1) card stock paper or (2) Sticker Label sheet under the assembled puzzle to check the accuracy with respect to the size. Compare the size of the ‘missing’ piece to the size of the image on the colour printed boxcover image. IF the image is too small or too big, start over with either a larger/close up image or a smaller/more distant image and try another comparison test until you are satisfied with the result 5. Have a piece of cardboard that is relatively close to the same thickness of your puzzle 6. If using (1) card stock paper, smoothly glue the coloured printed paper to the ‘thick’ cardboard 7. If using (2) Sticker Label sheet, peel the back off and stick it to the ‘thick’ cardboard 8. Before cutting the ‘replacement’ piece, make a template first. Take a sheet of white paper and slide it under the assembled puzzle and this time draw a very thin line on the inside of the ‘missing’ piece puzzle getting as close to the edges as possible 9. Lay the ‘template’ on top of the (1) card stock image or (2) Sticker Label sheet label and use paper clips to hold it into place 10. Carefully cut the ‘template’ image to maintain as much accuracy as possible 11. Carefully put the ‘replaced’ piece into the assembled puzzle’s empty space. If all went well and the puzzle fates are on your side, the replacement piece should fit snugly into your puzzle's missing piece space.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Replace Missing Pieces Method 2 If the area of the missing piece is a clear-clean cut piece like blue sky or a solid pattern, then you could try to cut the missing piece image directly out of the jigsaw puzzle box image. Of course you will want to add cardboard to the back to maintain the thickness of the puzzle board. Can you see the missing piece in the following photo? I used the box lid image to replace the missing piece then taped over the hole on the box lid. Method 3 There is the option of trying the Jigsaw Puzzle Doctor at this website. He is in the UK but does ship internationally. We have not used that company so we do not have a review. For pricing visit the Jigsaw Doctor Method 4 We also have a Group member who has honed in on recreating real great quality piece replacements for accuracy, exact color, size and thickness. Got to PuzzleHobby.com and search the website for "missing pieces' using the sidebar search tool. So that gives you 4 options to choose from for replacing that little ‘escapee’. If you really want that jigsaw puzzle. Can you see the 'replaced' piece below?

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

To Glue or Not to Glue To glue or not to glue......One of the most common questions with jigsaw puzzles is, 'How to Glue A Jigsaw Puzzle?' *** Important note - if you have never glued a puzzle, DO NOT let your most favourite puzzle image be your first try at gluing puzzles - please try a test run on a puzzle that is not your favourite. I have heard of some disastrous situations that have happened to puzzlers who have run into a bad situation during the gluing/drying process. I know, it may not happen to you and how difficult can it be…..believe me it can turn out bad. Remember that…. Here's one method to glue a jigsaw puzzle but if you are interested in trying a 'no-glue' method go to this link: No Glue Method for Jigsaw Puzzles The Glue Method How to glue a jigsaw puzzle. (suggested) SUPPLIES 1. Puzzle Glue (craft glue such as ModPodge) 2. Parchment or wax paper 3. Paint brush or foam brush (if not included with glue) 4. Rolling pin (optional) 5. Back mounting board (for framing) 6. Frame (ensure puzzle will fit inside and has room for thickness of puzzle) Steps to glue a jigsaw puzzle 1. Layout the parchment/wax paper with extra room around the edges. 2. Use the rolling pin on the puzzle front and back to flatten the pieces and be sure all the pieces are tight. 3. Follow the instructions on the bottle of Glue either using a paintbrush or foam brush. Ideally you want a nice clean coating over the puzzle being mindful of the cracks in between. (Search for videos that show how to spread the glue in a sweeping motion over the entire puzzle.) 4. Follow the 'drying' time instructed on the bottle of glue before moving the puzzle (usually about 2 hours). Glue one side first, wait until it is entirely dry before gluing the other side. 5. Cut the back mounting cardboard to fit the puzzle size (if you are framing) and proceed to glue the puzzle to it. If too much glue is used the puzzle may curl when dry - a frame would correct that situation. 6. Wait at least 24 hours before installing the puzzle into your choice of frame. PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

The ‘No’ Glue Method If you are interested in reading more about gluing your puzzle then go to this link: How to Glue Jigsaw Puzzles BUT ..what if you do not want to do the traditional 'glued puzzle' route because it is time consuming and could be messy.....both of which I do not like ;) take a look at what’s next. I will share my method and an alternative IDEA that you may like to use. I get great feedback on my method because it is very low cost and preserves your puzzle for many many years....It's also quick, easy and FUN!.... read on..... A Jigsaw Puzzle Group member did this 'No Glue Method' on Video. Click here: No Glue Method Video So often many great puzzles do not make it to the wall because frames are costly or sizes are simply not available. I have bought second-hand frames from Thrift stores and painted them with colors that blend nicely with the puzzle colors. But I do not frame all my jigsaw puzzles. They look just as nice on the wall in a poster-board format too. Here's what I have done with SEVERAL of my puzzles I keep: Supplies Two Poster Boards(very low cost at Dollar Stores) Clear packing tape (very low cost at Dollar Stores) Any brand of clear heat-shrink plastic for windows Scotch tape Completed jigsaw puzzle (shaped or not) Scissors, cutting tools Hair blow dryer Instructions 1. ‘Sandwich’ the completed puzzle in between 2 foam boards, so the assembled puzzle is on the inside. The assembled puzzle is in between or ‘sandwiched’ with a foam board on the bottom and a foam board on the top. 2. Next, secure with some type of clips, preferably the Westcott Black Fold Back Clips. Use at least 8 clips, as in 2 on each side of the 4 sides. 3. Then, carefully flip the foam boards over. Remove the clips and foam board that is resting on top. Voila! The back of the puzzle can then be taped with wide clear packing tape or glued if you choose to use the glued method on the back as well as the front. Some puzzlers do both sides.

PUZZLE TIPS AND TRICKS

The ‘No’ Glue Method 4. I prefer to cover the entire back with wide packing tape but you may just want to be sure all the pieces are caught by the wide tape. (So if you choose to remove the tape on the puzzle in the future it will cause less disruption to the back of the puzzle pieces.) 5. Now that you have (a) completed the puzzle, (b) flipped it over, (c) put wide tape across the entire back - cut your poster board to the exact size of your puzzle. Your puzzle will be mounted to the puzzle-foam board for back support. 6. Next cut a sheet of clear window heat shrink wrap plastic that is 3 to 4 inches bigger than the puzzle/puzzle-foam-board all the way around. Place the cut plastic over the front face of the puzzle - then flip the puzzle and foam board over together. 7. Now scotch tape the plastic with small pieces of tape to the back of the foam board to keep the plastic in place and tuck/tack/tape down the corners nicely on the back. So now you have your puzzle lying on top of your puzzle foam board face down with both wrapped in heat-shrink wrap plastic that is taped on the back to hold it in place. 8. With the plastic wrap taut (not too tight) over the front of the puzzle and taped down with the scotch tape on the back, proceed to cover the entire back with the wide clear packing tape again for the 2nd time. 9. Next take your household hair-blow dryer and gently (high-hot) heat the front of the puzzle so all the (shrinking action) wrinkles are removed from the front of the puzzle leaving it shiny smooth. Run the blow dryer along the edges but do not touch the surface and then the back of the puzzle/foam board to seal it up good on the back as well. 10. At this point you may place a wall hanger of your choice to the back of the puzzle (without putting a frame on it) and hang it on your wall. These are not really heavy puzzles but be certain to have a good wall hanger. Also, IF the jigsaw puzzle should happen to fall down there will be little damage and it will last a lifetime on your wall.....I have a few that are over 30 years old....oops my age is showing ;)

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Hang It On The Wall - Frames Do you keep your puzzles or do you recycle them in garage sales or donate them to goodwill stores? If you do keep your puzzles, here are some useful framing ideas. I have used ‘recycled’ frames which I just cleaned up and placed a ‘matt’ background behind the puzzle to match the main colours in the image. You can locate unique frames at Thrift stores. Of course, be certain to measure your jigsaw puzzle before you go ‘frame’ hunting and the frame must also accommodate the thickness of your puzzle. It is not uncommon to have a background behind your puzzle in a frame. Get creative to see how you can manage a colour blend that works with your puzzle. I have re-painted perfectly good picture frames that are just not the correct colours. There is always the option to know someone (who may know someone) who will build a puzzle frame for you that will totally custom fit your jigsaw puzzles. In most cases that person is difficult to find. You could always 2-way tape your puzzle to any piece of sturdy board-like material or firm cardboard. Better yet, a lot of my puzzles just have wide clear tape on the back and I simply tack them to the wall. Take a browse through the displays of jigsaw puzzles that have been mounted into frames and are displayed on the wall of many puzzlers from around the world on the website. Search Framed Jigsaw Puzzles. When choosing a frame be sure to allow about an inch larger than the border of your puzzle - often puzzles have a thickness so the extra space leaves some room for forgiveness when sealing it into the frame. Please take the time to watch the video on the website link to get the idea of how to glue your jigsaw puzzle. But a word of caution, if not done correctly, it could be 'unpleasant' so do not try this on your World's Largest Jigsaw Puzzle without practicing first. Personally, I do not glue my jigsaw puzzles however a majority of jigsaw puzzlers do. Since I am not your 'go-to-Gal' for gluing jigsaw puzzles I always refer this question to a YouTube video that I recommend because the feedback from those with a jigsaw puzzle hobby have informed me so ;) BUT ..I will share my method and an alternative IDEA that you may like to use. I get great feedback on my method because it is very low cost and preserves your puzzle for many many years....It's also quick, easy and FUN!.... read the No Glue Method on page 54 above.. 56

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What To Do With Your Completed Puzzles Storage for Jigsaw Puzzles What to do with all those assembled and glued jigsaw puzzles? That question is asked a lot but more often than not, it does not get answered. Well the most likely answer is, sadly, they end up in the recycle bin. Maybe some survive on another owner’s wall for an extended length of time. Maybe some end up in Thrift stores or yard sales. We puzzlers hate to think the worst - dump :( But while we still have them in our possession, we need some kind of storage for them. There are big suitcase-type puzzle boards that can store more than a few but then you cannot use the board for puzzling. I have seen some pretty nice extra large ‘mail-slot-type’ custom made wood units that store puzzles quite well. However, if these are not an option, you may also stack your completed puzzles between poster boards inserted into large plastic bags. Tightly sealing and taping the bags makes them safer to store under beds and inside closets for future use, especially the ‘seasonal’ jigsaw puzzles. Furniture stores have big boxes that can be cut to perfect storage size or puzzle boards. That’s how I moved my puzzles across the country. I sandwiched all my puzzles between two large pieces of sturdy furniture boxes. Then I completely surrounded it with large plastic bags and then used wide clear packing tape all around the outside to secure it. Worked perfectly!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Section Six Types

Shaped Jigsaw Puzzles Just in case you are interested in trying different shaped jigsaw puzzles, the website Gallery shares what images are available. They do get lots of attention and some are more challenging than others. They certainly are a lot of fun with the edges being the trickiest of all...so you would not likely start with the border....just sayin'... Sunsout Puzzle Company is quite popular for shaped puzzles but they are not alone. There are endless puzzles out there that are shaped and they continue to be in constant demand. If you have never experienced a shaped puzzle, it will seem quite odd at first as the border will not be easy to determine. Then the majority of the pieces are going to be random shapes to accommodate for the outline of the puzzle. Often the images in a shaped puzzle are images within images to which often are related to the shape of the puzzle. Although that does not always have to be the case. For example A cow shaped puzzle will have smaller images of cows A dog shaped puzzle will have smaller images of dogs A house shaped puzzle may have images of the different rooms of a house A heart shaped puzzle may be filled with roses which is one that I own

And don’t forget that a Panoramic puzzle can easily fall into this category due to its unique shape. Most Panoramic puzzles tend to be in an almost ‘banner’ shape where the image is much wider and not too much height. That said, there are enough of them out there if you look for them but they are not as popular as actual shaped puzzles. Take a look at the website to see some fantastic shaped jigsaw puzzles. Ravensburger - Heart

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Wood Jigsaw Puzzles I have to admit when I got into puzzling as an adult, it never entered my mind there was such a thing as 250-1000 piece adult wooden jigsaw puzzles, so imagine my surprise when I saw my very first one. I would like to share two wood puzzles that I am lucky to have experienced. Wentworth Jigsaw Puzzle Company My very first was a Wentworth wooden jigsaw puzzle with whimsy pieces and excellent artwork by Ruth Sanderson. It is titled: "He Looked Like A Peddler" and I had the pleasure of assembling it. The unique cuts were quite different to handle because they are wood.....it was like the pieces had to be set in from directly above and not slide into place from the sides, a tactic that I was very familiar with. You can also pick the entire puzzle up, turn it over and see some of the whimsy cuts on the back. The image was so fun to work on, especially the Christmas tree and Santa. I did think it was a tad dark. The wood used is from the forests managed on a sustainable yield basis. I would say the pieces are about 1/4 of an inch thick. They are quite solid. This was taken into consideration when getting the frame. I received it as a gift from a puzzle friend in the UK. She had completed it herself and she knew from my social media comments that I really really REALLY wanted one. Since these are not easily available in Canada she was very thoughtful to send me hers.....so bet your bottom dollar I was thrilled, excited and delighted to own it. I have to admit I have not taken it down and now the Christmas season is almost upon us so I will not be switching it out again for some time

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Wood Jigsaw Puzzles Platinum Puzzles Platinum Puzzles was my second wood puzzle. They pride themselves on top quality and give the Puzzler an experience in the same way puzzles were first introduced back in the old days. By that I mean the 'sense' of owning a truly, original, vintage puzzle. Here’s some similarities of ‘old school’ puzzles. The first puzzles that were produced did not have an image on the outside of the box The puzzle title was hand-written on the outside of the box as were the number of pieces Some came in tin boxes as well as cardboard with the label stuck onto the outside The pieces were not bagged back then but blanketed with tissue paper Platinum Puzzles adds a real personal touch; When you open the box you are instantly greeted with a 'Welcome' envelope sharing a personal touch. Inside the envelope is a sheet of paper that shares the details about the puzzle such as the title of the puzzle, number of pieces, date made and how many whimsies. The rest of the sheet is for record keeping of Puzzlers who have assembled the puzzle once it moves onto the next Puzzler; name, age, location, missing pieces and date completed. Inside the box, the wood pieces are wrapped in soft white tissue paper and you will instantly see the Platinum Puzzle seal imprinted on the top sheet. You will see how perfectly the tissue paper is folded around all the pieces. Finally, when you lift the tissue paper you will be delighted to see the lovely cut wooden pieces made of quality 5 ply cherry wood that are surprisingly light and are various shapes and sizes. I did not do my usual sorting routine because this is 236 pieces which laid out nicely onto the foam board. There is no picture to go by and the title refers to Night Cat which doesn't give me much of a clue. The cut has 23 whimsies embedded. There is no way to determine the border so I started to match colors and colored patterns because matching pieces was not an option here.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Wood Jigsaw Puzzles Eventually some of the pieces started to give me clues, like there's cats eyes, a mermaid, some flowers, a house and I see water. As I continued it became clear this was going to be the shape of a cat with colourful painted details inside. I decided that I wanted to put this treasure on the wall. I did a test to see if the Buffalo Presto Peel and Stick for puzzles would be removable in case I want to redo this super fun puzzle and yes it is doable. But in the meantime I prefer to see it on my wall. I had to use 2 sheets due to the size of the puzzle and the sticker sheets. I traced the outline of the Cat. I cut on the inside of my pencil line to make sure there was no overlap on the edges. Then I peeled off the outer strips and placed the 2 cute patterns onto the back of the shaped Night Cat. The puzzle is not heavy so I used a 2-way wall hanger and DONE! It looks great on the wall. I have always been impressed with the puzzles cut by Dee Rogers in our Jigsaw Puzzle Connections Facebook Group. She has shared some of the most amazing images and extremely beautiful shaped cuts. Clearly the quality is outstanding just by seeing and feeling the smoothness of each piece. There was zero puzzle dust and the pieces have such a nice, smooth feel to them due to the sanding of each individual piece. When you browse the Platinum Puzzles website you will see some of the most outstanding custom cut puzzles which are quite difficult to assemble - that is their goal. The 'cut' IS the Art and they certainly have achieved that! You can also watch a TV-News video interview to see how it's made and many challenging puzzle images in their workshop studio. I have to admit - the experience with this wood-cut Platinum Puzzle is outstanding compared to the traditional board puzzles I am accustomed to assembling and it really does give you a sense of 'vintage'. I highly recommend this brand to those who are looking for uniqueness in a puzzle, a gift for a Puzzler or are interested in having an image Click on the image above to view video on cut that is extremely challenging. puzzlehobby.com 62

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles Pinto jigsaw puzzles have developed a no glue, plastic product. The pieces are made of hard plastic and snap into place. Once completed a plastic frame is available. The series is titled "Showpiece Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles with Frame Sold Separately" so they are specific puzzles that are used with the frames. I discovered these little gems while scanning a fantastic Toy Store for the latest jigsaw puzzle stock. I thought they were worth mentioning because they come with plastic frames that the puzzle slips right into. The Store Customer Service Rep gave me a demo, which impressed me. I could see that a "board" puzzle may also fit the frames if it was mounted to a sturdy but thin cardboard backing....just sayin' if you are interested in buying just the frame (to fit your puzzle) as shown in the photos on the website. I have located the Pintoo Dream Cat in my jigsaw puzzle collection. The puzzles are available in 3 sizes of 300, 500, 1000, 1600 and 2000 pieces and the frames are purchased separately accordingly. While the pricing is moderate it will make an excellent Christmas gift especially for children because of working with plastic pieces rather than the bendable board pieces. Pintoo - Plastic Vases and Lamps 1. Brand: Pintoo Puzzle Vase 2. Title: British Roses 3. Pieces: 160 4. Size: 4.3" x 4.3" x 10.8" (11x11x27.4cm -WxDxH) There are step by step photos that will assist you in putting the Pintoo Vase together on the website. You can pour water in the vase and put small fresh cut flowers into it. Here are the photos with details to show visually how to place the Pintoo Vase jigsaw puzzle together. The vase consists of plastic numbered pieces, two rings for the neck and bottom, flask for water and a stand. PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles You can pour water into the flask. It is necessary to stick it in and turn a bit, then it will be fixed into position. It's better to finish the assembly in the lower part first. It takes less than an hour. Lanterns 1. Pintoo Puzzle Sphere Lantern 2. 56 pieces, 3 inches (7cm) in diameter 3. Lantern stand AND 3 AAA batteries (not included) This was such a delightful gift I received all the way over from Vietnam. I was (still am) thrilled to have this in my jigsaw puzzle hobby. Of course Aquarius is my birth month, which was a huge attraction for me - but it is also a real cute little night light. All the little pieces that are included with the package but not the 3-AAA batteries (which is not uncommon). This line of 3D jigsaw puzzles make excellent little keepsakes because they are easily assembled very quickly. They also make unique ornaments and this one doubles as a light. They are a little tricky to put the Sphere pieces together so you must be mindful of handling it gently. They are made of hard plastic that do snap into place with the numbers on the back of the pieces. But once it is together is it quite solid. It just snaps on the lantern base. Then you have a handy little lantern - done like dinner....I recommend you try the Pintoo 3D Puzzle Sphere jigsaw puzzle just to have one in your hobby collection.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Ravensburger Plastic Puzzles For such a long time I have always wanted to own a plastic Globe of the World and what a better combination that would be in a form of a jigsaw puzzle. I waited long enough to get one brand new. With today's conversion rate it makes this puzzle price to be about $62.00 Canadian...I know! Crazy, right??!! Well this one has been on my wish list for many years and I have had a previously loved cardboard one but once it was assembled it did not look all that pretty. My daughter had an opportunity to visit the Jigsaw Puzzle Warehouse on one of her 'live' Workshops so she stopped in to buy me a birthday present. She asked me what was on my 'list'. Even though she did not buy this one for me for my birthday (as she purchased me 2 other beauties), I opted out to pay for this one myself as a 'souvenir' of 'her' being there and sending me the photos as she shopped. Yes it is easy to justify buying most puzzles :) Ravensburger says the starting age for this puzzle is 12. The poster shows a very nice visual of all angles of the world which is the standard world map. Inside the box, it comes with the 540 hard plastic pieces sealed in the plastic bag, the poster of course, then the metal/plastic stand for the puzzle to be mounted on for spinning and finally the 'cheat' sheet for assembling the entire puzzle. This sure is a luxury kit :) Assembly.. I have assembled these numbered hard plastic puzzles in the past so I have a general idea for my plan to move forward. Since there are 540 pieces I labeled 6 plastic 'snack' size baggies and sorted the number from 1-100, 101-200, 201300 etc. Then I stacked them nicely into the box. I also got a pair of light pliers in case I wanted to tighten the pieces smoothly together. You should know that assembling hard plastic pieces can be hard on tender hands and/or fingers. That said, I found I did not need them in this case.

I started to work the pieces in the circular direction that is labeled on each piece. They are numbered AND have a direction arrow pointing the way 'forward' which I found to be quite helpful. I continued going forward until the entire globe was complete by simply following the numbers…so a puzzle-by-number situation! It only took about 3.5 hours and the last 2 pieces were a tad tricky to get into place but I managed on my own easily enough. PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Ravensburger Plastic Puzzles

Comments The photos on the website show the completely assembled image in all its array of the world. Nowadays with the internet, the world seems so much smaller however I can still appreciate its vastness when viewing the world on its axel. It was a bit pricey for this one but one that will be a keeper and can easily be reassembled in the future if desired. I can highly recommend this one for its quality when it comes to 3D puzzles such as this :) Ravensburger Pyramid Jigsaw Puzzle Along the same lines as the World Globe, I located another Ravensburger at the Thrift store a while back for $1.00. Hard to resist at that price. It’s a Ravensburger from 2009, titled Spirit of the Sea. The artist is David Penfound with 240 random size pieces and measures 6.3" or 16 cm. Assembly The photos and captions on the website shows the assembly process. Note how some pieces look like standard jigsaw puzzle pieces and some are formed with bendable pieces to adjust for sides and peak of the pyramid. The biggestwhitest piece is the actual peak. By laying out all the pieces in numerical order I was able to follow the numbered pattern sheet supplied with the jigsaw puzzle pyramid. It says to start at number one and work the numbers clockwise. I built the entire base first then determined how the sidewalls were going to attach. Once I realized how they were going to fit, the pieces started to move into place faster. The peak was the trickiest of all and luckily I have smaller hands so I could leave 1 piece out and adjust the peak as best I could before setting the last piece into place. I also used tweezers to help pinch the connecting tips into a solid position. For 240 random cut pieces and 2 hours entertainment I was not really thrilled with the outcome of this Pyramid as the pieces were difficult to maintain a smooth finish on it.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Wasgij Jigsaw Puzzles What is a Wasgij jigsaw puzzle? First of all - I did not know that Wasgij was a product by Jumbo Games in the UK. Wasgij is ‘jigsaw’ spelt backwards and is pronounced ‘Woz-gidge’. At this point there are 6 Artists that create the images and ‘creative’ they are! Also there are hints (answers) on the website. There are a range of puzzle images built on 6 different concepts. 1. Wasgij Original 2. Wasgij Destiny 3. Wasgij Mystery 4. Wasgij Christmas 5. Wasgij Imagine…? 6. Wasgij Back to…? The picture is different from what you see on the front of the box making it a real challenge. I hear they are very tricky but rewarding in the end, however I have never attempted one myself. I do have only one in my collection and I have yet to get to it. One thing I know for sure, they are popular enough as I see them accomplished in the jigsaw puzzle Groups on a regular basis. That said, the Puzzler’s posting out the image usually posts out the picture on the box and then ‘hides’ the completed image in the comments. Wasgij was established back in 1997 and there is a tremendous amount of them out there in circulation. The artwork is incredible and creative! I sure hope you have an opportunity to try one.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Colour Me Jigsaw Puzzles Add a different twist to your puzzle hobby by doing Colour Me jigsaw puzzles. Here's some details about them; There are very few that are available in 1000 pieces Most popular ones are in 500 or 300 pieces Ranges from <24 pieces and upwards Average size is 16x20" or 40x5.51cm There are double sided Colour Me jigsaw puzzles - so colour both sides There are velvet backgrounds available as an added feature Some include markers for colouring There is a series of Mandala themes Christmas themes Hanging kits are available inside some brands These are anti-stress activities When searching for them, use word-phrases like; Colour-A-Puzzle Colour-Me-Puzzles Colour-Your-Own-Puzzles The Colour Me type jigsaw puzzles are fairly tricky to assemble as often they are VERY detailed and ALL in black and white pieces. Be certain to use good quality 'mediums' which are actually the tools used to colour the assembled puzzle. Most surfaces of the puzzle paper are somewhat 'dry' and colour may run into other colours if the quality of the water-based marker is a low grade. I used the Artist Loft Duel Tips on the below Colour Me Karmin Mandala Chakras jigsaw puzzle. I found a 24 colour package however still felt it was not enough different colours for the puzzle. The quality was recommended by other 'colouring-hobbyists' for being the best to use on the dry-paper surface of the puzzle. I have to agree because I did test other lower grade water-based markers which did run into other colours and outside the lines. I have not tested Colour Me jigsaw puzzles that include markers.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Funky Borders Obviously we are familiar with the straight cut, round cut and even shaped borders. If you take the border edges off these puzzle types, the image still looks kinda cool with the piece-shapes as the border. Have you ever done that in the past? You should try it for fun! But in this case, we are talking about really funky border cuts. I came across this Mega brand that has a complete series of beautiful images and then it includes an almost ‘royal’ border cut that truly enhances the puzzle once completed. The puzzle gets filled in completely as a square and using the pattern as shown in the article link, you will see the border pieces that get removed to create the pattern as shown. Not all the ‘border’ puzzles are cut like that but the Mega brand ‘Border’ series is. There are a plethora of wood shaped puzzles with funky borders out there too. But because you don’t get an ‘edge’ as a place to get started they tend to force the puzzler to rely on the image to get started. They also make wonderful gifts with such a beautiful enhancement of shaped borders and usually whimsy pieces in the inner area.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Stereogram Jigsaw Puzzles If you have never heard of a Stereogram image then you are in for a real treat as long as you can master the true essence of the image. By that I mean, you need to be able to see what’s inside the ‘looking glass’. Follow me with this one because it's worth viewing. I assembled this Stereogram jigsaw puzzle back in the 1990's, likely 30 years ago. I do not have any photos but I do recall the border as being very daunting and I relied fully on the random shapes of the pieces. On the website you can see in the close up photos, the image pattern is completely repetitive and intentionally blurred at the bottom to generate the 3D Sensation. I was captured immediately by the 3D Sensation of the Stereogram jigsaw puzzle when I read it on the box. It is one of the first times I discovered there are sometimes extras added to a basic puzzle image. Now I constantly look for that unique extra within a puzzle. That said and once the puzzle was assembled, I had it mounted to a thin board and using the 'No-Glue' method I have the shrink plastic wrap covered over it.

I still have this puzzle on the wall as Christmas decor so I can enjoy the 3D Sensation of the built-in Stereogram. If you have been lucky enough to experience the visions inside these images you will know how superb they truly are. Some Stereograms are designed for ‘divergent’ viewing, meaning instead of looking directly at an image, you’re supposed to look right through it by “over diverging” your eyes. Other illusions are meant to be viewed cross-eyed. While some people are able to see the 3D image hidden in a stereogram naturally, others will have to train their eyes to see the illusion.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Stereogram Jigsaw Puzzles Try these methods To see it, you need to hold up the image close to your face at first so the nose touches it and slowly pull the image away. At this distance your eyes cannot focus on the image and they look somewhere behind the image. Then, slowly push the image away from you, while trying to keep the eyes off focus. At some point you will see the hidden image. Another method is to take an object and put it behind the image (about half of a meter behind it). Now, focus on the object behind the image while keeping the eyes looking at the image. The one I found to be most helpful is to have someone hold a piece of flat clear glass (as in a picture frame glass) over the image and let the light shine on the glass. Stare at the ‘light’ reflection or your own profile in the glass for a moment or two and then the image will surface. It’s kinda like looking into the mirror on the wall as if there is a spot on it - rather than looking at yourself in the mirror. Hope THAT makes sense - eek! There are more photos of the Merry Olde Santa jigsaw puzzle in the article on the website and also several other 3D Sensation puzzles plus actual books on these amazing images. Enjoy!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

3D Puzzles Just know this when you are assembling one of the common known Wrebbit foam 3D puzzles. There is Wrebbit 3D AND Wrebbit / Puzz3D. They both produced the same types of 3D puzzles. That said…. We got the inside info for Wrebbit 3D jigsaw puzzles. They are back to producing in Canada again since 2012 with fantastic new images and themes. I was unaware of the history in the Company until I asked if I could post a Wrebbit Puzz 3D on their Facebook page. They politely declined my request with good reasons. Turns out the inventor of the former Wrebbit / Puzz3D company was sold in 2005 so all previous models and puzzles branded Puzz3D became the property of the buying company. The new owners closed all activities of Wrebbit in Canada and moved the production to the USA and stopped shortly thereafter. So in 2012, former employees of Wrebbit decided to relaunch the company under a new but familiar name, Wrebbit 3D. They have designed over 20 different models with many more to come. AND Wrebbit 3D puzzles are back to being produced in Montreal, Canada. Now that’s an interesting tidbit indeed! Now they have also started a Poster Puzzle Series that includes Harry Potter The Previous Wrebbit / Puzz 3D I did not have an opportunity to try the ‘new’ Wrebbit 3D’s yet but I do have this terrific Wrebbit Puzz-3D - check this out: Brand: Wrebbit Puzz-3D Title: Monopoly Game Artist: Parker Brothers Games/Wrebbit Pieces: 755 foam cut Size: various separate sections The Wrebbit Puzz3D Monopoly jigsaw puzzle is also a fully functional game. Research shows it being sold from $50 to over $200.00 online. The images on the website share the details included with the product. The bank holds the money and property cards very conveniently. The hotels and houses have their own little containers. Even the dice are made of foam pieces and the original dice are included. The entire game is completely organized to include as much jigsaw puzzle reproduction as possible.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

3D Puzzles It was my lucky day to locate this at the local Thrift store for $2.00. The back of the box shows the complete set up images and packaging. This Wrebbit Puzz3D was made in Canada (Montreal, Quebec) in 1998 being one of the early products before the company was sold and moved to the USA. I have to admit that I was totally pumped to see this Monopoly jigsaw puzzle game on the shelf. As a youngster, we played the game for hours so there are many fun memories. Now to have it combined into a jigsaw puzzle too, I am delighted to play it again because as an adult it's even more fun. I am really impressed with this idea of combining the game and jigsaw puzzle together with the extra containers for the money, hotels, houses, dice, treasure chest, railroads and other signs. The whole package is conveniently compacted together. Even the Jailhouse is so fun with the drop in from the top to the opening door at the side. This is one I do highly recommend for a 3D jigsaw puzzle plus you get the dual action of playing the game with all the extras! A rare treasure find here!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Section Seven Artist Books

Jigsaw Puzzle Artists

Do you pay attention to the Artist when you buy your jigsaw puzzles? I'll admit the Artist's name is usually not first and foremost for most of the ones I have purchased. But as my jigsaw puzzle hobby grew I have learned a lot about the artists who do have their creativity sold in the form of puzzle products. I get the feeling from many Group members that Artists play a significant role in their hobby selection. Some have even gathered Artists as a specific section of their collection (a little rhyme there .....heehee). I have done the same. Here are some of my favorite jigsaw puzzle Artists but it is not my compete list. Anie Maltais Lori Schory John Padlo Carole Gordon

M.C. Escher Eric Dowdle Josephine Wall Robert Bateman

Paul Palnik Antônia Sobral Dee Rogers Lucas Vandecar

Check out these little tid-bits I have discovered about Artist's jigsaw puzzles. There is the traditional Artist with paint and brushes displaying some very historical scenes. There is the digital Artist using computers to create some of the most stunning images. There is the photographer Artist capturing the world in it's finest second! There is the project Artist who develops or produces physical objects or items in the form of jigsaw puzzle pieces and shapes. Some Artist's will manufacture their own merchandise then market it for sale. Some artists will sell their images to jigsaw puzzle companies for a certain period of time also known as licensing (say 3-4 years). That is how you can see the same image produced by two different jigsaw puzzle companies. Manufacturing companies will pay a percentage of sales to the Artist. Here is a great website titled Art Law. For more information click this link: ART LAW There is a whole world of photos that are produced into jigsaw puzzles annually. Many come in what I refer to as ‘party-pack’ puzzles which are usually a box of 4, or 6 or 10 puzzles in one box. And the images are usually quite stunning. That said, I have discovered over time that many photo images can be tricky to assemble, not impossible but tricky due to the shading within the photo. You won’t really notice it on the image shown on the box but when assembling it, some can plainly see the difference in the shading. I have even had some puzzles where the shade difference is quite outstanding. For the purpose of this section, I have divided the Artist's jigsaw puzzles into the four Categories; PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Artists Traditional Artist's Jigsaw Puzzles Robert Bateman is a well known Canadian Artist born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and clearly has lived his life passionately. If you visit his website you will see a tremendous amount of dedication and contribution to the Art-world and society in general. At the date of writing Robert Bateman is a resident of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic artists. His art is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, as can be seen on the many websites on the internet. It is our pleasure to enjoy his artwork in the form of jigsaw puzzles. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946, Paul Palnik received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts. Paul now lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio. He has created drawings for International and American newspapers, as well as corporations like American Greetings, Coca-Cola, and Dell Publishing. Eric Dowdle carries a line of painted images from around the world. His style is unique, colorful and attractive. The jigsaw puzzle piece shapes are cut somewhere between grid and shaped and the packaging of the puzzle pieces are extremely secure.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Artists Photographer Artist's Jigsaw Puzzles Carole Gordon is one of our favorite photographers for jigsaw puzzles. Her colours are so vivid and stunning which provide a real reward when assembled.

Ken Duncan shares more than just his photography in Australia. He holds workshops at his gallery, sells calendars and he created his brand of Panograph jigsaw puzzles.

Anne Geddes from Queensland Australia is quite famous for her photos on many company brands. Puzzle Hobby - Anne Geddes

Project Artist's Jigsaw Puzzles Antonia Sobral is an amazing Artist jigsaw puzzle creator. I have received a wonderful gift of her work. I cannot give her enough credit for all the efforts she puts into her project. I share that project in a different Chapter.

Dee Rogers does hand cut custom wooden jigsaw puzzles. She sells them on Platinum Puzzles website. Her choice of images are so attractive and her wooden cuts are some of the most unique cuts.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Jigsaw Puzzle Artists Digital Artist's Jigsaw Puzzles

Anie Maltais is 6 years into the Digital Artist's Jigsaw Puzzles. She has self produced her own creative designs successfully. View her website store at JaCaRou Puzzles

John Padlo is an Artist who took the Kickstarter road to produce his jigsaw puzzle titled RayGun Extravaganza. He was successful in his venture.

Lori Schory is very popular for her attractive, colorful and delightful images that are often sold as shaped jigsaw puzzles. She produces images that cover a variety of themes and seasonal holidays. Her works of art are truly amazing.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Books About Jigsaw Puzzles Do you have questions about the value of your vintage jigsaw puzzles? How much is your collection really worth? Want to know how to create your own jigsaw puzzles? There are many more questions that could be easily listed here, so we are going to try to make the Jigsaw Puzzle Book Gallery on the website a 'go-to' place to help you find your answers. I have started with the first 2 books I have read and reviewed below. As time permits I will be reviewing other helpful books and other resourceful links that are information based. Book #1 Author: Anne D. Williams Jigsaw Puzzles - An Illustrated History and Price Guide Does your jigsaw puzzle hobby hold a vintage gem or have you located a very rare looking one? Whichever the case may be, you will have a better understanding of the value attached to it by referring to this book. Keeping in mind the date of the book, you can look beyond that because a great portion of information in the book is based on details that apply to value. Take the following example. Using Chapter 4, the value of jigsaw puzzles is broken down by many criteria and you will see your 'prize-puzzle' value is based on more than just the age. This is common among collector's items such as stamps, coins, baseball cards etc. The point being shared here is that your puzzle has value based on several conditions. IF you want to review a price guide or look for a particular puzzle within a certain era, Anne definitely has it covered. The book illustrates 750 photos with several in colour.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Books About Jigsaw Puzzles Book #2 The Jigsaw Puzzle - Piecing Together A History by Anne D. Williams is by far the most interesting non-fiction and pleasurable read I have had the pleasure to encounter. I am simply and continuously amazed at all the different jigsaw puzzles that appear non-stop in our jigsaw puzzle world. BUT, I can tell you this.... Anne sheds a fantastic light on the early history and fact finding timeline of jigsaw puzzles and writes it in such an organized flow which gave me a very long and enjoyable read. It's rare I do not want a book to end but I think I could have read this one if it continued on to 500 pages or more. She provided many superb interesting details and a plethora amount of information associated with jigsaw puzzles. I actually felt myself evolving with the history of ancient jigsaw puzzles to the era of the early stages of computer jigsaw puzzles - that's how it flowed - along with excellent images and tidbits of this and that - AND she coated it with a her own personal experiences associated with jigsaw puzzles which attached a human connection to the reader.

Also included were a couple of appendix's and one was of particular interest. It was titled 'Making Jigsaw Puzzles for Fun or for Sale'. It touches on the cutting of wooden jigsaw puzzles and patterns while following up to computerized technologies. There is also a section with resources for Puzzle Entrepreneurs which provides titles of books and magazines to research should you be interested in this idea. The second Appendix is filled with several websites for puzzlers. It has links for museums, libraries, antiques, collectables, history, wooden, retailers, custom, virtual, business and trade magazines. As I have said at the beginning of my review, this was like having a pleasant conversation with another jigsaw puzzle hobbyist. I highly recommend reading her book if you would like to take a closer look at your passion.

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Puzzle Record Keeping Books This is a good space to tuck in a couple of record log books for those who like to keep track of their assembled puzzles on paper. Thank goodness we still have these available. Book #1 Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzle Log Book Are you an avid Jigsaw Puzzler? You need somewhere to track all those completed puzzles! This nifty pocket-sized logbook is perfect for you. For the puzzle connoisseur, you are able to record essential information in template form. Each template consists of: puzzle title and artist the size and number of pieces your opinion of the amount of fun in building this puzzle how you acquired the puzzle start and finish dates missing pieces? if you lent it out - to whom? and returned? difficulty level Also it has an Index to make easy access to each puzzle's information. This ultimate jigsaw puzzle logbook will prove indispensable for all serious puzzlers. Book size: 6" x 9", soft cover, 155 pages. Purchase this great little tracker for yourself or for the puzzle lover in your life!!

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Puzzle Record Keeping Books Book #2

BePuzzled Jigsaw Puzzle Record Book Now here's a handy little jigsaw puzzle record book to help keep track of completed jigsaw puzzles. I like the fact that the cover is a soft-cover as it is lightweight and flexible to put into your purse if you are going puzzle shopping - you can always double check if you have purchased the puzzles you see on the store shelf. A hard cover is extra weight to carry around. Upon opening the book, you get a nice dot-to-dot puzzle (if you like) and you can claim the book as yours and/ or add others too. The paper is a good quality, not shiny so the ink or pencil won't run or smudge. I have filled in the details that are available plus a couple of ratings that I can refer to in the future. I like that it has a section for the 'Borrowed/Returned' as it is not uncommon to share puzzles and we rarely tend to keep track of that in our head LOL - I would be more apt to record that in this book if I did lend out my puzzles.....due to today's circumstances I have not lent any out. On one of the details, I have referred to some of these jigsaw puzzles as gifts but actually they are puzzles that I chose to review for the puzzle Company. I might also suggest the "Bought/Gift" box to be a good place for the price if you know it and/or where it was purchased as well. The Start/Finish dates are handy. I am lucky enough to have a coloured printer and I have the technology to scale images small enough to fit into the photos box/space provided which is plenty big enough to recall the puzzle by the image. It's always a very nice added touch to have the coloured photo included with the Record. You can check out the details on BOTH books by clicking the following link. Puzzle Hobby - Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzle Log Book

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

Section Eight Freebies Merchandise

Incidental Ideas Freebies YAY!!! Free Stuff! And why not.....it does not take me long to create these jigsaw puzzle track record sheets for your hobby. Do you keep track? I really wished I had from way back in the day. Never thought of it then....I'd have a loads of sheets. Also take a look at some of the other free jigsaw puzzle related items you can download and print. Feel Free to pass them along to your puzzle pals too. Jigsaw Puzzle Track Record Sheets Do you keep a track-record of ALL the jigsaw puzzles you have ever assembled over the years? Don't you wish you did? Now you can. If you would like to download this sheet from the website it is listed under the Store tab - Freebies

Jigsaw Puzzle Wish List Here's a sheet to keep a Wish List record. This way you can watch for other puzzlers who are selling them or take it with you when you go jigsaw puzzle shopping. If you would like to download this sheet from the website it is listed under the Store tab Freebies

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

SHOP CREATIVE DESIGNS Shop from our Creative Designs Collection

PuzzleHobby has a Merchant shop that carries the following products using Slogans from our Creative Design Collection. Travel Mugs Coffee Mugs Water Bottles Posters Wall Art Jigsaw Puzzles Pillows Throw Blankets Post Cards

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SHOP MERCHANT PRODUCTS Shop our new merchant apparel

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SHOPShopMERCHANT PRODUCTS our new merchant collections

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JIGSAW Magazine PUZZLE DIRECTORY Resource Board ARTISTS

Shelley Davies Anie Maltais Lori Schory Eric Dowdle Dee Rogers Carole Gordon Robert Bateman

BOOKS

There's More To Jigsaw Puzzles Than Pieces Jigsaw Puzzles - An Illustrated History and Price Guide The Jigsaw Puzzle - Piecing Together A History Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzle Log Book

PUZZLERS

Keetha Broyles Jolanda Schnieder Mari Navarro Sherri Demos

PUZZLE HOBBY TIPS AND TRICKS

BRANDS

Cobble Hill Puzzles Company JaCaRou Puzzles Ceaco Puzzles

EVENTS

Coming Soon

PUZZLERS

BLOGGERS

Linda Richard Klodya Tremblay

ONLINE STORES

Marieva-puzzles Puzzle-Groups-Florida Puzzle-Olympics-Training Arte et Marte Puzzles PuzzleUp Puzzles

PUZZLERS

UZZLE with

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We would love for you to share your jigsaw puzzle passion with us too. In return we will send you a free copy that includes your submission. How it works: One month free issue: Submit your puzzle review and images. We will notify you when your submission is selected and you will receive a free issue showing your submission in the magazine. One year free subscription: Become a monthly Contributor to receive a one year subscription. Simply prepare 12 jigsaw puzzle reviews with great photos within one month. If your 12 reviews get selected, you will be added as a Contributor and you will receive a monthly issue for 1 year. There are guidelines and copyrights information to review on the website. Use this link to signup: PuzzleHobby Magazine For media advertising see this Media Magazine Rates article. Then use the following link to make contact with us. We will get back to you during regular business day hours to set up your AD. Media Magazine Rates Submission Form

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Puzzle Hobby Tips And Tricks

Articles inside

Books About Jigsaw Puzzles

Free Tracking Sheet Ideas

Artists Who License Their Work

3D Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles

Stereogram Jigsaw Puzzles

Plastic Jigsaw Puzzles

Funky Borders Jigsaw Puzzles

Wasgij Jigsaw Puzzles

Shaped Jigsaw Puzzles

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

Puzzle Lighting Is So Important

How To Glue A Puzzle Or No Glue Method

Frames Hanging It On The Wall

How, Where To Store Completed Puzzles

How To Replace Missing Pieces

Tables For Sitting And Standing

DIY Lid Stand - Download Template

Puzzle Company Brands - Rated

Accessory 4 - Puzzle Scoop Review

Dust, Mould, Smells, Pet Fur, Musty Puzzle Pieces

Accessory 2 - Mats Review

Accessory 3 - Puzzle Lid Stands Review

Accessory 1 - Trays Review

Great Ideas For Boards

Tips And Tricks Generally Speaking

Used Or Previously Loved Jigsaw Puzzles

Benefits Of Doing Jigsaw Puzzles

Puzzle Piece Sizes | Puzzle Total Size In Measurements

Counting Pieces Does Not Confirm All The Pieces Are There

Sorting Or Raking The Pieces

Keynotes About Jigsaw Puzzles

Difficult Images - Spot Them Before You Buy Them

For Newbies - Choosing a Puzzle