How To Save Or Frame a Jigsaw Puzzle Without Using Messy Glues

If you’re a jigsaw puzzle lover, chances are you’ll occasionally work a puzzle that you’ll want to keep and frame. I completed one a couple of weeks ago that I knew from the beginning I would want to keep and possibly frame for sentimental reasons. Nancy Drew and I were best buds when I was around 8-11 years old. I wanted to to be just like her when I grew up! 😉

I’ve never framed a puzzle so I did a bit of Googling to see what the process is for framing one. Almost all the information I found online suggested using various glue-type products that were applied by pouring the glue right over the top of the puzzle. Yikes!

Yes, that works and it will hold a puzzle together for framing, but all the tutorials I found said that it also changed the appearance of the puzzle, sometimes giving it a mat finish. Plus, it’s super messy and sticky! Not wanting to change the appearance of my puzzle, I searched a bit more to see if there were any other alternatives.

Nancy Drew Jigsaw Puzzle

 

In my Googling I found this product, Puzzle Presto Peel and Stick Puzzle Saver and ordered a couple of packages. I ordered the size that is supposed to work for a 1,000 piece puzzle since that’s the size of the Nancy Drew puzzle, as well as most of the puzzles I typically buy.

Puzzle Presto Peel & Stick Puzzle Saver

 

Here’s how the peel and stick pieces looked out of the package. (See picture below) There are instructions on the back of each piece and they are excellent. The process is so unbelievably easy, you hardly need instructions.

The first step in this process is turning your puzzle over. I always assembled my puzzles on a puzzle board that came with a hardcover, so that makes the process of turning the puzzle over pretty easy. (See the puzzleboard I use here: Puzzleboard.)

If you assembled your puzzle on a table or a similar surface, you’ll probably need to slide your puzzle onto a very hard, flat piece of cardboard, then place another hard piece of cardboard on top in order to flip/turn your puzzle.

I find some puzzle pieces interlock so well together, you can sometimes slide your fingers up under the top/side edges and left the puzzle up vertically to move it, but not all puzzles are that “tight” once assembled.

Peel & Stick Puzzle Saver

 

Before peeling off the backing on the sticky sheets, it’s a good idea to experiment around to see which way you want to apply them. At first I thought I’d apply them this way, but there was so much overlap, I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. It turns out, that would have worked fine. Having a larger overlap doesn’t matter at all.

How to Save & Frame a Jigsaw Puzzle

 

I ultimately decided to place them on the back of the puzzle this way, starting in the left corner and working my way across the puzzle. One thing I loved, when you apply the sheets, there is no need to worry about a bubble or anything like that getting trapped under the paper. The sheets go down super easy and smooth. This process was so easy, it’s almost scary!

Save A Jigsaw Puzzle Without Using Glue

 

As you apply each sheet, you overlap it onto the previous sheet by about 1/2 inch. As mentioned, it’s okay if it overlaps more than a 1/2 inch.

The directions warn you to not extend the adhesive sheets over the edge of the puzzle. Instead, you want to keep the edges of the adhesive sheets about 1/8 of an inch away from the puzzle edges. Again, this was easy, not a problem.

Frame & Save Puzzle Without Glue

 

Here’s where I placed the last two sheets…they went across the bottom. (I took this picture below just before peeling off the back protective sheet that has the instructions.)

Save Puzzle For Framing Without Using Glue

 

Once you have the adhesive sheets in place and smoothed out, the directions suggest you use a rolling-pin to completely smooth everything out. They recommend you apply firm pressure to ensure all the puzzle pieces are pressed well down onto the adhesive paper. I was especially careful around all the edges, making sure those were pressed down and well attached.

Once the rolling is done which takes like 45 seconds, the directions recommend you wait a few hours before lifting the puzzle up. That gives the adhesive sheets time to do their magic and create a strong bond.

This whole process from start to finish took about 15 minutes at the most, and that included stopping to read directions a bunch.  I could probably do it in about 10 minutes now that I know how it works. It’s so easy!

How To Prepare a Jigsaw Puzzle for Framing

 

The puzzle saver came with an adhesive hanger but I didn’t use that since I plan to frame this puzzle. I’ll most likely use an inexpensive poster-type frame for it.

Save & Frame a Puzzle Without Using Glue

 

You know your puzzle is stuck well when you can do this! 🙂 I’m very happy with how the Puzzle Presto Peel and Stick Puzzle Saver worked. I also love that the puzzle still looks exactly the same as it did before, something you don’t usually see when using the glue method. Will definitely be using this system again if I ever decide to save another puzzle for framing.

This puzzle Peel and Stick saver is available here: Puzzle Presto Peel and Stick Puzzle Saver. If you’re a Nancy Drew fan, the puzzle is available here: Nancy Drew Puzzle

How To Save or Frame a Puzzle Without Using Glue

 

You’ll find the puzzle board I love to use when working my puzzles here: Puzzle Board  It really saves my back and will hold puzzles up to 1,000 pieces in size. Plus, it makes flipping a puzzle for framing very easy since it comes with a hard cover that fits on top over the puzzle to keep the puzzle free from dust when you’re not working on it.

Puzzle Board, No Bending Over Saves Back

 

Pssst: I post almost daily to Instagram. Follow Between Naps on the Porch on Instagram here: Between Naps On The Porch.

Subscribe for post updates (they’re free) here: Subscribe.

*If a post is sponsored or a product was provided at no charge, it will be stated in post. Some links may be affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. *



 Never miss a Between Naps on the Porch post! 

*Subscribe to have updates delivered to your Inbox. 



Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this product and how easy it is to use. I plan to order these sheets and preserve a puzzle for framing that I recently completed. I love your Nancy Drew puzzle! I was also a fan of hers. I wanted a roadster like hers! have a good day!

    • Oh, me too, Linda! 🙂

    • pam ~ crumpety cottage says

      I wanted a Ned like hers! 🙂 (and a Roadster) 😉

      • lol Yeah, Ned sounded pretty nice, too. How come we never hear of guys named Ned now?

        • pam ~ crumpety cottage says

          If I ever met a Ned, which I have never done, I’d instantly like him just because of my Nancy Drew stories. 😀 I suppose names are all just too cyclical. I grew up with Susans and Nancys and Debbies and Kathys and I never hear of anybody naming their girls those names these days. *sigh* They’ll all probably be back in fashion in 50 – 75 years.

          • Dorothy J Clement says

            Not all Neds are nice men, so watch out! Ned Snellgrove was a real lady-killer: he was convicted of ruthlessly murdering Carmen Rodriguez and Karen Osmun. He attacked Mary Ellen Renard in 1987 too! I wish he’d gotten the Chair but he got 60 years instead! That was 2003.
            All the best, and watch out!
            Dot

    • ed spiering says

      I am retired frame puzzles to pass the time and give for gifts used the glue did not know about this product will try thank you for the info

    • My puzzle is a walt Disney collectable. I am concerned, will the sticky backing pull the paper backing off the puzzle pieces if I decide to dismantle it?

      • Irene, that possibly could happen if you tried to remove the backing to take it apart one day. I wouldn’t use this to mount/frame a puzzle that you may want to take back apart again.

  2. Thanks Susan! I love this idea!! I enjoy putting puzzles together and yes there are some I would have loved to preserve but never felt comfortable using the glue, now I have the best way. love, love love it!
    Anne

  3. How do you get the puzzle turned over with the back facing up without it coming apart? I love the idea of preserving a puzzle but am stumped as to how it stays together.

    • Hi Pat,
      I just slid it onto a piece of poster board and then placed the brown cover from the puzzle board over that and flipped the board. If you have two pieces of heavy poster board or dry erase board, that works well for flipping it, too.

  4. Susan….You have renewed my interest in puzzles and I praise you for completing the Nancy Drew puzzle. What wonderful memories that brings back. You probably told us where you found your puzzle but I forget ( do lots of that!) Could you please repeat that information again for us who
    delight in an occasional senior moment? Thanks! and keep “puzzling” us with your new projects!

  5. I truly believe in a collective consciousness! I am actually spring cleaning and in that process found that one of my closets had a treasure trove of puzzles. One is a map of Georgia that I might want to frame. This all took place before your magical “puzzle posts,” so I know there is something in the Southern wind that connects its women. All this info will serve me well. Thanks, Susan!

  6. That’s pretty expensive. $10+ to save just ONE puzzle. You can get a can of good spray adhesive ( 3M Super 77 for about $15) and save many, MANY puzzles. Take your puzzle outside, spray the back, and use any paper to cover the back. I’ve used newspaper, craft paper, wrapping paper, and even a thin roll of cork. Just trim even with the puzzle edge with an exacto knife.

    • Bernie, $10 doesn’t seem like a lot to save a 1,000 puzzle you really love once in a great while. Thanks for your suggestion, too!

  7. Great tip! Will be sending to my sister. And love that Nancy Drew puzzle. I read most of those books, if not all.

    • Fond memories! 🙂

      • irene chaffee says

        I have a few completed puzzles that I want to frame , thanx.. and btw.. I loved reading Nancy Drew also when I was a young lass.. When I looked at the finished puzzle I searched for my favorite story.. and found it.. “The Mystery of the Hidden Staircase” .. just seeing that book cover made me smile.. thanx

        • Thanks, Irene! Glad that post was helpful. I really like that puzzle, I even bought another one so that I can enjoy working it again sometime. I guess today’s kids will grow up having fond memories of Harry Potter books the way we do our Nancy Drew books.

  8. What a great idea! I’ve used glue on puzzles before and have always been disappointed. I’ll have to order some. Thanks!

  9. I use to do jigsaw puzzles but now I do quilts. A lot of the same fun with color and pattern working.
    That being said I “LOVE” the Nancy Drew puzzle you shared today.
    Can you tell me where you found it or where I might get one? Please don’t tell me its been in you puzzle stash for 20 years…

  10. Susan, this is a good thing to know. We have used the glue to preserve one puzzle . It was a map of the location of our home. Where our home was on the map , the piece was shaped like a house! I shall file this if we ever want to save another, it looks a lot simpler. Thanks for all your tips!
    Kathy

  11. Oh wow, that looks great, can’t wait to see it framed and hanging!! Thanks for the tut and for researching this product!! You do the coolest things…….

    • Thanks, Cleo! I am loving the puzzles! They are so relaxing to do in the evening while listening to Audible books. I just finished Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express…a pretty far-fetched tale! lol

  12. Linda S. in NE says

    Susan, You are so nice to your readers, doing all that research and sharing it with us. Thank You. I am just a tidbit confused (doesn’t take much!) In the picture where you used the two sheets to glue the bottom of the puzzle, a different logo is showing on the top side, obviously the instruction side you mentioned. Then in the next picture w/ the rolling pin, all the backing of the glue sheets is matching. I was also wondering if the blue/white backing paper is permanent, or after the final drying time, does that peel off and leave a clear surface?

    • So funny you asked about that, Linda. I was just rereading the post and realized that probably looked confusing and was actually writing in a bit more about that. Great minds think alike! 🙂
      In that photo, I had just placed the last two sheets down to see how they would fit there but hadn’t peeled off the protective sheet yet…the one with the instructions which is what you can see in that picture. Once I peeled off the protective piece, I was able to turn it over to stick it down. Then it looked like all the others and was ready to be rolled over with the rolling pin. Yep, that blue and white grid looking paper is permanent. It won’t be visible though, once it’s framed or hanging.

  13. Diane Westbrook says

    Hi Susan! We discussed puzzles awhile ago when you first started talking about them. I shared that I love, love puzzles and do them when I visit my brother and sister in law…the Wysocki puzzles in particular. I am so happy that you have ventured into the puzzle world! I spent a great deal of time when I was 8+ years old reading Nancy Drew. I am much older than you and I have a great deal of Nancy Drew books from the late forties and early fifties..those with the blue tweed covers. They always entranced me and I, too wanted to grow up to be just like Nancy….what wonderful adventures. When I got older I would search for them in old book stores and have quite a few with the solid blue covers..perhaps from the late 30’s era. I think I will just have to order that puzzle!!!
    I read some of your older posts yesterday and the one that had a white “terrarium” ? and a rabbit with a basket caught my eye.. I have that same terrarium and I have the rabbit made into a lamp! I visited a friend who lived in Conyers and we went shopping and antiquing all over the area. I found the lamp in a quaint shop in small town where the owner made figurines into lamps. I love it and it was so fun to see that someone else had that sweet rabbit. Love, love your site and so enjoy it each day!

    • pam ~ crumpety cottage says

      Diane, our intrepid leader and number one porch napper has done that too! She had a favorite dog figurine made into a lamp that lives in her downstairs family room. She has posted about it. How neat that earlier post had the same terrarium and rabbit. 🙂 I love when that happens.

  14. That’s such a great puzzle Susan.. brings back memories of reading Nancy Drew in bed every night before sleep… loved those books!
    I still have my original set all boxed up in the attic… along with my “Ideal” 19″ Shirley Temple doll and my beloved “Scootles” baby doll which I pushed all over the neighborhood in her buggy… quite the little mama I was… lol.
    I found out that we have a “Mind Games” store 10 minutes from my house and they carry “Cobble Hill” puzzles… so I made a quick phone call and they have the Nancy Drew puzzle and it’s on sale!… so I’m off to pick one up.
    You always have the best ideas… I hadn’t thought of those old books for years and now I can’t wait to flip through the pages again and do the puzzle.

  15. Great suggestion – tried and true – the best kind! I have a sister who works many puzzles and I will tell her about this. Loved reading all the comments too. 😉

  16. Thank you so much for sharing this…I put a puzzle out on a table at my Middle School Library and invite the kids to take a break during the day or after school to work together. They just LOVE this…and it is a team building experience, too. They just finished a 1000 piece Statue of Liberty and we want to preserve it and hang it in the library. Check out the Twitter feed on our website to see them with the puzzles – http://wilsonsd.libguides.com/content.php?pid=308488
    Will order this stuff right away to complete our process. Also should help since we “lost” two pieces while completing the puzzle – One student suggested putting the photo from the box underneath and it blends right in…this should hold it in place.
    Loved Nancy Drew , too ! Your puzzle is great !

    • Thanks, Ann! Ann, I’ve read on some sites where if you contact the company who made the puzzle, they will often mail you any missing pieces. It might be worth a try. 🙂

  17. Thank you ! Great idea…I will try that. Feeling lucky that in Middle School we are only missing two pieces !!! Thanks again for your great blog…getting ready to clean my screen porch after the long winter…and to enjoy it !

  18. Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. My childhood on Friday or was it Saturday nights. WOuldn’t it be awesome to find a puzzle with The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, Charles Angeles? Like an Ode to the 70s-80s? TV Land Special Puzzle

  19. crumpety cottage says

    Susan, when you first started talking about puzzles I mentioned my interest but reluctance to buy any (I play online) because of all the projects that I want to finish, first. However …. (haha) I decided I couldn’t wait and would buy just one and give it a try. Unfortunately, the quality is not that great. The pieces are thin and some of them are even a little damaged at corners. So, I was wondering if you or your readers might suggest brands that they know are sturdy and well made?

    I also love the way you commit yourself and jump in all the way once you decide to do something. I’m talking about your investment in such things as puzzle mats and that great adjustable puzzle board you work on. And
    info is great. Thanks for sharing.

    I love the idea of having a ‘puzzle wall,’ somewhere. A place for all your finished and framed puzzles to be displayed. The images are typically gorgeous, so that could be fun, even if just in a back hallway, back staircase or out of the way spot. I see such a puzzle wall in your future. 🙂

    • I know what you mean, Pam. I purchased one that was like that. I also bought one that was a miserable experience to put together because there was no variety in the shapes. The entire 1000 piece puzzle was cute in about 3 or 4 shapes total and many of the pieces were identical in shape and size, so they would fit in multiple places. Even the color of the piece didn’t help. It took me forever just to get the edge/frame put together because of that. It was a nightmare to do. It’s the only puzzle I’ve bought and abandoned after just putting the edge pieces and a few sections together. It just wasn’t any fun to do. I have in a box to donate to Goodwill, although I should probably throw in the trash to save the next soul from fighting it. lol

      After that experience, I swore off buying anymore SunsOut puzzles, but I accidentally bought another one. I opened it and it appears to be much better quality, at least the pieces are thicker and sturdier. The bad one that I abandoned was one I purchased on eBay, so I think it was an older puzzle…thus not the best quality or well-designed. So sticke with newer puzzles.

      Ravensburger makes great puzzles. I’m currently working on one by Buffalo and it’s good quality. So far, all the puzzles I’ve purchased from Puzzle Warehouse have been great. Here’s a link to their site: http://www.puzzlewarehouse.com/

      Hopefully the Sunsout puzzle I purchased recently and that just arrived, will be better. The pieces are thicker and better quality so that’s good. You can see it here: http://www.puzzlewarehouse.com/The-Natural-Philosopher-67552so.html

      This is the one I just started: http://www.puzzlewarehouse.com/Signature-Collection-Cinque-Terre-1000pc-1418bg.html
      I think it’s going to be a challenging one with all the water! The pieces feel nice, though…and it’s by Buffalo.

      Pam, for more ideas on who makes quality puzzles, check out the comments on this post. https://betweennapsontheporch.net/adjustable-tilt-puzzle-boards-save-necks-and-backs/

      I am super picky in that I have to LOVE the picture I’m working on or I don’t really want to do it. There are so many beautiful ones at Puzzle Warehouse, I’ll be puzzling for a long, long time. lol Sorry you had a frustrating experience. Give it another try!

    • White Mountain puzzles are my favorite puzzles. They are very sturdy, variety of piece sizes and interlock great.

  20. pam ~ crumpety cottage says

    Thanks for all the great info, Susan. And I will re-read that old post. I remember seeing someone raving about Ravensburger at Amazon. I think they said they are German made and the cuts are very precise (typical top notch German engineering.) I’ll watch for those brands.

    I just looked at your links and gosh, those are some really gorgeous puzzles! I hope you frame them all and that becomes a thing for you. What a great memento of your work and the fun involved in assembling the puzzle. Oh my goodness, that could be a new feature. Puzzle Weekends ~ You show off the new puzzle you made that week. 😀 Haha, I’m kidding. But you did pick some great ones to work with. Happy Puzzling.

    • Pam, I just remembered, Barnes and Noble carries Ravensburger, too. They had some great puzzles last time I was in there. I ended up buying a whimsical bookshelf puzzle, forgotten the name of the artist. Anyway, if you live near a B & N, check out the ones they have. I think they will all be good quality puzzles. Welcome to my addiction! 🙂

  21. Thanks for all the great puzzle info Susan and others.

    On another note..
    I don’t know if you’ve heard of the documentary “Life Itself”
    I watched it last night and there was an interesting “puzzle” story in the film.
    The documentary is about Roger Ebert the film critic who gained fame for the long running TV show… “Siskel & Ebert: At the movies”
    anyways… long story short…
    Ebert presented Laura Dern with a Sundance tribute, Dern in return sent him a heartfelt letter with a special memento.
    It was a jigsaw puzzle Dern received from Lee Strasberg who received it from Marilyn Monroe who received it from Alfred Hitchcock.
    Ebert later gave the puzzle to director Ramin Bahrani, with the instructions that one day, “You have to give it to someone else who deserves it.”

    Bahrani hasn’t assembled the puzzle (for fear of wear and tear on the pieces) but he displayed it for the film and told the story.
    It’s a lovely old wooden puzzle in it’s original tin box.
    The story of it being treasured and passed along from one to another was very sweet and sentimental.

    • What a neat story, Catalynn! I would love to see that documentary. I’ll have to check and see if it comes up on Netflix sometime soon. Thanks for telling me about it, I will look for it. I wonder what the puzzle looked like. Wonder if Hitchcock was the original owner. So interesting!

  22. I took a few screenshots off the video for you.
    Apparently it isn’t the original tin box as I thought (guess I wasn’t listening to that part closely enough because I was so engrossed in the rest of the story…. lol)
    I was hoping the tin had a picture of the puzzle on it’s label but it looks to be a tobacco box?
    Anyways here they are..
    http://i.imgur.com/nepIiAK.png
    http://i.imgur.com/Nq2KWyM.png
    http://i.imgur.com/3gzAq2H.png

    Can’t really tell what the puzzle might look like, the interviewer asked Ramin Bahrani and he didn’t know either because he’s never assembled it.
    I think if it was mine I’d have to do the puzzle just to see what it is! 🙂

    • I’m with you, I would put it together one time and take pictures. I would just handle each piece very carefully and take my time so I didn’t handle them anymore than necessary in putting it together. It can’t be too big if it fits in the tin, so probably wouldn’t take that long. It looks like it may be a wood puzzle, those aren’t quite as fragile as the paper ones. Now I’m dying to know what it shows. 🙂 I wonder if Marilyn ever put it together? Thanks for those pictures, Catalynn!

    • pam ~ crumpety cottage says

      Catalynn, this likely won’t mean anything to you, but I got a kick out of seeing that tobacco box because years ago I started reading books by a mystery writer who wrote about a character in England who smoked Balkan Sobranies (which I had never heard of.) She always described him as plucking out a pink, turquoise, orange or purple Balkan Sobranie from his case, lol. 😀 That was fun to see. Thanks.

  23. oh how interesting… I’ve never heard them but wondered about the graphics and writing on the box.. thanks for sharing that tidbit! 🙂

    I was sitting here with a cup of tea and looked at the pics again and I think I might have identified something… it looks like someones eye and maybe the side of a nose.
    Maybe a child’s eye?
    Take a peek and see what you think.
    I drew a little arrow pointing to what I’m referring to.
    http://i.imgur.com/AlrBgJx.png

  24. pam ~ crumpety cottage says

    Hmm .. that’s too hard to see on my computer, I’m afraid. What amazes me about that puzzle are the edges! That looks like it would be a tough one to put together, particularly if you don’t have a picture to reference. They are such thick, sturdy looking pieces though. I sure wish someone would put it together! 🙂

  25. Pam I too wondered about the edges and the difficulty of assembling the puzzle…. especially as you said.. without a picture to reference.

    I also did a little Googling around to see if there was any mention of what the picture might be but no luck so far… however I found some interesting information… apparently Marilyn Monroe collected jigsaw puzzles and was a real puzzle enthusiast and a voracious reader!
    Her friends and colleagues often gave her puzzles or books as gifts.
    I never would have guessed.. just shows you can’t judge a book by it’s cover 🙂

  26. Just love that puzzle!

  27. Jo A Glaze says

    I did a beautiful US Marine puzzle in honor of my grandson’s graduation. I have never wanted to frame one of my puzzles before and cringed at the thought of the mess of using glue. I am so thankful for your posting and will place the finished puzzle next to his Marine uniform photo. Thanks a ton for making the prospect so much easier.

  28. where do you find the frames for your puzzles ?

    • I haven’t framed one yet, but when I do get around to doing that, I’ll probably check at Michaels for a poster type frame. I’ve seen poster frames in there. I bet they have them on Amazon, too…probably for less.

  29. Polly Keller says

    I also tried contact paper, cut it into two pieces for our 750 piece puzzle to give an overlap in the middle, and rolled with a rolling pin for 5 minutes. Looks great and then I hung two command strips and put it up. The whole thing cost $3.00. Worked as well as the puzzle saver product I bought on line, the one that didn’t really have enough material for the 1000piece puzzle it claimed to fit. So I finished it off with duct tape. Worked fine.

    To flip over the puzzles, I just picked them up by the top corners, let them hang, and SLOWLY put them back down with the art size facing down. Had to refit maybe four pieces each time. Easier than I expected.

  30. Michael Dolker says

    I like your approach but I may have discovered an even simpler one: AC Moore sells U-clip based picture-frames (marketed as “Classic Metal Picture frames for prints and Photos”). They come in 2×2 dimensions from huge to small. All I had to buy extra was a styrofoam type back-panel which I pared down in size to the dimension or the frame by using a box cutter. Working on a table-top I carefully slid my completed jig saw puzzle onto the Styrofoam back-panel, placed the glass-frame over it, and applied manual pressure from behind the back-panel to carefully lay frame and puzzle on its face. The metal U-clips, once snapped in from the rear pin the puzzle permanently against the glass pane. I encountered no slippage or disintegration of the pieces (not even for larger dimension puzzles) and they now grace my walls.

  31. Erin Delgado says

    I love the name of your site! My question is, do these adhesives have to be put on the back of the puzzle? How did you get your puzzle turned over without falling apart? I want to start my puzzle but want to make sure I wont have to move it and risk it falling apart. Thanks!

  32. Do you think this would work on shiny/foil puzzles? The material is a bit heavier so I wasn’t sure if it would still hold together without actual glue. Here’s the puzzle I have.

    http://www.puzzlewarehouse.com/Above-the-Clouds-Holographic-7350zz.html

    • Pretty puzzle! As long as the back of the puzzle is still the type material that the puzzle saver can stick to, I think it would work fine. If the puzzle is a good bit heavier than a typical puzzle, you may not want to stand it up like I did with my Nancy Drew puzzle, until you put it inside a frame. The Puzzle Saver is really sticky. I still haven’t gotten around to putting my puzzle inside a frame, but it’s still holding together great, and I have it standing up leaning against a wall. But since you mentioned this puzzle is a bit heavier, you may want to frame it before tilting it upright for a long period, just to be on the safe side. I just don’t have experience using it on a heavier puzzle, but I have been impressed with how well it has held my Nancy Drew puzzle together.

  33. my daughter and I are avid puzzlers; however, we never refer to the box picture while work is in progress—–we call it “cheating” to peek. A bit more difficult, but much more fun to have to guess where the colors go. Try it, you’ll enjoy. We just completed a 2000 piece puzzle!

  34. Christina Waister says

    How did you manage to flip the jigsaw onto its back to use this product?

    • The puzzle board that I do my puzzles on (seen at the end of the post) comes with a flat top that you can hook into place atop the puzzle. You can see it underneath the puzzle board in this post. After attaching the top, the puzzle can be turned over onto that top and then slid onto a piece of foam board.

      If you are doing a puzzle on a table, you could probably slide the finished puzzle onto a piece of foam board, then put another piece of foam board on top to sandwich the puzzle and flip it that way. I’d tape the boards together first before flipping it and really hold the center together well to keep it from coming apart between the two foam boards.

      Because of the puzzle board I do my puzzles on can be tilted up, I sometimes just lift up the lower/bottom part of the puzzle (if the pieces are interlocking and holding together well) and slide the puzzle right off the puzzle board onto the foam board, where I used another piece of foam board to flip it.

  35. Thank you so much for this post! I’m completing a 500 piece puzzle of Cinderella’s castle…the real one that’s located in Germany! I would love to frame it and didn’t like the glue idea. I found the Peel & Stick at my local fabric store, going after work to purchase. I also grew up with Nancy Drew, books and tv show! Great memories!! 🙂

  36. Thanks for taking the time to make this. I have been going back and forth on what to do with a sentimental puzzle and have been afraid of gluing for the same reasons you listed. I’m ordering some of those sheets right now.

  37. Chad Martin says

    I successfully saved a puzzle on a foamcore board by using window sealing plastic and double stick tape that can be shrunk with a hair dryer.

  38. U never told how to turn over the puzzle.

    • Louella, I put my puzzle together on this puzzle board here: http://amzn.to/2wWtO68 It’s the one I linked to at the end of the post. That puzzle board has a cover that fits over it for when you want to stop working on a a puzzle temporarily and put it away, or move it to another room. Once the puzzle was complete, I placed that cover on top, locked it in place and then turned the whole puzzle board over. Then I unlocked it and lifted the puzzle board off and the puzzle was on its front size.

      If you don’t have this puzzle board, you could put your puzzle together on a piece of stiff poster board or form core board. Once your puzzle is done, place another stiff form core board or thick card board on top. Tape the edges of the two boards together in a few places, then holding the two pieces of board together, turn it over.
      Some puzzles where the pieces don’t lock together very well, may not easily turn over, but quality puzzles where the pieces interlock well, should hold together for turning as long as you make sure the boards are held firmly together when turning it over. This will not work if the board you’re using flexes or bends…it has to be really stiff boards like foam core board…something like that.

  39. I hope you’re still reading these comments because I want to say THANK YOU!!! for sharing your experience. We recently finished a puzzle and want to frame it, and I wasn’t about to pour glue all over the front of it!!! Thinking there’s got to be a less scarier method, I hunted around a bit more and found your fun site. I’ll head over to Amazon to buy it today. I also read your post about Small Town Christmas — my mom and whole family would LOVE it. I’m currently working on a 1000-piece puzzle titled Hummingbirds, by White Mountain Puzzles.

    I might’ve missed it elsewhere, but do you recommend any particular brands of puzzles?

  40. Thanks, Jen! I was just looking at my puzzle collection and the puzzles I’ve enjoyed have been by the following companies: Cobble, Hill, Buffalo, White Mountain and Ravensburger. All of the puzzles I have by those companies have nice, thick pieces. Nothing worse than opening a puzzle to find thin pieces, or tons of pieces that appear to work in multiple places in a puzzle.

  41. Have you ever done any of the shaped puzzles? Was curious as to how easy this would work for one. I’m sure you would have to trace and then cut out in pieces, otherwise there would be so much waste.

    • I’ve never done this with a shaped puzzle, but if I ever wanted to save a uniquely shaped puzzle, I think I would do everything the same way. Then, after the puzzle had time to set for a while, I’d turn it over onto a surface you can cut on, and trim off the excess with an Exacto knife. You will have some waste, but that would probably be the simplest way to do it.

  42. Ruth Cassidy says

    Hi Susan!
    I’m an American living in Mexico and realized I don’t know the geography of my new country very well. I found a kid’s puzzle of Mexico showing the states and want to hang it on my wall after I put it together, which is how I found your post. See how that works? 🙂

    I’m on a tight fixed budget so while I can drool over your puzzle board I’ve had to come up with a cheapo version – a flattened Amazon box. I might cover the inside with a plain contact paper, which is also what I’ll probably use for the backing.

    My biggest problem with puzzling is a lack of “safe space” to put them together – I have 4 inquisitive cats (snoopy like Nancy Drew? lol) and a chihuahua who’s quick to grab anything that falls on the floor. Table space is scarce as well, so I’ve had to put puzzling on a back burner until I move to a bigger place one day.

    Sorry to go on and on, but I wanted to let you know there are real folks out here waving hello and thanking you for your fun sharings. 🙂

    • Thanks for your comment, Ruth! I know what you mean about pets, especially cats. They are famous for wanting to lay right on top of whatever we happen to be working on at that moment. I admire your ingenuity–coming up with the Amazon box idea. Necessity is definitely the mother of invention. 🙂

  43. My mom always used clear contact paper!

  44. I am so impressed; every puzzle you completed is a beautiful work of art! My husband and I used to work on puzzles when we were first married 50 years ago. I thought it would be a terrific project to keep us busy this winter during the pandemic. I’m going to look today and buy one that would keep us busy. Thanks for a spectacular blog!

  45. very helpful. Don’t you put anything on the front?

  46. sharron minnick says

    My family rented a cabin at a mountain resort in Montana for a week this summer and my daughter found that Nancy Drew puzzle (the one you show in this article) at a Goodwill store and we all worked on it all week! Didn’t think we would finish it but we did! I don’t usually have the patience for puzzles, but this “community” effort was so much fun, I bought one when I got home. Didn’t know how to preserve it till I read your instructions. Thanks!

  47. Patrici Adams says

    Good Evening
    Thank you for your information on Puzzles. I would like to know where you got your puzzle board. Thank you again i am going to try puzzle glue sheets tonight. Wish me luck.

    • I think you’ll be surprised how easy the glue sheets are…I’ve used them a few times and each time they’ve worked great. A rolling pin really does a great job of sticking them down smoothly.
      I purchased my puzzle board here: https://amzn.to/3aQh7SY

  48. Cat Henderson says

    One of the things I love about your blog is how easy it is to find older posts and articles. Having just read your post of 10/7/23 about puzzle boards, I maneuvered around reading other posts about your puzzles. In doing so, I came across this post but what grabbed me most was the Nancy Drew puzzle! So I was THRILLED to find that it is STILL available, 8 1/2 years later. I’ve ordered it and it will be here next week! And I’ll be using your suggestions on how to preserve and frame it. Thank you!

I'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment!

*