How to Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle

Ah...how nice. It is your day off and you have time for a little relaxation. How about putting together a jigsaw puzzle? A jigsaw puzzle is a fun way to relax and exercise your mind at the same time. You can also choose puzzles with beautifully illustrated art that is challenging, but visually appealing.

Some people may find jigsaw puzzles unappealing because of the time and effort that is often take in completing it. There are a few tips that can be helpful in order to enjoy the puzzle without taking a year to complete it.

The first step in completing a jigsaw puzzle is taking the pieces from the box and separating them. You want to make sure to separate all the puzzles pieces. Some may still be interlocked because they were not completely separated when packaged. You may choose to leave them interlocked, but that would be cheating. Wouldn't it?

Once you have separated all the pieces, the next step would be to complete the frame. The frame is the outer perimeter of the puzzle. You will find that it is easier to fill in the rest of the puzzle once the frame is complete. You will need to sort through the puzzle pieces to find the "frame" pieces. These pieces are usually flat on one side with the other three sides shaped to interlock with other pieces.

Once you have completed the "frame" you will need to separate puzzle pieces by color. For example, if you have a picture of an apple tree, you will need to find green, red and brown puzzle pieces that match the main colors in the picture. This makes it easier to put the puzzle together by sections.

Once you have sorted the puzzles pieces by color, you would want to piece the puzzle together, paying attention to the specific details in the artwork. Try to complete each different object in the puzzle. Again, it is helpful to use color. You will also need to pay attention to color shades; hues and patterns in order connect the right pieces.

The last step would be to piece together the "background" of the puzzle. This would typically be the sky setting or the ground setting of most puzzles. For example, a picture of a sailboat on a harbor would have a blue background for sky and maybe a green or sandy color for the ground portion. This is the tricky part. Because there is little variation in shade or color for this portion of the puzzle, it is a bit of a challenge to get the pieces in the right place. You will have to concentrate closely. It's like the old cliché: "If it doesn't fit, don't force it.

Once you have completed all these steps, the rest should be a piece of cake. After you have completed the puzzle, you may frame your work. You can start your own jigsaw art gallery. Take a small paintbrush and apply a thin coat of clear glue over your masterpiece and frame, and hang.

This is a fun thing to do with your kids or you can do it for your personal enjoyment. Not only is it enjoyable, but also a puzzle only cost about $1 for a 500 piece puzzle or $2-$3 for a 1000 pc puzzles. Cheap entertainment is the best entertainment!