I love craft projects that are not only fun to make but also fun to play with once they are completed. Making your own puzzles falls into this category. You and your kids will have a good time designing and making these simple puzzles, and you’ll also have fun putting them together again and again.
Craft Foam Puzzles
1. Start by making a design that you would like to make into a puzzle. You or your kids can draw something or create a design on your computer and print it out. Geometric shapes are easier for smaller children to cut and put together than typical “jigsaw” puzzle shapes.
2. Next, cut out the design, keeping all the pieces together so you don’t lose any of them.
3. Trace each piece onto craft foam. Adding different colors makes the puzzle more interesting, and craft foam is generally inexpensive.
4. Cut each traced shape out of foam. You can make just a few large pieces or more smaller pieces depending on your child’s age and skill level.
Cardboard Puzzles
Thick corrugated cardboard like that which packing boxes are made from also make great puzzle pieces. Since cardboard is cheap or even free (many stores will give you boxes), you can make an extra large puzzle for even more fun.
Follow the directions above for designing, tracing, and cutting. You may have to make the design or picture in sections and print them separately if your design is large. Then, all you have to do is let your little ones paint each piece using poster paint or craft paint, both of which dry quickly.
For a more dimensional puzzle, attach beads, found items, textured fabrics, or double up the cardboard (glue two pieces together) in some areas of the puzzle. For example, if your little boy or girl has created a picture of a house and a tree, leave the background flat, but make the house and the tree stand out. You can do so by making these areas thicker or by adding extra items for more interest and texture. You could glue artificial leaves or pictures of leave onto the tree, or add scraps of fabric to imitate curtains on the windows of the house.