What do you do about the lighting? Either it's not enough light or it's so much that the pieces reflect it and I can't see them right :c So glad I found your channel btw!
I have a Ravensburger XXL puzzle mat, for up to 3,000 pieces. I have to say that I'm impressed with how well it works. I would definitely recommend it, and it works with any puzzle brand. After having one, I'm pretty sure I could make one since the materials are nothing fancy.
I got some casserole trays from Dollar Tree to use for sorted pieces, and that works pretty well. I don't use the tops of 'puzzle boxes' because I don't want to ruin any of my boxes. To save space, I also take puzzles out of boxes and put them into ziploc bags, and I cut out the picture and put that in the bag too.
I'm 72 years old and actually just bought my first puzzle! It has 300 pieces. Rather daunting for me! My 2 youngest girls have always done puzzles and are very good at it. I think this will be good for my brain! Puzzle boxes are so pretty! We live in a small trailer, so I am looking for ideas and you were very helpful. Thank you!
One of the surfaces I use is a picture frame at IKEA. They have the bigger cheaper ones where you can take away the frame and use the back board of the frame to do the puzzle on (the one I use is typically good for 2000 piece puzzles). Then you can use the thin plexiglass type cover to cover it when you are not doing the puzzle and slide under your bed or couch. It also doesn’t weigh a lot, making it super convenient to move around! The cover is also a good way to keep your puzzle intact when you have cats running around!
That is what I wondered about too, could be used with the frame too as an edge and like you said the plastic lid would keep it nice and clean, then it can just slide under the bed when not in use.
We use our kitchen table for large puzzles. We just cover the puzzle with a sturdy table cloth that is inforced with plastic while not puzzling. Puzzling is a hobby for our family of five, it is good to puzzle so that all can puzzle at the same time so kitchen table is nice in that sense too. Puzzle boxes take a lot of place but I don’t have heart to throw them away. Happy puzzling from Finland!
I just want to tell you how much you have helped me. I struggle with my mental health and watching your videos while doing a jigsaw puzzle makes bad days so much better. Puzzle Boxes!!
I live in a tiny house, so I have to put my puzzle away before bed. My husband bought me a puzzle table. It’s perfect with drawers to hold the extra pieces and I can fold it up and slide it behind our bedside table!
Taking up puzzles at age 77 after back surgery as I can't do the woodworking, gardening as intensely as I like. Finished "We Can Do It" 1000 pc one a couple years ago but stopped as I grew depressed over losing my dog and the Covid shut-ins., Now I have restarted and completed a 500 pc SunsOut bird/cottage puzzle I found at our local Bi-Mart and conquered a Buffalo Games 500 pc Americana one called Eugene's Hunting & Fishing . I love doing it as it teaches me how I can get in a rut and stay stuck on finding ONE piece to fit rather than moving onto a different challenge for a refreshing look at the puzzle. I have been watching and admiring you for quite a while, Karen and appreciate your enthusiasm and humor and excellent video talent. I decided to write to you as I have a small home and thinking how to fix up a permanent space. In the summer I can use my shop as it has a long bench. Thank you for your advice! Sorry to go on so long.
Ravensburger and Jan Van Haasteren both sell them like that on the regular - 2x1000 boxes, only a little more expensive than the regular 1000, and of course exactly the same box size.
I do that also! I keep an eye out for clearance frames. Last year I got lucky & found a very slight damaged cork board at Hobby Lobby. It's a really big square. I have a bunch of puzzles that don't fit in my poster frame
My sweet dad linked me to your channel as I’m trying to do some puzzles at my mum’s, where we only have one big table! Thanks for the tips! Puzzle boxes!
Due to medical conditions I still live at home with my parents and am unable to work. I do puzzles as a distraction and help keep me busy. Sometimes one puzzle can take me a very long time to complete with only doing a little each day or every few days, often with breaks in between. It can be very hard finding places to store new puzzle boxes but also to do any puzzle. I invested in a puzzle table that folds down so you can store it under a bed/couch, or behind some furniture out of the way. It’s got draws which you can remove for extra storage of pieces, as well as to see all your pieces while puzzling. You can also actually tilt the puzzle board at multiple different angles. Which is one of the best features for someone like myself who has chronic pain and can’t be leaning over a puzzle for extended periods, I can sit back more comfortably but can still see the puzzle very easily and work on it. I was stuck on a puzzle a little while ago, I was ready to give up I was making no progress on it when I came across your videos with different tips on how to do difficult puzzles. It helped me be able to complete the puzzle. So thank-you.
@@sweetieroses you can get ones like this from so many places, Amazon is a good one. I can’t remember where I got mine. But see lots of people getting similar from Amazon and other such places.
I am currently working on the disney 40,320 piece puzzle. Got 4 done. I have a room dedicated for all my puzzling, puzzle boxes 😁, and foam boards. My cats love helping me too.
This was very helpful! Thank you! I just got back into building puzzles after many years. I used to love doing them. My husband and I and our three cats live in an RV so your tips were very helpful. My husband got me a 2000 piece puzzle for Christmas and we're trying to figure out how I can build it so your tips were very helpful! I especially love the tip about how to store puzzles in puzzle boxes!
Hi Karen, puzzle boxes 😂 (several years later). I store my puzzles in a storage, which belong to my flat. I have a rolling system between my flat and the storage. If there is a puzzle which I do not like to solve a second or third time, I open the box again, I give the puzzle away. So I do not buy tooo many new puzzles and also have fun with my older ones again.
Similar to your comment of combining two puzzles into one box, I have noticed that I can fit either a Buffalo Games puzzle box OR a White Mountain puzzle box plus both bags of puzzle pieces inside a Ravensburger box - then you don't need to cut up the 2nd box. Also great to know if you ever need to mail them as it is much less postage (I have been mailing puzzles to my father-in-law lately for him to do while quarantining at home).
Thank you for these great tips. I usually flip my puzzles after having put them together once so the puzzle boxes have to stay intact. However, for the ones you intend to keep it's brilliant. I personally would advise people with little surface to look into for instance Educa puzzles. They come in mini format so you don't have to resign from the big puzzle challenge only because it won't fit on the table. Also, when it comes to sorting, i do like smooth surfaces and no edge to be able to slide the pieces around easily. I noticed that the couch trays like the one from ikea called rödeby are perfect for it. (Mine are no brand and come from a thrift store). You can fold them when unnesessary but move around by holdig the edges and they stay stiff.
I live in a small minimal apartment with no table, so I do my puzzles on a canvas on the floor. (More expensive than foam core but it’s just what I had). When I’m not working on it I have to cover it with another canvas and put heavy books on the edges to keep my cats from stealing pieces. It kinda sucks to have to do the puzzle on the floor because my back or legs hurt after like an hour, even though I’m 29 I’m getting too old to be in weird positions like that lol. I kinda want to get a card table that I can fold up and put in a closet when I’m not using it. Puzzle boxes 😉
We put puzzels in progress on a board, cover it with foam board and slide it under the couch. The puzzle boxes sometimes fit too. Perfect place to keep them safe.
I've condensed many puzzles as you suggested. Not my preferred way to store, but rather that than get rid of some older favourites for sure. Puzzle Boxes - can be rather bulky. I do have a roll up mat, and I do use it on occasion however the felt means that it can be hard to make a section and slide it into place .. also, in the end you do still need to put it on a table or the floor to build so my fave is also foam core boards!
I’ve got lots of “puzzle boxes” of large size piece puzzles that I got for my mom before she went in to a care home. She’s got a private room but I’m trying to figure out how she can do puzzles in the extremest of small spaces when I know she can’t complete them in one sitting. Some of these ideas are good for her but I still have to think of ideas. When she was in her apartment I actually did the puzzle, then mailed her sections to do so it wouldn’t be overwhelming. She probably did 8 or so puzzles this way adding each section to a board on a bed in another room when she had completed it, but she doesn’t have that kind of space where she is right now. So glad others enjoy puzzles as much as we do. ❤️
Thank you for the foam core board tip! Having a large enough flat surface has been my challenge which is now solved without costing me an arm and leg. It's appreciated!
Two more amazing upsides to the foam board are that the surface is sort of friction-y, more than regular paper or a wooden table. I feel the pieces like to stay put on the board when compared to using a bare table. The second thing is that it provides an easy background for photos! 😊
I love the foam board idea. I don't necessarily live in a small space, but having kids makes it hard to dedicate a space to work on puzzles. I love your PUZZLE BOX storage idea, having several of the same brand same size boxes is visually pleasing. The remaining ones can hang out in storage bags in a pretty container. Perfect!
My cupboard is filled with PUZZLE BOXES from top to bottom and I made myself go through them but I only ended up getting rid of 10 puzzles which didn't make much of a difference but did give me some space for my new puzzles. These were really good tips and the video was fun to watch. I've also been watching your channel for an entire year now and I always look forward to new videos 💕
I always glue my puzzles together and recycle the puzzle boxes - I never do the same puzzle twice so the idea of storing that many boxes is so strange to me! 😂
where do you keep the completed puzzles? Do you frame and hang them then? The first puzzle I did, the "You Can Do It" is 1000pcs and I also glued and framed it for my shop.
When I had to move out I used that hack with multiple puzzles in tha same puzzle box. Puzzle boxes! I love your content so much! Congrats for everything you are doing!
PUZZLE BOXES I have a dry erase board to move my puzzle to another location. Square is best in order for it to twirl around and to keep loose pieces around the puzzle. I prefer the dry erase boards to foam boards because they allow the snap/click sound more satisfying than the foam boards...hence the reason why I don't do puzzles online. You can purchase a dry erase board without a frame at Lowe's, and have several sizes available (cut the large board with a very sharp box cutter) according to the ones you plan to keep or a standard favorite for future purposes, or you can get fancy and purchase one at a craft store that includes a frame so there's a border to avoid that the loose pieces fall off -but that, in my case, is not important because it adds more weight & bulkiness to the board. I consider myself pretty good at puzzles...I'm better than others I have been around, but I would like to meet someone in person that can beat me. I asked you about doing easy/hard puzzles, just to see what you would say. I don't have as much time to do puzzles, but more than quantity, I have a variety to keep the collection greatly downsized. Maybe you can make another video showing all the different shapes, material, etc.that puzzles come in. I love your jigsaw puzzle channel because it is much more thorough than others.
We use pieces of Luan from Lowe's - one uncut, table top size, to be the final puzzle area, and a few "lap size" ones where we sort colors and work wherever we want. They aren't as slippery as foam core board, a little heavier, and require an initial sanding, but they last a really long time and the wood color doesn't usually blend with the puzzle. We slide puzzles in progress under our bed and store the unused Luan behind furniture. We don't have a lot of time to spend on puzzles, so once done, I bag the edges separate from the inner pieces.
Thank you so much! My nieces and nephews and I enjoy working on puzzles, but the adorable and curious dog and the constant family activity makes it impossible to leave a puzzle out long enough to finish it. We tried the felt rollup mat, but it attracts so much lint it was making me crazy, and it must take a lot of practice because our puzzle kept falling apart. The foamcore and baking tray ideas are perfect! I also appreciate the comments on here about sliding it under the couch, and the roommate who uses puzzle boxes to store other things. (I love your videos. Longtime viewer, first time commenter)
My mother totally hate when I monopolize space for my jigsaw puzzles...And of course, puzzle boxes are a headache once in a while!! Great video! I found it really useful.
I use a foam board that I can move around easily like you showed. If I need to have the space back, I cover it up with a piece of felt (to keep the dust off of it) and slide it under my bed. Puzzle box!
I live in a little studio apt and I’ve done the trick of putting the puzzle on a large piece of cardboard on my coffee table. I’m also definitely running out of room for my PUZZLE BOXES but I don’t know which ones to declutter. 🙈 I’ve used paper plates in the past to sort pieces which works really well.
Another awesome video! Thanks I store my puzzle-in-progress in a felt role up mat. It's not a nice as foam core because the pieces can't slide. But our 3 young boys are like puzzle tornados, so it's out of necessity. Our house is full of book shelves so storage is not a problem (yet). However, I love the idea of halving one's Puzzle Boxes space and will definitely make use of that in the future. How AWESOME is that mini duck puzzle. Just LOVE it !!! Keep it up Karen
Please please please do a video about using puzzle boxes as art work, how to decorate or repurpose with old puzzle boxes? Thank you for always making me realize I love puzzling so much!
Great idea for a video! I've made a set of mdf "trays" with borders which I use to sort and then stack up at the end of the day. I've painted them in a bland colour, as you mentioned. I have just the right amount of puzzle boxes.
I love your videos! Great tips and just so relaxing to watch. I usually take all my Puzzle Boxes to our teacher staff room where we have a book and puzzle exchange corner. Other than Holiday puzzles, I don't really like to do a puzzle again. I don't know why. Thank again for the fantastic channel!
You gave me some great ideas, as I love to do puzzles but most of the time I do not have enough room or so I thought. Thank you for sharing.. Puzzle boxes!
Instead of putting it in a ziplock bag and cutting up the box to be able to place two puzzles in the same box you can find one puzzle that has a big box and a lot of extra space inside (I'm looking at you Ravensburger) and simply place a smaller more compact puzzle inside the big box, box and all. You would be surprised how often that works.
Loving your channel Karen!! 😃 I live in a studio and love using clear rectangular Tupperware trays to sort pieces. They easily stack together fir less space and them being clear helps you to focus on the colors of the puzzle pieces. And if you have cats like me, I would suggest using two puzzle boards of the same size, one to do the puzzle on and one to cover the puzzle when you're not doing it so the kitties don't mess it up!. Hard to keep cats off the puzzle!....they own everything! 😁✌🏼
We have tried a couple different storage options including foam core. Grateful House makes amazing puzzle mats and the quality is really nice. They allow you to roll your puzzle and put it away so little fingers dont take off with any pieces. If you havent tried a mat you might like them. Thanks for all the tips. Love your videos.
My house is small, with not enough table space. I looked up YT videos about using a puzzle board and this was helpful. I love the puzzle boxes tips you shared, too!
I do live in a house that's not big, but not small. I just ordered Mickey's 90th celebration 40,320 piece and I will definitely not be able to assemble them all together in my house 😂😂😂 I might ask my work if they'll let me assemble it there (when in a long time from now it's done) also.... It's going to be a big puzzle box 😉
I got a nice big piece of foam core board, whatever it’s called, at Walgreens. I was really surprised I did not have to hunt for it at a craft store. I have used it several times for puzzles! It was only a couple of dollars. Puzzle boxes!!
I use low A4 size seed trays and the transparent low lids to sort the puzzle pieces. These often fit together well, are easily stackable and therefore take up little space. Bought in thrift stores.
We have a tiny camper and have been looking for ideas on how to puzzle on "inside" days. You've given us an idea with the foam-core, but we're going to use plastic corrugated polypro instead (we can put it under our mattress w/o crushing it). Thanks for such a fun channel...
I'm torn between using my storage spaces for books or for puzzles. Puzzle Boxes are often larger than they need be, but I can't seem to cut them up. Maybe I'll be able to if things reach a "critical mass," ha!
Thank you so much for your video. I subscribed to your Channel. I'm a new puzzler and I have many puzzle boxes, but I don't finish many puzzles. And I'm only at 1,000 piece puzzles really but I get to a certain point, and then they languish covering half the dining room table. I got a puzzle mat. To store my ongoing puzzle. And I'm hoping to learn more about puzzling. I know that it's a really good activity for your brain too.
Puzzle boards are a fantastic accessory to help you keep your unfinished jigsaw puzzle safe. You can puzzle directly on the board and close the board over and put it away keeping your home tidy and your puzzle safe.
Puzzle boxes. I enjoyed the video. Thanks for your sharing the love of puzzles! Have loved completing puzzles since the age of 16 and now 58. We share many of the same strategies. You mentioned your love for the Ravensburger Brand. They are nice, but my favore is the White Mountain Brand. Was recently gifted one from a brand new-to-me, Cobble Hill and plan on purchashing more of theirs.
I checked in for ideas for a puzzle board or surface. Great idea to used foam core. Also, will use baking tins for my puzzle pieces. Your storage ideas for all the PUZZLE BOXES are perfect!
I found u over a week ago n ur videos just bring me peace. Not only that but in that time i already bought a puzzle its almost dne now haha n my next puzzle is arriving in 3 days lol🤣
Hey miss Karen. I'm new at puzzles. I take my husband to chemotherapy weekly and they always have a puzzle set up on a table with the PUZZLE BOX next to it and I've started to work it during the 2 to 3 hrs I'm there and now I'm hooked. I've started my own 1,000 piece at home. Thanks I really like your videos and I'm Trying to figure out when you post your videos I mean the new ones. do you post weekly bi weekly daily? it would really help if you could let me know thanks.
Hi Karen!! I really enjoy your videos!! I'm used to use the roll up puzzle mat, but since the ones from puzzle brands are SO expensive, I've made them from craft... Just a carboard tube, a piece of felt (?) or fleece, and two stripes, and voilà!! The only thing they have against it is that you need to have a table the size of the puzzle, at least, but they save storage space in case, like me, it takes you more than a day to finish a puzzle... See you next time!!
Hi Karen I just found your channel two days ago .WOW!!! you are so fast 😂😂😂...I have a good idea for puzzle pieces storage while working the puzzles....those organization drawers at craft stores would be great and they roll around ... Yes I did watch this whole video puzzle boxes!! And btw awesome idea to double up those puzzles. My husband and I just started getting back to doing puzzles we have 22 and only have done 2 we are on # 3..I love puzzles....just wanted to say HI!!!
Great tips, thank you very much. Puzzle boxes and I don't know when I will start, but most likely in a space by myself doing the puzzles and hopefully not too small.
Hi Karen! I just found your channel through a friend & have subscribed after watching this video. I enjoyed seeing all of your tips, especially how to use the “ puzzle boxes” for storing more than one puzzle. I have many brands and many sizes, and will definitely use your advice about storage. It’s very difficult for me to get rid of my puzzles because I really like all of them, so your tips were very helpful. Thanks again for dedicating a channel just for puzzling! I can’t wait to check out more of your videos!😃🧩
Im currently working on the ravensburger 9,000 piece astrology puzzle and it has literally taken over my apartment. Luckily I live by myself but I still swear by using foam core to work on different sections
Been using the baking sheet idea since getting back into puzzles back in January. After doing the first puzzle, I got a card table to do my puzzling in my office. When I'm not doing puzzles, I can easily fold it up and move it out of the way. It'll come in handy for other things like in December when I'm wrapping Christmas presents. I usually double or triple wrap things do disguise what everybody is getting, and, while my floor is carpeted, trying to sit on the floor for a couple hours at a time is quite painful at times. Only problem with the card table is that the surface is padded and not too solid. I got a sheet of the foam board while getting groceries soon afterwards, and it's worked great. Only problem was with my current puzzle, which is 19x30 inches, which overhangs the sheet by a couple inches. Fortunately, I had some thin cardboard strips for other projects that I put on the one end to support the overhang. Love watching your videos. Might have to do a puzzle video of my own sometime. :-)
Puzzle boxes This video reminded me of the time that I was pregnant and had a complete pregnancy brain moment and bought a 5000 piece puzzle instead of a 3000 piece puzzle because I thought that was the size I'd done previously. I did end up completing it once my son was a toddler, but I ended up having to store it under my bed and the put it together with the edge pieces on the floor because I hadn't seen any of Karen's videos so didn't know about the genius that is foam core.
Hi from PH! I am new with jigsaw puzzles and your video helped me a lot to manage my space in my room. I am doing a Clementoni puzzle currently. Will watch more of your video for tips 😘
These are great tips! I’ve heard your foam core tip before but have yet to put it to use. I like your puzzle boxes storage tip, I might have to try that as my closet is getting quite full! 😉
Puzzle box lam margie Sanchez I love doing puzzles right now I doing a puzzle that when I am done I am going to glue I with clear puzzle glue and let it dry for two hours and check it if it needs more puzzle glue than it will get framed and haug on my wall in my puzzle work room I can't wait to finish it I am so excited about it margie Sanchez it there any way l can get in touch with you I already have lots of puzzles in my bedroom the most beautiful puzzle I have is a Bengal tiger I got this one at the San Diego zoo arron brothers framed it for me and they asked me after measuring it the puzzle what color l wanted the back to be I choosed black ,l wanted to really pop out and now it looks beautiful on top of my bed ,margie Sanchez
I have one, but its too obnoxious to use. Its weirdly stiff and doesn't make for a pleasant experience while actually puzzling, but I'm interested in the concept of this storage method and would like a review too!
Instead of buying some surface to do a puzzle on, I actually just re-used a box from Amazon. I bought a frame to frame a 1000 piece puzzle and guess what? The packaging of the frame was a flat box that opens like a book, so I used it to do puzzles on! And the size is, of course, perfect. After a while though I decided to buy a kit with cardboard tubes and a big rollable cloth, so that I can store it anywhere.
Puzzle Boxes. I live in a small appartment near Amsterdam Netherlands and since im getting more puzzles the space is not as much anymore so thanks for the tips
Puzzle boxes - I am a veteran who sustained a hand injury. I am thankful for the brillant orthopedic physicians who put my hand back together but it has permanent damage. The hand therapist suggested doing puzzles with only the injured hand to force me to extend, flex, ect my fingers while doing an activity that would distract me from the pain. Covid19 has certainly required me to park it inside. Do you have any suggestions on sites with the best prices? It is excellent hand therapy, I am in the high risk category for Covid19. I Avoid going out as much as I can but I also am excellent at avoiding using my injured hand when at home. I am rediscovering the joy of puzzling as an adult.
Foam board and laminated white poster paper for sorting makes life so much easier. Can pack everything u dear bed or couch when u need to. Any tips on how to not get a stiff neckfrom hours of bending down looking at yr puzzle pieces???
Do you ever try to do puzzles in small apartments? Let me know if you have any tips that I missed!
Have you done a review of STAVE puzzles ? If not, please try to do one and post a video.
What do you do about the lighting? Either it's not enough light or it's so much that the pieces reflect it and I can't see them right :c
So glad I found your channel btw!
I have a Ravensburger XXL puzzle mat, for up to 3,000 pieces. I have to say that I'm impressed with how well it works. I would definitely recommend it, and it works with any puzzle brand. After having one, I'm pretty sure I could make one since the materials are nothing fancy.
puzzle boxes
I got some casserole trays from Dollar Tree to use for sorted pieces, and that works pretty well. I don't use the tops of 'puzzle boxes' because I don't want to ruin any of my boxes. To save space, I also take puzzles out of boxes and put them into ziploc bags, and I cut out the picture and put that in the bag too.
I'm 72 years old and actually just bought my first puzzle! It has 300 pieces. Rather daunting for me! My 2 youngest girls have always done puzzles and are very good at it. I think this will be good for my brain! Puzzle boxes are so pretty! We live in a small trailer, so I am looking for ideas and you were very helpful. Thank you!
One of the surfaces I use is a picture frame at IKEA. They have the bigger cheaper ones where you can take away the frame and use the back board of the frame to do the puzzle on (the one I use is typically good for 2000 piece puzzles). Then you can use the thin plexiglass type cover to cover it when you are not doing the puzzle and slide under your bed or couch. It also doesn’t weigh a lot, making it super convenient to move around! The cover is also a good way to keep your puzzle intact when you have cats running around!
That is what I wondered about too, could be used with the frame too as an edge and like you said the plastic lid would keep it nice and clean, then it can just slide under the bed when not in use.
You forgot to mention the best tip: store your puzzle boxes in your old bedroom in your parents' house!
haha yesss!
Unless that bedroom is taken by someone already.
Brilliant!
@@christianlauren5883 Right! I forgot it's my sister's room now... She might not enjoy me using her new room as puzzle storing space...
@@nenalyzed 😂
We use our kitchen table for large puzzles. We just cover the puzzle with a sturdy table cloth that is inforced with plastic while not puzzling. Puzzling is a hobby for our family of five, it is good to puzzle so that all can puzzle at the same time so kitchen table is nice in that sense too. Puzzle boxes take a lot of place but I don’t have heart to throw them away. Happy puzzling from Finland!
I just want to tell you how much you have helped me. I struggle with my mental health and watching your videos while doing a jigsaw puzzle makes bad days so much better. Puzzle Boxes!!
I'm so glad my videos can help you!
I live in a tiny house, so I have to put my puzzle away before bed. My husband bought me a puzzle table. It’s perfect with drawers to hold the extra pieces and I can fold it up and slide it behind our bedside table!
Taking up puzzles at age 77 after back surgery as I can't do the woodworking, gardening as intensely as I like. Finished "We Can Do It" 1000 pc one a couple years ago but stopped as I grew depressed over losing my dog and the Covid shut-ins., Now I have restarted and completed a 500 pc SunsOut bird/cottage puzzle I found at our local Bi-Mart and conquered a Buffalo Games 500 pc Americana one called Eugene's Hunting & Fishing . I love doing it as it teaches me how I can get in a rut and stay stuck on finding ONE piece to fit rather than moving onto a different challenge for a refreshing look at the puzzle. I have been watching and admiring you for quite a while, Karen and appreciate your enthusiasm and humor and excellent video talent. I decided to write to you as I have a small home and thinking how to fix up a permanent space. In the summer I can use my shop as it has a long bench. Thank you for your advice! Sorry to go on so long.
"Puzzle boxes" The tip to put 2 separate puzzles in ziplock bags inside one box blew my mind. Excellent idea, Karen!
Ravensburger and Jan Van Haasteren both sell them like that on the regular - 2x1000 boxes, only a little more expensive than the regular 1000, and of course exactly the same box size.
I do smaller puzzles on a big (empty) poster-sized picture frame! The lip around the edge helps keep from losing pieces if it gets bumped.
Great idea!
That's an awesome idea
I do that also! I keep an eye out for clearance frames. Last year I got lucky & found a very slight damaged cork board at Hobby Lobby. It's a really big square. I have a bunch of puzzles that don't fit in my poster frame
I was thinking of this.. How cool💖
I do that too I had a frame with broken glass and 1000 pc fits perfect and is sturdy enough for overhang as Im using a narrow desk
My sweet dad linked me to your channel as I’m trying to do some puzzles at my mum’s, where we only have one big table! Thanks for the tips! Puzzle boxes!
Good luck! Have fun with your puzzles!
Due to medical conditions I still live at home with my parents and am unable to work. I do puzzles as a distraction and help keep me busy. Sometimes one puzzle can take me a very long time to complete with only doing a little each day or every few days, often with breaks in between. It can be very hard finding places to store new puzzle boxes but also to do any puzzle. I invested in a puzzle table that folds down so you can store it under a bed/couch, or behind some furniture out of the way. It’s got draws which you can remove for extra storage of pieces, as well as to see all your pieces while puzzling. You can also actually tilt the puzzle board at multiple different angles. Which is one of the best features for someone like myself who has chronic pain and can’t be leaning over a puzzle for extended periods, I can sit back more comfortably but can still see the puzzle very easily and work on it.
I was stuck on a puzzle a little while ago, I was ready to give up I was making no progress on it when I came across your videos with different tips on how to do difficult puzzles. It helped me be able to complete the puzzle. So thank-you.
Where did you get this puzzle table from?
@@sweetieroses you can get ones like this from so many places, Amazon is a good one. I can’t remember where I got mine. But see lots of people getting similar from Amazon and other such places.
I am currently working on the disney 40,320 piece puzzle. Got 4 done. I have a room dedicated for all my puzzling, puzzle boxes 😁, and foam boards. My cats love helping me too.
Wow, I'm impressed!
This was very helpful! Thank you! I just got back into building puzzles after many years. I used to love doing them. My husband and I and our three cats live in an RV so your tips were very helpful.
My husband got me a 2000 piece puzzle for Christmas and we're trying to figure out how I can build it so your tips were very helpful! I especially love the tip about how to store puzzles in puzzle boxes!
Hi Karen, puzzle boxes 😂 (several years later). I store my puzzles in a storage, which belong to my flat. I have a rolling system between my flat and the storage. If there is a puzzle which I do not like to solve a second or third time, I open the box again, I give the puzzle away. So I do not buy tooo many new puzzles and also have fun with my older ones again.
Bagging up the pieces has served me well. Puzzleboxes, colorful and kinda plump - like me.
Similar to your comment of combining two puzzles into one box, I have noticed that I can fit either a Buffalo Games puzzle box OR a White Mountain puzzle box plus both bags of puzzle pieces inside a Ravensburger box - then you don't need to cut up the 2nd box. Also great to know if you ever need to mail them as it is much less postage (I have been mailing puzzles to my father-in-law lately for him to do while quarantining at home).
Thank you for these great tips. I usually flip my puzzles after having put them together once so the puzzle boxes have to stay intact. However, for the ones you intend to keep it's brilliant.
I personally would advise people with little surface to look into for instance Educa puzzles. They come in mini format so you don't have to resign from the big puzzle challenge only because it won't fit on the table.
Also, when it comes to sorting, i do like smooth surfaces and no edge to be able to slide the pieces around easily. I noticed that the couch trays like the one from ikea called rödeby are perfect for it. (Mine are no brand and come from a thrift store). You can fold them when unnesessary but move around by holdig the edges and they stay stiff.
I live in a small minimal apartment with no table, so I do my puzzles on a canvas on the floor. (More expensive than foam core but it’s just what I had). When I’m not working on it I have to cover it with another canvas and put heavy books on the edges to keep my cats from stealing pieces. It kinda sucks to have to do the puzzle on the floor because my back or legs hurt after like an hour, even though I’m 29 I’m getting too old to be in weird positions like that lol. I kinda want to get a card table that I can fold up and put in a closet when I’m not using it. Puzzle boxes 😉
Definitely get a card table! Don't hurt your back for the sake of puzzles!
We put puzzels in progress on a board, cover it with foam board and slide it under the couch. The puzzle boxes sometimes fit too. Perfect place to keep them safe.
I love the idea of putting them under the couch! I used to do that when I was still at my parent's house!
How thin is the foam sheets you use? I'm looking for a 3mm one, but I can find only 5mm ones and I feel they are too thick
I've condensed many puzzles as you suggested. Not my preferred way to store, but rather that than get rid of some older favourites for sure. Puzzle Boxes - can be rather bulky. I do have a roll up mat, and I do use it on occasion however the felt means that it can be hard to make a section and slide it into place .. also, in the end you do still need to put it on a table or the floor to build so my fave is also foam core boards!
I’ve got lots of “puzzle boxes” of large size piece puzzles that I got for my mom before she went in to a care home. She’s got a private room but I’m trying to figure out how she can do puzzles in the extremest of small spaces when I know she can’t complete them in one sitting. Some of these ideas are good for her but I still have to think of ideas. When she was in her apartment I actually did the puzzle, then mailed her sections to do so it wouldn’t be overwhelming. She probably did 8 or so puzzles this way adding each section to a board on a bed in another room when she had completed it, but she doesn’t have that kind of space where she is right now. So glad others enjoy puzzles as much as we do. ❤️
Thank you for the foam core board tip! Having a large enough flat surface has been my challenge which is now solved without costing me an arm and leg. It's appreciated!
i should have watched this one, before ordering all the ravensburger puzzles... but i love their pictures and puzzle soo much xD
Two more amazing upsides to the foam board are that the surface is sort of friction-y, more than regular paper or a wooden table. I feel the pieces like to stay put on the board when compared to using a bare table. The second thing is that it provides an easy background for photos! 😊
I love the foam board idea. I don't necessarily live in a small space, but having kids makes it hard to dedicate a space to work on puzzles. I love your PUZZLE BOX storage idea, having several of the same brand same size boxes is visually pleasing. The remaining ones can hang out in storage bags in a pretty container. Perfect!
This is a problem I've been trying to solve for awhile. Your niche coverage is appreciated. All the best to you!
My cupboard is filled with PUZZLE BOXES from top to bottom and I made myself go through them but I only ended up getting rid of 10 puzzles which didn't make much of a difference but did give me some space for my new puzzles. These were really good tips and the video was fun to watch. I've also been watching your channel for an entire year now and I always look forward to new videos 💕
I love the idea of putting more than one puzzle inside another Puzzle boxes!
puzzles boxes are good coffee table conversation starters!
I always glue my puzzles together and recycle the puzzle boxes - I never do the same puzzle twice so the idea of storing that many boxes is so strange to me! 😂
Same
where do you keep the completed puzzles? Do you frame and hang them then? The first puzzle I did, the "You Can Do It" is 1000pcs and I also glued and framed it for my shop.
When I had to move out I used that hack with multiple puzzles in tha same puzzle box. Puzzle boxes! I love your content so much!
Congrats for everything you are doing!
Yay, it's finally up! Between this video and the Handmade video, I've had a busy, storage-hack-filled week!
PUZZLE BOXES
I have a dry erase board to move my puzzle to another location. Square is best in order for it to twirl around and to keep loose pieces around the puzzle. I prefer the dry erase boards to foam boards because they allow the snap/click sound more satisfying than the foam boards...hence the reason why I don't do puzzles online. You can purchase a dry erase board without a frame at Lowe's, and have several sizes available (cut the large board with a very sharp box cutter) according to the ones you plan to keep or a standard favorite for future purposes, or you can get fancy and purchase one at a craft store that includes a frame so there's a border to avoid that the loose pieces fall off -but that, in my case, is not important because it adds more weight & bulkiness to the board.
I consider myself pretty good at puzzles...I'm better than others I have been around, but I would like to meet someone in person that can beat me.
I asked you about doing easy/hard puzzles, just to see what you would say. I don't have as much time to do puzzles, but more than quantity, I have a variety to keep the collection greatly downsized. Maybe you can make another video showing all the different shapes, material, etc.that puzzles come in. I love your jigsaw puzzle channel because it is much more thorough than others.
I consider myself super good at doing puzzles. What state do you live in? Im in Wisconsin.
You can DIY an easy roll-up puzzle mat! All you need is a big piece of felt and a big cardboard tube! (puzzle box!!)
We use pieces of Luan from Lowe's - one uncut, table top size, to be the final puzzle area, and a few "lap size" ones where we sort colors and work wherever we want. They aren't as slippery as foam core board, a little heavier, and require an initial sanding, but they last a really long time and the wood color doesn't usually blend with the puzzle. We slide puzzles in progress under our bed and store the unused Luan behind furniture. We don't have a lot of time to spend on puzzles, so once done, I bag the edges separate from the inner pieces.
Thank you so much! My nieces and nephews and I enjoy working on puzzles, but the adorable and curious dog and the constant family activity makes it impossible to leave a puzzle out long enough to finish it. We tried the felt rollup mat, but it attracts so much lint it was making me crazy, and it must take a lot of practice because our puzzle kept falling apart. The foamcore and baking tray ideas are perfect! I also appreciate the comments on here about sliding it under the couch, and the roommate who uses puzzle boxes to store other things. (I love your videos. Longtime viewer, first time commenter)
One of my favorite videos on this channel. Thanks for all of these great videos you make! You bring a lot of joy to the world. :-)
Stumbled upon your channel pretty recently and gotta admit, makes me miss jigsaw puzzles. So thanks, lol. Puzzle Boxes!
My mother totally hate when I monopolize space for my jigsaw puzzles...And of course, puzzle boxes are a headache once in a while!! Great video! I found it really useful.
I use a foam board that I can move around easily like you showed. If I need to have the space back, I cover it up with a piece of felt (to keep the dust off of it) and slide it under my bed. Puzzle box!
Love the idea of putting more than one puzzle inside the same PUZZLE BOXES !!
I live in a little studio apt and I’ve done the trick of putting the puzzle on a large piece of cardboard on my coffee table. I’m also definitely running out of room for my PUZZLE BOXES but I don’t know which ones to declutter. 🙈
I’ve used paper plates in the past to sort pieces which works really well.
I like that you seem a bit surprised that a puzzle channel is a thing people watch and exists. Loving it and Neely subscribed
Another awesome video! Thanks
I store my puzzle-in-progress in a felt role up mat. It's not a nice as foam core because the pieces can't slide. But our 3 young boys are like puzzle tornados, so it's out of necessity.
Our house is full of book shelves so storage is not a problem (yet). However, I love the idea of halving one's Puzzle Boxes space and will definitely make use of that in the future.
How AWESOME is that mini duck puzzle. Just LOVE it !!!
Keep it up Karen
Thank you for the tip on giant puzzles. I have limited space and now sky's the limit to how many pieces I can and will do. 😺
I really liked the foam core sheet idea. Thanks! Puzzleboxes rule!
Please please please do a video about using puzzle boxes as art work, how to decorate or repurpose with old puzzle boxes? Thank you for always making me realize I love puzzling so much!
Great idea for a video! I've made a set of mdf "trays" with borders which I use to sort and then stack up at the end of the day. I've painted them in a bland colour, as you mentioned. I have just the right amount of puzzle boxes.
I love your videos! Great tips and just so relaxing to watch. I usually take all my Puzzle Boxes to our teacher staff room where we have a book and puzzle exchange corner. Other than Holiday puzzles, I don't really like to do a puzzle again. I don't know why. Thank again for the fantastic channel!
That was a good tip for reducing the number of puzzle boxes while keeping the puzzles themselves. :)
You gave me some great ideas, as I love to do puzzles but most of the time I do not have enough room or so I thought. Thank you for sharing.. Puzzle boxes!
Instead of putting it in a ziplock bag and cutting up the box to be able to place two puzzles in the same box you can find one puzzle that has a big box and a lot of extra space inside (I'm looking at you Ravensburger) and simply place a smaller more compact puzzle inside the big box, box and all. You would be surprised how often that works.
Loving your channel Karen!! 😃 I live in a studio and love using clear rectangular Tupperware trays to sort pieces. They easily stack together fir less space and them being clear helps you to focus on the colors of the puzzle pieces. And if you have cats like me, I would suggest using two puzzle boards of the same size, one to do the puzzle on and one to cover the puzzle when you're not doing it so the kitties don't mess it up!. Hard to keep cats off the puzzle!....they own everything! 😁✌🏼
We have tried a couple different storage options including foam core. Grateful House makes amazing puzzle mats and the quality is really nice. They allow you to roll your puzzle and put it away so little fingers dont take off with any pieces. If you havent tried a mat you might like them. Thanks for all the tips. Love your videos.
great ideas,, I do have a large table and no problems with leaving puzzles sit around over night. Puzzle boxes no problem on my closet shelf.
You're collection of puzzle box's is pretty impressive.
these tips help me so mutch thank you
My house is small, with not enough table space. I looked up YT videos about using a puzzle board and this was helpful. I love the puzzle boxes tips you shared, too!
I do live in a house that's not big, but not small. I just ordered Mickey's 90th celebration 40,320 piece and I will definitely not be able to assemble them all together in my house 😂😂😂 I might ask my work if they'll let me assemble it there (when in a long time from now it's done) also.... It's going to be a big puzzle box 😉
I got a nice big piece of foam core board, whatever it’s called, at Walgreens. I was really surprised I did not have to hunt for it at a craft store. I have used it several times for puzzles! It was only a couple of dollars. Puzzle boxes!!
I use low A4 size seed trays and the transparent low lids to sort the puzzle pieces. These often fit together well, are easily stackable and therefore take up little space. Bought in thrift stores.
We have a tiny camper and have been looking for ideas on how to puzzle on "inside" days. You've given us an idea with the foam-core, but we're going to use plastic corrugated polypro instead (we can put it under our mattress w/o crushing it). Thanks for such a fun channel...
I'm torn between using my storage spaces for books or for puzzles. Puzzle Boxes are often larger than they need be, but I can't seem to cut them up. Maybe I'll be able to if things reach a "critical mass," ha!
Solution: Get book-shaped storage boxes and fill them with the puzzle pieces!
Thank you so much for your video. I subscribed to your Channel. I'm a new puzzler and I have many puzzle boxes, but I don't finish many puzzles. And I'm only at 1,000 piece puzzles really but I get to a certain point, and then they languish covering half the dining room table. I got a puzzle mat. To store my ongoing puzzle. And I'm hoping to learn more about puzzling. I know that it's a really good activity for your brain too.
I love your videos :) Good tip about the puzzle boxes, not sure my partner agrees in sharing boxes, but I have thouht the same as you.
I like what you did with the puzzle boxes🙂
Puzzle boards are a fantastic accessory to help you keep your unfinished jigsaw puzzle safe. You can puzzle directly on the board and close the board over and put it away keeping your home tidy and your puzzle safe.
Puzzle boxes. I enjoyed the video. Thanks for your sharing the love of puzzles! Have loved completing puzzles since the age of 16 and now 58. We share many of the same strategies.
You mentioned your love for the Ravensburger Brand. They are nice, but my favore is the White Mountain Brand. Was recently gifted one from a brand new-to-me, Cobble Hill and plan on purchashing more of theirs.
Puzzle boxes--great tips as always. I like to use foam core since you can really see the pieces.
I checked in for ideas for a puzzle board or surface. Great idea to used foam core. Also, will use baking tins for my puzzle pieces. Your storage ideas for all the PUZZLE BOXES are perfect!
I found u over a week ago n ur videos just bring me peace. Not only that but in that time i already bought a puzzle its almost dne now haha n my next puzzle is arriving in 3 days lol🤣
Hey miss Karen. I'm new at puzzles. I take my husband to chemotherapy weekly and they always have a puzzle set up on a table with the PUZZLE BOX next to it and I've started to work it during the 2 to 3 hrs I'm there and now I'm hooked. I've started my own 1,000 piece at home. Thanks I really like your videos and I'm Trying to figure out when you post your videos I mean the new ones. do you post weekly bi weekly daily? it would really help if you could let me know thanks.
Hi Karen!! I really enjoy your videos!!
I'm used to use the roll up puzzle mat, but since the ones from puzzle brands are SO expensive, I've made them from craft... Just a carboard tube, a piece of felt (?) or fleece, and two stripes, and voilà!! The only thing they have against it is that you need to have a table the size of the puzzle, at least, but they save storage space in case, like me, it takes you more than a day to finish a puzzle... See you next time!!
Yay, I'm your favorite puzzler! (even though I don't have all that many puzzle boxes in my house.)
Hi Karen I just found your channel two days ago .WOW!!! you are so fast 😂😂😂...I have a good idea for puzzle pieces storage while working the puzzles....those organization drawers at craft stores would be great and they roll around ... Yes I did watch this whole video puzzle boxes!! And btw awesome idea to double up those puzzles. My husband and I just started getting back to doing puzzles we have 22 and only have done 2 we are on # 3..I love puzzles....just wanted to say HI!!!
Great tips, thank you very much. Puzzle boxes and I don't know when I will start, but most likely in a space by myself doing the puzzles and hopefully not too small.
Hi Karen!
I just found your channel through a friend & have subscribed after watching this video. I enjoyed seeing all of your tips, especially how to use the “ puzzle boxes” for storing more than one puzzle.
I have many brands and many sizes, and will definitely use your advice about storage.
It’s very difficult for me to get rid of my puzzles because I really like all of them, so your tips were very helpful.
Thanks again for dedicating a channel just for puzzling!
I can’t wait to check out more of your videos!😃🧩
Im currently working on the ravensburger 9,000 piece astrology puzzle and it has literally taken over my apartment. Luckily I live by myself but I still swear by using foam core to work on different sections
The summer I did that one it basically took over my bedroom for three months! Good luck with it!
I cant wait to buy one for me.
Been using the baking sheet idea since getting back into puzzles back in January. After doing the first puzzle, I got a card table to do my puzzling in my office. When I'm not doing puzzles, I can easily fold it up and move it out of the way. It'll come in handy for other things like in December when I'm wrapping Christmas presents. I usually double or triple wrap things do disguise what everybody is getting, and, while my floor is carpeted, trying to sit on the floor for a couple hours at a time is quite painful at times. Only problem with the card table is that the surface is padded and not too solid. I got a sheet of the foam board while getting groceries soon afterwards, and it's worked great. Only problem was with my current puzzle, which is 19x30 inches, which overhangs the sheet by a couple inches. Fortunately, I had some thin cardboard strips for other projects that I put on the one end to support the overhang. Love watching your videos. Might have to do a puzzle video of my own sometime. :-)
Puzzle boxes
This video reminded me of the time that I was pregnant and had a complete pregnancy brain moment and bought a 5000 piece puzzle instead of a 3000 piece puzzle because I thought that was the size I'd done previously.
I did end up completing it once my son was a toddler, but I ended up having to store it under my bed and the put it together with the edge pieces on the floor because I hadn't seen any of Karen's videos so didn't know about the genius that is foam core.
Hi from PH! I am new with jigsaw puzzles and your video helped me a lot to manage my space in my room. I am doing a Clementoni puzzle currently. Will watch more of your video for tips 😘
I always use puzzle boxes for sorting. Love ❤️ your video.
These are great tips! I’ve heard your foam core tip before but have yet to put it to use. I like your puzzle boxes storage tip, I might have to try that as my closet is getting quite full! 😉
Puzzle box lam margie Sanchez I love doing puzzles right now I doing a puzzle that when I am done I am going to glue I with clear puzzle glue and let it dry for two hours and check it if it needs more puzzle glue than it will get framed and haug on my wall in my puzzle work room I can't wait to finish it I am so excited about it margie Sanchez it there any way l can get in touch with you I already have lots of puzzles in my bedroom the most beautiful puzzle I have is a Bengal tiger I got this one at the San Diego zoo arron brothers framed it for me and they asked me after measuring it the puzzle what color l wanted the back to be I choosed black ,l wanted to really pop out and now it looks beautiful on top of my bed ,margie Sanchez
PUZZLE BOXES!! 😁😁 I always wonder about those roll up mats... I’d love to see you do a review of them... 😁
I have one, but its too obnoxious to use. Its weirdly stiff and doesn't make for a pleasant experience while actually puzzling, but I'm interested in the concept of this storage method and would like a review too!
Instead of buying some surface to do a puzzle on, I actually just re-used a box from Amazon. I bought a frame to frame a 1000 piece puzzle and guess what? The packaging of the frame was a flat box that opens like a book, so I used it to do puzzles on! And the size is, of course, perfect. After a while though I decided to buy a kit with cardboard tubes and a big rollable cloth, so that I can store it anywhere.
Puzzle Boxes - I love your videos. So incredibly informative. Thank you so very much!
Puzzle Boxes. I live in a small appartment near Amsterdam Netherlands and since im getting more puzzles the space is not as much anymore so thanks for the tips
Puzzle boxes - I am a veteran who sustained a hand injury. I am thankful for the brillant orthopedic physicians who put my hand back together but it has permanent damage. The hand therapist suggested doing puzzles with only the injured hand to force me to extend, flex, ect my fingers while doing an activity that would distract me from the pain. Covid19 has certainly required me to park it inside. Do you have any suggestions on sites with the best prices? It is excellent hand therapy, I am in the high risk category for Covid19. I Avoid going out as much as I can but I also am excellent at avoiding using my injured hand when at home. I am rediscovering the joy of puzzling as an adult.
Great tips. Puzzle boxes !
I love the puzzle boxes just as much as you do Karen ❤️
Foam board and laminated white poster paper for sorting makes life so much easier. Can pack everything u dear bed or couch when u need to. Any tips on how to not get a stiff neckfrom hours of bending down looking at yr puzzle pieces???
Maybe set alarms on your phone to remind you to stretch and walk around every half hour? It's definitely a problem I have too!
I liked your idea of using plastic bags to store multiple puzzle/"puzzle boxes" and cutting out the pictures to also store in the boxes.
I love how happy you look
Puzzle boxes. I love your videos!
Nice tips and easy to understand
Thank you for the tips. Now my "Puzzle boxes" are organize.
I do not enjoy jigsaw puzzling but I love this channel! (puzzle boxes)
Hello Karen Puzzles - Your Video 10 Tips For Doing Jigsaw Puzzles In Small Apartments, The Idea Really Inspires Me. Thank You Friends...
PUZZLE BOXES Nice work Karen!