![]() ![]() ![]() Again, you have a few choices: Apply sticky paper to the backįramebridge accepts completed puzzles for framing that have been treated either with glue or peel-and-stick paper, but bear in mind that the latter should always be applied to the back of a puzzle. Whether you opt to frame a finished puzzle yourself or send it out to a framing professional, the first step is to make sure the pieces are secure enough to survive the process. I use it so much.” How to prep a puzzle for framing It’s definitely a splurge item, but I love it. “Normally, puzzles make your space look messy, but the framed look of the Zakco board just changes that. ”I can easily pick it up and move it, but what I like most about it is, it looks beautiful,” she explained. I was like, ‘This poster board is working fine.’ Then I started using it and it changed my puzzling experience.” She’s since bought herself a Zakco 1000, advertised as being sized to accommodate 98% of 1,000-piece puzzles. Krasny initially received one on loan as part of a team puzzling competition prize and admits, “I didn’t expect to care for it. Handmade from wood, outfitted with a framed lip to keep pieces from sliding off the sides, and available in a variety of sizes and styles (you can even opt for boards that spin like a lazy Susan), Zakco boards have achieved cult status among die-hard puzzlers for their ease of use and handsome aesthetics. That’s why she ultimately upgraded to an admittedly splurgy option: a Zakco puzzle board. The drawback with the trifold board, in Krasny’s experience, is that it doesn’t look that nice when it’s out on a table. If you want a display-worthy storage solution “They give you a lot of space to work on when they’re open, and then when you fold them up, they can easily slide under a couch,” said Krasny, who relied on a simple, foam board (like this one from Staples) for years. If transportability isn’t a concern, Marcotte said that “in general, puzzle boards are better than puzzle mats.” For an inexpensive, DIY puzzle board setup at home, a trifold presentation board, available at office-supply and big-box stores, offers all the basic elements you need: a smooth work surface, a slim profile for storage, and an extra layer of protection when you fold over the side flaps. If you’re puzzling at home and want quick, cheap storage ![]() ![]() “If you’re early on in a puzzle, it’s a little bit difficult to keep all the pieces intact in a roll-up mat,” Krasny said, especially if you carry or store the mat so it’s standing vertically, which gives gravity more of a chance to wreak havoc on your work. However, roll-up mats have an inherent flaw: The less of a puzzle’s structure you’ve completed, the greater the likelihood that rolling it up may actually cause it to fall apart. When Krasny started puzzling, she used a blow-up, roll-up mat from Amy & Delle and liked that “it didn’t take up much space at all, especially when you’re not using it, since you can deflate the roller.” (Like many other roll-up mats, it’s also equipped with three elastic straps to fasten around it for additional security.) Marcotte particularly recommends roll-up mats if you’re planning to transport unfinished puzzles to and from friends’ houses, puzzle meetups, or while on vacation. Roll-up puzzle mats-which typically consist of a piece of felt to construct your puzzle upon, a cylinder to wrap it around, and a tote to keep it in-are inexpensive (especially if the cylinder is just a piece of plastic you self-inflate) and can be stowed in any long, narrow sliver of space on a shelf, in a drawer, or even under or behind furniture. When you want to safely stash away your puzzle mid-solve without sabotaging what you’ve accomplished so far, you have a few options that vary widely in their pros, cons, and costs. “The Tidyboss trays are sleeker and the white makes for better decor.” They’re also stackable and (unlike the Sort & Go trays) lidded, making them more ideal for travel. “I care how my puzzling looks because it’s out all the time,” she said. For years, Krasny used the stackable, jigsaw-piece-shape Puzzle Sort & Go Stacking Sorting Trays from puzzle maker Ravensburger, but she later swapped those out for a more elegant-looking set of white, square trays from Tidyboss. The right sorting tray can also help tidy up the appearance of your workspace. Marcotte added, “If you sort your pieces but don’t use trays, then when you need to temporarily pack up your puzzle and put all the loose pieces back in the box, it’s very frustrating.” “Sorters are great when you need to get certain pieces out of the way so you can work on a different section of the puzzle,” Krasny said. Krasny and Marcotte recommend sorting trays for organizing your pieces, especially when attempting more difficult puzzles or when workspace is limited. ![]()
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