10 Expert-Level Tips for Doing a Jigsaw Puzzle

Do jigsaw puzzles like a pro with these 10 expert-level tips!

Get the things I mentioned in this video (all Amazon links are affiliate links):

All of the puzzles that I showed in this video (all Amazon links are affiliate links):

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[KarenPuzzles]

Have you ever done any of these expert-level puzzle hacks? Which one was your favorite?

[joeliney]

Hi Karen, I’ve not done a puzzle, since I lost my eye sight back in 86. I came Arcoss your channel by chance, while listening to some videos my friend sent me. I now complete a braille puzzle for the the first time in my life. Thank you Karen. (Signed joe Sam grandson)

[brycecheng]

I don't mean to brag, but I put together a puzzle in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.

[barriem]

i thought i was a geek for doing puzzles, watching this has confirmed my suspicion

[reneenospam]

I use the ziplock bag hack, too. I also use a Sharpie to scribble the puzzle name, manufacturer and year I completed it the first time. That’s in case it somehow gets separated from the box. For puzzles I decide to donate, I mark “No missing pieces” on the bag. It’s something I appreciate when thrift store shopping for puzzles.

[sg-]

Puzzling keeps you sharp.  Dad, age 101 yrs., has a dedicated puzzle table, that’s for a half century been never empty. Now he prefers 500 pieces - finished within a week. Thanks for your tip list. It’s good to see them being passed on to a new generation of puzzlers. 
Quite familiar with these tips, dad too likes first sorting out the pieces. (by shapes, color gradations, as well as by texture & image focus. - Thus puzzling before the main event).
Another tip: roll up your sleeves to prevent “catching” a puzzle piece when reaching over. 
Oh yeah, watch out for that puzzle elf. You swear that the missing piece has not fallen, even after combing the floor on your hands & knees... Only to have it appear later in that very same spot.
Happy Puzzling!

[jofoster]

I don’t know if someone has said this already, but I also use the foam core method. I also have a second foam core sheet that I can lay on top of it and secure with binder clips on the outer edges because cat happens.

[NicoleKada]

I’m almost completely blind and I have recently got into doing jigsaw puzzles. I absolutely loved your idea about turning the puzzle upside down, because it added a different perspective to it. I do my puzzles without even being able to see the picture on the box and not knowing what to expect when I open it. I have no idea what my end result are even supposed to look like, so solving the puzzle without matching colors was my favorite suggestion. I’m going to be uploading a video on Tuesday, March 31 about how I complete puzzles as a blind person

[xenowhore]

Hi Karen! I just found your channel and I am so stoked! I'm 35 and I suffer from a very debilitating anxiety disorder, and jigsaw puzzles have become a form of therapy for me. I find that concentrating on them, sorting all the pieces, and the endorphin rush I get when I find THAT one missing piece is so satisfying. It really calms my brain down and stops the anxious thoughts.

[subinadecade]

Just finished a 2000 piece puzzle I feel so proud of myself 😁😁🤘🙂🙃

[abbyrudy]

Really important tip: don't do puzzles near vents. I was doing a puzzle at the kitchen table and a piece fell on the grate on top of the vent. Luckily it didn't fall in, but I reoriented myself on the table so I wasn't so close to the vent. Keep your pieces safe!!!

[potridge]

I am on my fourth 2, 000 piece puzzle since quarantine started. I don’t like using shortcuts. To me the fun in doing a puzzle is taking your time, rummaging through the box or searching for that one piece to finish a section. Probably just me though.

[byusaranicole]

I keep my edges in a separate bag. Saves so much time on repeat puzzling adventures!

[wave]

I just finished a 1000 piece puzzle in 1 week alone.. I feel so proud of myself

[SADK-bnqy]

One thing I do is take a photo on my phone of the how the completed puzzle looks and then I can use the box to sort instead of looking at the puzzle photo. It also helps that I can zoom in on certain parts of the puzzle on my phone! Super helpful.

[kathrynbrook]

Karen kinda reminds me of Amy from Big Bang

[kimberleigh]

I realize this video was made a couple years ago but have a suggestion for the foam core. If you have a dollar tree store around you, go there and buy their foam poster board. They come in white or white with a black covering on them. I always get the white ones, and like Karen says, I move them from the couch, to the bed at times or from my card table I usually work my puzzles on. The card table is an easy move too in case you want to be in the living room watching and or listening to the tv while working on a puzzle. The Dollar Tree foam poster boards are only $1.00, so I buy several at once, just to keep some on hand at home. They don't take up much room, but do go to your dollar tree! Hope this don't bite me in my tail, and next time I go get some it's all gone....LOL I just did 4 deer, cabin related puzzles for my deer hunting brother to put on his walls, so I also glue the puzzles to the boards. Don't have alot to trim off either with the 1, 000 piece puzzles. I've got 2 puzzles coming from Amazon that are for my walls, and one I had personalized with a picture from my grandsons graduation from high school that will definitely be a living room picture. If the quality of it turns out ok, I've got 4 more graduation related pics to get done and make him his own collage. Happy Puzzling Everyone!!

[joeycrunch]

Love all the great ideas! 💡 But I was genuinely flabbergasted at the separate ziplock baggie for edge pieces 😱 Sorting those out when starting a puzzle is such a core part of the experience for me! Pre-sorting when you put it away feels like soaking the communion bread in wine before it hits your stomach, hahaha 😆

[stanrose]

Now we over 70s are confined to our homes ( UK Coronavirus ) thanks goodness for jig- saw puzzles. Great show, Karen

[mcampbell]

I live in the north east where the snow and cold keeps us inside 75% of the time. I only do puzzles in the winter and feel I’m horrible at it so I just now sought HELP and found you! I think I just got a whole new attitude adjustment in my puzzling!!
THANK YOU!!