Crafts | Create | Holidays | Valentine's Day
Old Puzzle Pieces Means Crafts for Valentine’s Day
Admit it, who has ever had kids and have puzzles with a few missing pieces. Or even yourself. Instead of tossing them, put them to use. Old puzzle pieces means crafts for Valentine’s Day. I don’t decorate a lot for Valentine’s Day, but these items are easy to make – almost free – and easy to store. Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day?
Old Puzzle Pieces Means Crafts for Valentine’s Day
If you don’t have any, pick them up at Goodwill for $1 or less. Even Dollar Tree sells puzzles. A variety of size pieces are fine.
Many of you may be cleaning out closets or your kids toy boxes at this time of year. Save the pieces and toss the boxes to save space but have all these pieces on hand for your next craft. Get your kids involved in cleaning up and sorting.
With just a few of your favorite crafting supplies, paint, glitter, and glue, you can turn this trash into some Valentine’s Day Decor or gifts.
PICTURE FRAME
Supplies:
- Wood frame
- Puzzle pieces
- Acrylic paint
- Spray sealer
- Glitter
- Hot glue gun & glue
Lay puzzle pieces out before any painting to determine approximately how many pieces you will need to paint.
How you design this can vary depending on the look you want. They can be placed in a single layer or stack in 2 or 3 layers for a 3D look.
I started with a $1 wood frame from a craft store. Give it 2 coats of paint, letting it dry between each. Acrylic paint dries quickly. Unfinished wood can absorb paint differently, and it could take more than 2 coats.
You know I’ve always said to sand between coats, especially on unfinished wood but since you are covering this up, it might not be necessary.
Puzzle pieces were also painted with 2 coats of acrylic paint, allowing to dry between each coat. I found painting the back side of pieces was easier and absorbed the paint better than the front coated side.
After the pieces were dry, a quick coat of sealer was sprayed over them, then IMMEDIATELY sprinkle very fine glitter lightly over them. Do about half for a third of the pieces at a time since the sealer dries fairly quick. Allow to dry.
If you are doing this inside, place the pieces inside a box since there is over-spray and this will help to contain it.
Start arranging each piece onto frame and glue one piece at a time. As I like to do with puzzles, start with the corner. Glue this down first then work your way around.
Add the first layer
If using hot glue, it will dry almost immediately so you are able to go to your 2nd layer. Again, lay them out before beginning to glue.
You could use any frame you might have on hand, but it does need a flat surface for best results.
PLEASE NOTE: If this is a standing frame, place your pieces along the bottom fairly straight across or it could interfere with it sitting straight.
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HEART HANGING – MINI WREATH
Supplies:
- Puzzle pieces
- Spray paint
- Heart template
- Hot glue gun & glue
- Ribbon
These could be made any size depending on where you want to use it.
This was made as an ornament to hang from a mirror. It could also hang over a door knob or lamp. What about the back of chairs for a special dinner?
Start by drawing or cutting out a heart. I am no artist so I thought back to all of those hearts I cut out in elementary school.
Fold a piece of paper in half, or use a piece of newspapers and cut a heart out with scissors.
Unfold and check. Trim to the desired shape and width. Remember, this is only a a pattern for your heart. Draw this onto chipboard and cut out. Heavy scissors or an exacto knife will work.
This is your “form” which puzzle pieces will be adhered to. The width of form will depend on what you want your finished size to be.
Lay your puzzle pieces onto the heart to get an estimate of how many pieces you will need just to make sure you have enough. This will be painted after adding your puzzle pieces with spray paint.
Start at the bottom point of the heart with a piece, then add one piece at a time, making just a short stream of glue as it dries quickly. I found doing a few pieces on each side helped to keep the heart in line.
Add as many layers as you desire for a 3D look.
Spray paint the entire piece with two coats of paint, allowing to dry between each according to the directions on can.
If you want the glitter look, spray with a light coat of sealer and IMMEDIATELY sprinkle with fine glitter.
Use a piece of ribbon looped around the heart for hanging.
If you want to make this as a larger size for a wreath I would recommend using a piece of cardboard as the base.
These can be made any size to fit your space. Smaller sizes would be great if you are decorating a tree for Valentine’s Day.
Let kids make this project using acrylic or kid friendly paint. Craft glue can be used instead of hot glue for younger kids.
What about some goodies and treats, great for almost any time of the year.
I’ve included affiliate links to Amazon for you to find some products easier. I may receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you. It just helps my blog out.
Happy Travels,
Rosemary
I really like the red puzzle piece heart craft. I always tell my hubby that he is my puzzle piece. Such a smart idea to use old pieces for crafting. We are always having to get rid of puzzles due to missing pieces.
And you can mix the sizes too. I don’t know how many I threw away when my son was small.
What a fun way to use up old miss matched puzzles. I like when you can find a new use for old things instead of throwing them away.
I’m all about recycle and cheap things.
I LOVE these ideas! I have so many puzzles sitting around now I have something to use them for! I love the heart wreath.
The heart wreath could be any color to match your decor, especially if you wanted a shabby chic look.
we have a few puzzles missing a few pieces, what a great way to upcycle them. I will do this with the kids this weekend.
Once you start making a few things, you will probably come up with more ideas too. Let me know what you do.
I kinda like the frame with just the corner pieces, is that strange? I love the look of the stacked pieces on the heart too
That’s the good part of making your own items, make it the way you like it.
Such a creative idea Rosemary and I’m always finding puzzles that are missing pieces in the thrift shops. This would be a great way to repurpose them.
Dollar Tree is also a great source too.
Great ideas for puzzle crafted Valentine’s Day decor.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Ps. Please share this post on my site at the You’re The Star blog hop
Hugs,
Kippi
Thank you. I will put this blog hop on my list for February too.
I absolutely love this craft. I have so many puzzles with missing pieces and now I know what to do with them. Thank you.
What is bad when you buy a new puzzle, and that one piece is missing. Grrrr…..
Your puzzle piece frame and wreath are great Valentine’s Day projects.
Thanks – fun to do something crafty and cute.
This is such a cute idea!
Thanks – I first did it for a TV segment several years ago.
This is such a fun idea! What a genius and adorable way to use up old puzzle pieces. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks – fun in a lot of colors or shapes.
This is so cute! What a fun craft!
Thanks. Always fun to find a use for things instead of always tossing them.
Love these ideas! Now I need to go buy puzzles.
Pinned!
Cheap – thrift or dollar stores. I like using different sizes too.
I love the idea of using up old puzzles to make a puzzle wreath. Great idea to make a wreath base from card too!
Thanks. So many old puzzles just get tossed.
I did this with my great niece and nephew last week while visiting. They are 3,5, & 6. Perfect for them!
How fun having young ones around.
What a great idea and clever upcycle for Valentine’s Day! I could make these with my students. Pinned!
Thanks Lynne, So versatile for lots of things.
I made wreathe ornaments one year for our church bazaar. I chose a puzzle with lots of reds. I painted the “backside” a solid Christmas green and hung a small gold bell in the center with a thin gold string! Reversible!
Those sound cute. I’m amazed at all the ideas people come up with.