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Picture puzzles can be great fun for everyone. With some help children of any age can create a puzzle of themselves or their family. It’s fun and easy and they can give them to grandparents or even send them to family members who may not make it home for Christmas.

What You’ll Need

* Picture of family or child that can be enlarged
* Cardboard
* Wax Paper
* Clear coat
* Paintbrush
* Pencil
* Scissors
* Glue stick

Instructions

Find a picture of the whole family. Be sure to let the children pick a picture they like. If you have a program on your computer then you can enlarge the picture right in your home. If not, go to your local drugstore and have the picture enlarged. The larger the picture is the bigger the puzzle will be.

Once the picture has been enlarged it’s time to begin making their puzzle. Cut the cardboard to fit the picture. Be sure to trim off any excess along the edges. Have the children use the glue stick and cover one side of the cardboard with the glue. Now they can attach the picture to the cardboard. When the picture is attached they will need to cover their picture with wax paper. Then they can place a large book on top of the picture to leave overnight while the glue dries.

Now that the glue is dry cover the front of the puzzle with clear coat paint. Show the children how to use a paintbrush and paint it on. They will have a ball doing this and it won’t hurt anything as long as you have the area and the children’s clothes protected. Be sure they make even strokes so there is no excess of clear coat in spots that will mess up the puzzle. Again they will have to let it set over night to dry.

When the puzzle has completely dried turn it over so the cardboard side is facing out. Let the children use pencils to draw the puzzle piece shapes. They can make the pieces however large they would like. Lay out a few puzzle pieces so they will remember what they look like and be able to draw them correctly.

Next, draw the outline of the puzzle pieces. Once you have the puzzle pieces drawn cut them out. Help the children with this if they are struggling. It can be hard for small children to use scissors to cut through something like cardboard. You can use an Exacta knife to cut the piece out if you like just be sure if you have smaller children you do it yourself so they will be safe.

Now they can place the puzzle pieces in a nice Christmas box to give as a present to someone they love. Take the original picture (or create a second copy) and attach it to the top of the box so they know what it will look like once they have completed the puzzle. What a wonderful gift for a family member to receive and treasure for a lifetime.

Submitted by Christmas Fun

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