OT:Tip for Jigsaw Puzzle lovers - make your own sorting tray

[afdish]

I love jigsaw puzzles! I am just now getting back into doing them. I had to take an extended hiatus while waiting for my son to get old enough to not mess with it. I couldn't seem to find what dark corner my old sorting trays currently reside in. They were from an old puzzle travel kit, made of cardboard with a metal lip around the edges to keep pieces from sliding off. So I decided to make my own.





I got some standard foamcore boards from Hobby Lobby, cut 2 in half, cut 1/2 inch strips from a third board and glued them to the edges of the 4 halves using red-line tape. I need to make one more, because the iconic puzzle shaped pieces in Ravensburger 1000 pc puzzles are so many that they can't all fit on one. So, I'll make another, and work off 2 until they dwindle down to enough to fit onto one tray.

[fccs]

Very creative, and look how organized your pieces are. I love puzzles, too, but have to keep them covered to keep Jackson out of them.

[meganh]

Genius!! I will be stealing this to make a set for my mom

[shadyglade]

Cool, someone else who shares my love of cross stitch and puzzles!

Love this idea, will have to store it for later... I see you sort by shape like me. Drives my dad (a color sorter) CRAZY when we puzzle together.

[ayna]

I'm a colour sorter and DH works by shape so we very rarely manage to do puzzles together without arguing!

Sounds as if you're happy to leave your sorting trays uncovered? We use shop bought trays which all fit into a box with a lid: safer when grandchildren visit!

[Mischief50]

Ayna...what type of trays do you buy...and box to store them in. Would love to get that for my hubby...to keep the cats off his WIP!!!

Although, I think I may try making the ones using the foam boards. What a great idea!!!

[afdish]

Sounds as if you're happy to leave your sorting trays uncovered?

I've found that because of the raised lip on the trays, they stack very nicely without the pieces getting disturbed at all. And when they're all stacked up, only the pieces on the top tray are visible, and if necessary I could always cut a piece of foamcore to be the lid for the stack.

[littleturtlegirl]

Good idea! I never thought of that.

[stitch addicted]

Just love this idea!!

[bookknurd]

Love this idea!

[Mischief50]

Quick question--my DH and I are trying to make these boards...and we are not overly crafty (to put it mildly!!). Did you use an exacto knife to cut the strips. We are having a real challenge making them look neat...any advice for a 10 thumbs pair??

[afdish]

Quick question--my DH and I are trying to make these boards...and we are not overly crafty (to put it mildly!!). Did you use an exacto knife to cut the strips. We are having a real challenge making them look neat...any advice for a 10 thumbs pair??

I used a quilters cutting mat, ruler, a long straight edge, pencil, and a utility knife (from Lowes). I measure and make a pencil lines to follow on the foamcore. Then I cut it with the utility knife, making 2-3 passes. First pass is done light to medium pressure just to cut the top layer and get the cut going straight. Then make more passes with heavier pressure on the utility knife until the strip is fully cut.

An exacto blade can be used, it with just take more passes. I use a utility knife because the cuts don't have to perfectly exact, and the blades stay sharp longer. I save my exacto blades for more precision work.

Let me know if you have any more questions, and have fun, and stay safe!

[Mischief50]

Thank you so much for the quick reply---we have succeeded!!! It really helps to have a sharp blade in the exacto knife!! and, we found a metal yard stick to use as the straight edge. These are wonderful---we plan to make some for my MIL and SIL who also are puzzle lovers! I had been looking at some of the custom made wood tables with drawers, but they were pretty pricey; these are even better as they take up almost no space when not in use. DH will love them. I cheer him on as I don't have the patience to do puzzles---I add the last three or four pieces so, like with Shake n Bake, I can say..."I helped". I cross stitch or read while he puzzles!

Thanks again for sharing this great idea!

[stitchingmae]

Sounds as if you're happy to leave your sorting trays uncovered?

I've found that because of the raised lip on the trays, they stack very nicely without the pieces getting disturbed at all. And when they're all stacked up, only the pieces on the top tray are visible, and if necessary I could always cut a piece of foamcore to be the lid for the stack.

You coild even push a straight pin through to the top tray to make a more "permanet" lid

[sarclanat]

Wow what a brilliant idea. I have just got back in to doing puzzles, postie brought me a new one today that i had ordered 2 days ago from an online shop, needless to say, i had to open it right away and make a start.

[playswithpaper]

I realize this is an older post...but what a clever idea! I, too, love doing puzzles. WTG!

[bracken]

Great idea! I love jigsaws too! TY for tip