What Do You Do with Puzzles Once Complete?

I take them apart and reassemble them until I get tired of them, then pass them on to other puzzle-loving friends.

Put them away and the work them again at another time. I've never viewed puzzles as a one time thing.

Hi F. B.,

My in-laws mount them. I've never really understood it - but that's their type of décor.

I leave it on the table for about a week, feeling that it was too much work to just put away, but eventually it gets crumbs on it or in the way (someone will need to do a project) or tire of looking it - so back in the box it goes. We don't do too many so they haven't really collected, but I like idea of donating them or passing them on. However, if you've lost pieces it would be frustrating to get one I suppose unless it was complete!

My sister gets a beautiful puzzle (certain brand they like) every Christmas. They hide the box (cover) and as a challenge over Christmas week, the family (and anyone who comes over) chips away at it and figures it out. It's really fun to do with a coffee, tea, or drink :) She has a nice stack of these puzzles, and I think they take the old ones with them on family summer vacations to the cottage and they do get reused.

We first build them on a large piece of sturdy cardboard and then once finished, I use a spray to adhere the puzzle to it.. Once it's thoroughly dry, I hang the puzzle up in the garage or downstairs in our washer/dryer workout room.. Since my son and I work them together, I never have the heart to break them down again.. Even if just hanging in the garage, they are a fun reminder of something we did as a family.. they aren't anything I would hang in my livingroom or dining area.. but downstairs.. what the heck :)

Most puzzles we take apart again and put back in the box so we can use them again another day.
I do have one really nice foil puzzle of my zodiac sign that I glued to poster board and framed - it hangs on my bedroom wall and looks great!
We LOVE puzzles and have quite a few.
We also use some online puzzles - which are nice in that you can't lose the pieces and they don't take up table space.

http://thejigsawpuzzles.com/

we did a few beauties back in our dating days, and i did what you mention here- mount them on cardboard, and then hung 'em on the wall. my younger son had a gorgeous one of a fairy forest over his crib!
but we were practically kids ourselves then. we don't want puzzle art on our walls any more.
actually, we haven't done a puzzle in years! i love puzzles. why haven't i?
i think what i'd do is also just what you suggest, take a picture of it, then dismantle and donate it.
:) khairete
S.

We take them apart and then bring them to a retirement community that is close to our home. :)

Sometimes we will work on those as a family over a holiday or vacation time. We get to share some happy memories of my FIL who always had a big jigsaw going on a dedicated table. Now we usually take a picture of it with the people most responsible for finishing it. Sometimes we do them on a big screen on a table and then can angle the puzzle (slightly) for the picture. Then we break up the pieces and put them back in the box. Some puzzles I keep for sentimental purposes (Christmas ones) and others I pass on to a senior center or after school program. A friend gave me a puzzle of a picture of my kids when they were small. We did mount and frame that one. It is kind of a fun family project - some participate more than others, but everyone will normally put in a piece or two.

Take it apart and put it away for future fun.....

I have probably 8 or 10 that we rotate through occasionally.....

I usually take it apart and put it back in the box so I can do it again some time. I did use the glue or whatever to keep one puzzle. It had sentimental value to me because one weekend myself, hubby and our oldest grandchild spent the entire weekend putting it together and just had a great time. I kept it for the memory of that weekend! Still have it in my closet! I will probably NEVER part with it

We do the big puzzles in our dining room that we only use during holidays or get together's. Once done, we let them sit on the table for a while to appreciate them, then back in the box they go to be done again some other time. My son loves puzzles, so even the big ones get put together multiple times.

LOL at Elle who leaves them partially together so it's easier next time!!!! Hysterical! We put them together, leave them for a few days, take them completely apart, put back in the box, tape together, put a sticky note saying "all pieces included" on it and donate it to a thrift store.

I LOVE doing puzzles, but when I've completed a 1000 piece one, I don't always enjoy going through all the work of doing it from scratch - I I take it apart in four sections, put them in baggies, and put them back in the box. When I want to do the puzzle again, I can do it in 250 piece sections. It's more enjoyeable to work a smaller section at a time and it's easier to mangage the pieces on a card table.

I have not done a 1000 piece in a super long time.

I like to leave them on the table for a week or longer then pack it back in the box.

I make sure all pieces are in the box and then give away or store in a cabin.

Usually they go back in the box after a few days of admiring our work (often a family project). Wait a while and the puzzle can be revisited. But occassionally the kids ask to "keep them". So we flip it over and duct tape the back, then tack it up like you would any other poster. It doesn't live forever this way. My son's Darth Vader puzzle has to be tossed the other day, but two years seems like a pretty good run.

pass them on to friends/family.

We take them apart place them in a ziploc bag and then back in the box.

We either donate them to our neighborhood library, the middle school library or I sell them in my next garage sale.

One of the hospitals in town always has a puzzle going , up in the waiting room in the maternity area.

I wish I could trade them with other puzzle enthusiasts

LOL! I can't EVER finish one! Looking forward to reading your answers!

I donate them to the local library's annual used book sale.

We take apart and put in box or bag.

I take them apart and put back in the box.